Campus Golf Center Expansion Is Ready

The public is invited to try out a new golf center at Moorpark College this weekend.

More than just a driving range, the facility also has a putting green and is adding a chipping green and a par-three hole this week.

“Very few facilities have what is here,” said Susie Berning, who will conduct a golf clinic at the center at 9 a.m Saturday. “They have an actual learning hole where you can teach how to play the fringes and roughs on a golf course and show the proper etiquette toward playing the sport.”

All proceeds from the grand opening and golf fair will be donated to the Simi Valley ARTS Youth Ensemble, an educational program providing youngsters with free opportunities to develop theatrical and public-speaking skills.

The campus golf center plans to cater to women and youth and will hold a free clinic for golfers 6 to 14 at 1 p.m., according to Paul Amann, president of Golden Tee Inc., the Simi Valley company operating the center.

Moorpark College recently started its first season with a women’s golf team, and there are plans to revive the men’s team next spring after a nine-year hiatus.

“It is a great setup and a wonderful recruiting tool,” said Will Thurston, the women’s golf coach. “We can conduct practice and have golf classes at the lower end and still have the higher end open to the public to practice on. I don’t think there is a finer on-campus golf center in the entire state, except for Stanford’s.”