LPGA May Not Return to Course

The Los Angeles Ladies Professional Golf Assn. tournament may not return to the Wood RanchGolf Club in Simi Valley next year, in part because players considered the golf course too difficult.

City officials hailed the February event as a boon to the city, as it packed the city’s hotels and restaurants despite the rain that weekend.

Group Dynamics Inc., which promoted the tournament, had secured a three-year agreement with the LPGA to stage the annual tournament at Wood Ranch.

But the LPGA has the option of pulling out after the first year if officials were dissatisfied with the event, and it appears the LPGA has exercised that option.

LPGA officials said the course’s difficulty and the bad weather hurt the tournament, and there are plenty of other local courses vying for the tournament.

Mayor Bill Davis said if there’s a chance of keeping the tournament at Wood Ranch or bringing another tournament to the city later, city officials will work with promoters to ensure everything goes smoothly.