Playing for Verdugo

TUJUNGA — It’s a slice of property nestled along the foothills that’s seen many take to the range and short fairways.

La Crescenta resident Jean Woody once brought her son and grandson to Verdugo Hills Golf Course when they were young to learn the basic fundamentals of the sport.

The course hasn’t been forgotten by Woody, though she’s been wondering for months how much longer she and other local residents will have the opportunity to enjoy it.

Woody was on hand Friday to help organize an 18-hole tournament that featured members from 17 Three-Par Assn. clubs from Glendale to Orange County. The purpose was to bring further awareness concerning the 63-acre course, which might be removed so that 229 homes can be built on the site.

Woodland Hills-based MWH Development has recently proposed building single-detached homes on 24 of the course’s acres.

“I’d like to think that we are on the verge of the course being saved,” said Woody, who is a member of the Verdugo Hills Women’s Golf Club Monday. “Things are a lot more positive than say six months ago.

“I’m blown away by how many people turned out for the tournament.”

Connie Wright, also a member of the Verdugo Hills Women’s Golf Club, said the club has served a purpose since its existence nearly 50 years ago.

“I’ve been golfing here for about 11 years,” said Wright, who worked with Woody, Ruth McNevin, Rose Mary Flint and Ronnie Aiken to organize the event. “So many kids started their careers here, and it’s been great for the senior citizens.”

Bruce Martin, the club’s general manager since 2000, said more community involvement is needed.

“I’d like to have one of these kind of tournaments every day if I could,” said Martin, who also serves as the professional. “The community has been in an uproar about possibly losing the course.

“This is where kids and adults can play in that you learn the basic fundamentals and that carries you over to the larger courses.”

The Verdugo Hills Women’s Golf Club Tuesday also took part in the event, which featured 70 golfers.

Tiny Bennett won the low-net and Shirley Durnie took the low-gross competition in the Flight One competition. In the Flight Two competition, Maxine Knecht won the low-gross, Nanci Sachs took the low-net and Patty Wassell captured the low-putt. Kathy Janisch took the low-gross and low-putt in the Flight Three competition and Maxine Jones took the low-net.