COUNCIL SET TO TAKE SHOT FOR LPGA BID; SANTA CLARITA, SIMI COMPETING.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue and Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writers

The Valencia Country Club and Simi Valley's Wood Ranch are the top contenders in bidding to land next year's prestigious Ladies Professional Golf Association tournament.

The LPGA is seeking offers from both cities, as well as Yorba Linda and La Habra. The Santa Clarita City Council will vote tonight on a recommendation to contribute $100,000 to promote the February 2000 tournament if Valencia is chosen as the site.

``It would be a great thing,'' said Mike Haviland, the city's economic development manager. ``The economic value to the city from the tourism point of view is outstanding. It brings people to the city of Santa Clarita who might not normally pay us a visit.''

City officials are recommending the expenditure for promotion, security, permits and transportation. The money likely would be recovered through taxes paid by visitors attending the tournament and spending money at local hotels, restaurants and other businesses, Haviland said, and the overall economy also would gain.

Santa Clarita basked in the attention when men in the Professional Golfers' Association chose the posh, members-only Valencia Country Club for the 1998 Nissan Open.

``It was the single most-attended event this valley has ever hosted,'' Haviland said. ``Two blimps were shooting coverage of the city for national TV. That's great recognition. Restaurants were filled from Valencia all the way out to Canyon Country.''

Women's sports are moving into the worldwide spotlight, Haviland noted. The Rose Bowl was sold out for the women's World Club soccer match. Locally, the William S. Hart Union School District is expected to add varsity golf for girls to the sports lineup at the four local high schools.

``The LPGA is a great product - strong virtues, a good following, good image,'' Haviland said. ``And women's sports are hot right now.''

Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis said his city is offering $60,000 toward promotion and $100,000 worth of services, including security, parking and shuttle buses, if the Wood Ranch Country Club golf course is chosen for the LPGA tournament.

Davis said the city would benefit from positive publicity for Simi Valley, as well as from spending at local businesses by 15,000 to 50,000 tourists who could be attracted by the tournament.

``It certainly puts the city on the map, plus with 15,000 people here for a week, it'd be worth it to the city,'' he said.

Bob Collins, vice president of Santa Monica-based Group Dynamics Inc., said the tournament-site decision will be based entirely on economic incentives and community attitude. Group Dynamics Inc. owns the rights to market the tournament for the next three years and will put up the $750,000 purse. Last year's purse was $650,000 for the weeklong event that is one of the major events on the professional tour.

Collins said he will examine Santa Clarita's offer and if it is better than Simi Valley's, the city could clinch the tournament.

He said a tentative decision will be made quickly - possibly tonight - ``as to whether Valencia is involved or not.''

Collins said the official announcement of the site will be made in about a month - after LPGA officials have inspected the golf courses and sanctioned the Group Dynamics decision, which requires LPGA approval.

Bill Allen, president of the San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance, said corporations represented in his organization would put up $50,000 to $100,000 in sponsorships to entice the tournament back to Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, where it has been held for the past three years. But a three-year contract in Glendale ended with the LPGA tournament in February, and Collins said his organization wants greener pastures.

The tournament was run in Glendale by West Hollywood-based AJ Sports Inc., which subcontracted the event to Group Dynamics.

``There was no real reason (to moSve) except we're looking to take the event to the level,'' said Collins. He said Group Dynamics wants a place for the tournament to grow.

The PGA tournament in Valencia last year drew about 150,000 people, giving Santa Clarita valuable experience in handling crowds for a major event in golfing, Haviland said.

``We have (a) pretty good track record of how to manage the event,'' he said.