Funding Plan Seeks to Save Golf Programs : Economics: Conejo Valley District proposal holds Westlake, Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks highs fiscally responsible for the sport.

Golf teams at three high schools in the Conejo Valley Unified School District might be saved from elimination under a proposal in which the schools would be responsible for generating funding for the sport.

Under the initial budget proposal for 1991-92, the golf programs at Westlake, Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks highs were scheduled to be eliminated as a cost-cutting measure. Golf, a sport in which Westlake has won two Southern Section titles in the past five seasons, was the lone varsity sport targeted by the district.

However, the superintendent’s office circulated a budget addendum Monday in which conditions for salvaging the programs are outlined. The three schools each must raise $2,727, which would cover the coaching stipend, fees for substitute teachers and clerical costs.

The addendum also recommends that golf starting times be modified so that players and coaches spend more time in school and less on the course. Westlake Athletic Director Jack Loritz said that could mean fewer 18-hole matches.

The school board is expected to finalize the budget at a meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Westlake High.

Public feedback at a board meeting April 25 helped prompt the superintendent’s office to re-evaluate the elimination of the golf programs. Four freshman-level programs in other sports at each school are scheduled for elimination--affected players still have the opportunity to play on junior-varsity teams--but golf proponents pointed out that golf has just one level of participation.

Loritz said he is confident that the community will come through with the funding and that the programs will be kept intact.

“Once the school board makes a final statement on what they want to do, I think you’ll see things start to happen,” Loritz said. “A lot of people here believe golf is very important.”