HOMES, apartments costly during Open

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Can't find a hotel or motel room for your trip to the U.S. Open? Plenty of Tulsa residents are willing to help _ for a steep price. <br><br>Through the month of May, more than 300

Monday, June 4th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Can't find a hotel or motel room for your trip to the U.S. Open? Plenty of Tulsa residents are willing to help _ for a steep price.

Through the month of May, more than 300 ads were placed in a special U.S. Open rentals properties section of the Tulsa World. The ads offered rentals ranging from mansions exceeding $60,000 a week to one-bedroom apartments for $1,300.

Nearly 50,000 out-of-town guests are expected to visit Tulsa beginning next weekend. Tournament week begins June 10, with the Open running from June 14-17 at Southern Hills.

Sheri Tomlison has a nautical-style garage apartment available at a negotiable $350 a night. Her husband nixed the idea of renting their primary residence but agreed to offer an apartment on their property.

``We usually only use it for family and friends,'' she said. ``It was going to be work moving out of the house and letting someone move in. But this was a novel idea and gives us a little extra income. There are a lot of neighbors, like us, who have accommodations in the back of their lots.''

Tomlison said her apartment includes maid service.

``The prices are all over the place,'' she said. ``There are some people who have a lot of money and are used to a certain level of accommodation or want to be in someone's house. They aren't looking for a garage apartment. But this apartment is real cute, and surely somebody seeing it would like it.''

Bill Satterfield has his White House Mansion available for $60,000 for a week, complete with the use of a couple of Rolls Royces and catering services.

Satterfield said he was approached by a friend who had helped local home owners rent properties at more than $50,000 for the week of the tournament. The friend suggested he offer the White House Mansion estate as a rental because it met the needs of people looking for top-scale accommodations.

Satterfield decided to put up his home for rent because he was going to be away in Aspen, Colo., anyway.

He said an agent for a retired professional basketball player has expressed interest.

``We figured there would be a few people who might decide to come at the last minute and didn't have arrangements,'' he said. ``We still feel confident that someone will come along.''

For an average of $1,500, based on the asking prices listed in classified advertising, spectators can rent a one-bedroom apartment or condominium for the week.

Many of those include extras such as maid service, travel to and from the course or use of a nearby pool.

Or for a little more, say, $3,000 to $7,000, a person may be able to locate a three-bedroom home for the week.

Damiyon Everly said he had at least four out-of-state inquiries to his advertisement to rent his one-bedroom condominium at $1,300 for the week. The condo is located about one block from the course and includes a washer and dryer.

Everly said he based the asking price on hotel room rates and factored in the trouble of staying elsewhere.