WOMEN RAISE GAME, FUNDS; GOLF CLINIC FIGHTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Stepping up to the dimpled white ball in a pocket of the Las Posas golf course, Carolyn Holliday reworked her grip on the metal club and focused on learning the basic techniques of the game.

``I'd like to learn to play golf, and this is a perfect setting,'' said Holliday, a Simi Valley resident who participated in this year's Women's Golf Clinic at the Las Posas Country Club on Monday.

More than 120 women from around Ventura County turned out Monday to work with professional female golfers. In addition to improving their games, the day out on the greens helped raise funds for the county's domestic violence programs.

``The golf is really secondary. What really matters here is the cause,'' Holliday said.

Hosted by Interface Children Family Services, the golf clinic is the third annual fund-raising event for the group's emergency shelter and seven transitional homes for battered women and children, said Chris Ritter, representative for Interface, the nonprofit social services organization based in Camarillo.

The event is part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence and the services available to the more than 3 million American women and children who are abused each year.

Last year, Interface raised more than $17,000 from the golf clinic, and this year it is expected to bring more than $20,000 to the county's domestic violence programs.

Interface opened SafeHaven, the county's first emergency shelter, in 1977 to assist battered women and their children. In recent years, the group has expanded its assistance program to offer SafeJourney, where women and kids can live in transitional homes for up to one year.

``It's good to see people out here helping to raise awareness and to support people in difficult situations,'' said Nancy Bannon, a professional golfer from Agoura Hills who teaches at the Simi Valley Golf Course and Ventura's Saticoy Regional Golf Course.

Bannon arranged for the 22 LPGA teaching professionals who volunteered their time and instruction to attend Monday's golf clinic. The professional instructors teamed up with small groups of beginning and intermediate female golfers, who each contributed a $200 registration fee, and reviewed the basics of half swings, full swings, putting and chipping.

``This is a really important cause. And it's really grown over the three years we've been doing it,'' said Bannon, adding that the clinic has grown from about 50 to more than 100 registered participants.

``I don't think anyone is untouched. We all either have been affected or know someone affected by domestic violence,'' said Barbara Bossi, a Thousand Oaks resident who registered for Monday's golf clinic.

She said the golf clinic was a good way to heighten women's awareness of domestic abuse and to give them a chance to learn from each other.

``It's amazing how much I've learned already,'' said Bossi, who started playing golf about three years ago.

``For instance, I didn't know you could use different clubs for pitching. I also didn't know that I was holding my wrists too stiff,'' Bossi said.

For Jenny Southworth, the clinic was a chance to buckle down on the game of golf in a noncompetitive environment.

``I was always intimidated by the sport,'' said Southworth, a Newbury Park resident who reviewed the basics of grip, stance and posture under the supervision of LPGA pro Barbara Williams.

``Here, I don't have to feel any pressure. There are women from all different levels, so I fit in,'' she said.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) LPGA player Chris McEnaney of Simi Valley gives some putting pointers during the golf clinic at Las Posas Country Club.

(2--Color) Chris McEnaney of Sinaloa Golf Course demonstrates her grip at the clinic.

(3) Brentwood County Club pro Kate Wine, left, helps Casey Dickenson of Santa Paula with her swing during Monday's charity clinic.

Gus Ruelas/Daily News