LOVE OF GOLF KEEPS COUPLE VALENTINE'S DAY SWEET.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET

LLANO - Lovers everywhere could well use Claud and Ruby Bills as role models. They were married Feb. 14, 1942, in a Huntington Park church.

Since then, the 77-year-olds' days have been full, exciting, romantic and eventful. They have remained sweethearts and friends in the tradition of Valentine's Day.

Four progeny produced under the Bills label are: Roger, Santa Barbara; Claudia, Llano; Colleen Smead, Quartz Hill; and Cydney Haynes, Bakersfield.

For almost 54 years the parents of four have watched as other marriages fell by the wayside. The longevity of their union, they think, might be attributed, at least in part, to the fact they have worked together and played together.

It wasn't all that hard for them since they shared many common interests, mainly golf. Professionally and personally they mastered all the hazards of the course.

Claud is a golf pro who has served at all the golf clubs in the Antelope Valley at one time or another. He has spent a lot of time teaching novices the difference between an iron and a wood, a driver and a putter, and who knows how many times has advised beginners to replace all divots before advancing to the next hole.

While he spent his time on the links, Ruby worked as a club bookkeeper and helped out in the pro shops. She enjoyed doing some of the selling and one year sold 30,000 custom-made handbags.

A designer and manufacturer of custom clubs, Claud can claim among his celebrated customers Arnold Palmer and other legends of the greens.

"In 1926 I started out as a caddie, then I found out it was easier to make clubs than to carry them. I've been doing it ever since."

At present, he is promoting one of his special irons designed to tout luxury autos. The brand is embossed in gold lettering on the iron part of the golf club. He hopes to market these collector's products not only nationwide but in other countries, as he has successfully done with his prior designs.

Ruby was a tennis player in her early years but was converted to golf when Claud taught her the game after they had been married eight years.

"I was a good teacher but Ruby was the good player," said Claud, commenting that his wife has taken many awards and trophies in tournament play.

Ruby is a tad shy about her wins.

"Well, I was the club champion of the Crystalaire Country Club, Desert Aire, and the Los Verdes Country Club in Palos Verdes. I brought home cups, medallions, crystal, silver and gold awards but I was kind of small potatoes."

Most of the couple's travels have been golf-related. They spent their 50th wedding anniversary four years ago on a 183,000-acre ranch in Wyoming so that Claud could give golf lessons to the owner and his three sons.

They were all rodeo performers, and there was a roping arena in their front yard where they practiced daily for championship exhibitions, the Billses recalled.

In 1965, they went to Australia where Claud served as a consultant for the PGF Golf Company, which had hit a snag in the manufacture of some special clubs.

They made other trips to Japan and to England.

Claud has never actually retired, but Ruby called a halt to her golfing activities just last year. Now she concentrates on creating artistic greeting cards, gardening, cooking and dancing.

Every Thursday and Saturday night, their ballroom dance groups, the Care Free Dance Club and the 49ers Dance Club, step out to taped or live music at the Antelope Valley Senior Center.

Claud currently leads the dancers as president.

Fascinated for years with prospecting for gold, in 1994 they journeyed to Nome, Alaska, with the Gold Prospectors Association of America.

"We're gonna stay young and continue doing what we are doing," he said. "We want to have at least a 75th anniversary."

LANCASTER - Seniors who need assistance completing their state and federal income tax returns can find help at the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 W. Jackman St.

Jim Harris, coordinator of the American Association of Retired Persons' tax-assistance program, has announced that tax advisers will be available in Room 103 at the center by appointment.

Appointments can be made by calling 726-4406.

Inquiries should be directed to Ruth Harris at 942-5179.

LANCASTER - Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk.

Monday: Baked chicken, rice, broccoli, pea salad, ice cream.

Tuesday: Pizza, green beans, carrot salad, Jell-O and fruit.

Wednesday: Special Valentine's Day menu. Hot lovebird sandwich, heart beets, lover's garden lettuce.

Thursday: Chicken/noodles au gratin, squash, coleslaw, cake.

Friday: Beef Parmesan, oven browned potatoes, spinach, tossed salad, pineapple chunks.

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Photo Claud and Ruby Bills say shared interests and activities - and four kids - have made their marriage a joy. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News