RESIDENTS HEAD TO THE COURSE FOR GOOD CAUSES TOURNAMENTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHARITY GROUPS.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - This fall, Ventura County golfers are taking advantage of the area's mild climate and abundant courses to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity.

A variety of events is scheduled through December to benefit charities such as Habitat for Humanity, scholarship programs, teen drug rehabilitation, the Conejo Free Clinic, a teen center in Simi Valley, the Simi Valley Education Foundation and shelters for battered women.

The Moorpark College Multicultural Club Golf Fest was held at the Moorpark Country Club on Friday to help fund the club's Leadership Conference at Moorpark College on Nov. 5, 2005, and to provide Hurricane Katrina relief.

Although amateur golfers play in most events, 16 of the world's top professionals will be playing this December at the Sherwood Country Club in the Target World Challenge, presented by Countrywide Financial Corporation to benefit the Tiger Woods Learning Center and the Start Something learning program sponsored by Target and the Tiger Woods Foundation.

On Monday in Camarillo, Interface Children Family Services is holding its 11th annual Learn from the Pros women's golf clinic to raise funds for the SafeHaven Shelter and SafeJourney Transitional Homes for victims of domestic violence.

``Since we can play golf year-round, I think there are a lot more golfers here than in other areas, so you get more people going to charitable events,'' said Kate Koslosky, a golfer signed up for the event to help battered women Monday. ``It's a fun way to raise money for a good cause.''

The Interface event is an all-female golf clinic offering opportunities for women to get together and improve their golf games while also helping local women free their families from violent households, said Christine Hamilton, special-projects director for Interface Children Family Services.

Also on Monday in Camarillo, Teen Challenge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping teens overcome drug and alcohol addiction, is sponsoring a tournament.

In October, the Presbyterian Golf Association is holding a tournament in Thousand Oaks to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County.

The Ray Fields Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament in Simi Valley, hosted by the Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church, is also scheduled in October to raise funds for scholarships for graduating high school seniors pursuing college degrees.

Two October events in Wood Ranch include tournaments to benefit the Conejo Free Clinic and raise money toward a teen center in Simi Valley.

The Thousand Oaks Police Charitable Foundation, which provides police-related youth programs in the community, will hold a tournament in the North Ranch area of Thousand Oaks.

Pat Hitchcock O'Connell, legendary movie director Alfred Hitchcock's daughter, is the Westlake Sunrise Rotary's major sponsor for the cystic fibrosis tournament.

``The charitable institutions that most of these tournaments support are very important to people who have challenges in their lives, and we try to make that challenge easier for them to handle,'' said Carl Alaniz, chairman of the cystic fibrosis event. ``The individuals and companies within Ventura county are very supportive.''

The Habitat for Humanity fundraiser will include a barbecue in the evening at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake Village, and people can attend the barbecue whether they play in the tournament or not.

``Fundraising and working hands-on with the Habitat for Humanity families and volunteers is a great way to put our faith into action,'' said Duane Hollinger, an organizer of the Habitat for Humanity event.

In December, the Simi Valley Education Foundation's annual golf tournament will be held in Simi Valley.

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

--Interface Children Family Services women's golf clinic on Monday, Las Posas Country Club. Information: [phone] or visit icfs.org.

--Teen Challenge tournament, Monday, Spanish Hills Country Club. Information: [phone] or go to teenchallenge.com.

--Habitat for Humanity tournament, Saturday, Los Robles Greens. Information: [phone] or go to habitatventura.org.

--Ray Fields Memorial Scholarship tournament, Oct. 8 at Simi Hills Golf Course. Information: [phone] or [phone].

--Conejo Free Clinic, Oct. 10 at Wood Ranch Golf Club. Information: [phone] or go to conejofreeclinic.org.

--Simi Valley Teen Center tournament, Oct. 24 at the Wood Ranch Golf Course. Contact the Simi Valley Leadership Program-Teen Center Project c/o Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, [phone].

--Thousand Oaks Police Charitable Foundation tournament, Nov. 7 at North Ranch Country Club. Information: [phone].

--Target World Challenge tournament, Dec. 7-11 at Sherwood Country Club. Information: [phone] or go to www.targetworldchallenge.com.

--Simi Valley Education Foundation tournament, Dec. 5 at Lost Canyons Golf Club. Information: [phone] or go to www.svef.org.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Moorpark College's Multicultural Club adviser, Mike Johnson, watches his putt during the golf fundraiser festival in Moorpark on Friday.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

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UPCOMING EVENTS (see text)