How would you like to watch your favorite stars shoot a few holes of golf, on one of the nicer golf courses in West L.A.? Perhaps get their autographs or pose for a picture with them?

   Well, you can.

Each year (since 1971) in late May, the city hosts the annual Police-Celebrity Golf Tournament, billed as "the world's largest celebrity-supported sports charity event," where Hollywood stars and members of the Los Angeles Police Department join forces to raise money for charity (injured LAPD officers and their families).

The event is open to the public, and you can watch big-name celebs spend a few hours in the sun, chasing a little white ball across the fairways.

The 44th annual tournament was held on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at the Rancho Park Course (next to the Rose Bowl) in Pasadena, CA.

The event was hosted by soap star Jack Wagner, and featured celebs such as Hellboy's Ron Perlman, KISS's Gene Simmons (and wife/actress Shannon Tweed), the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter & AJ Mclean, Growing Pains' Alan Thicke, Saved By the Bell's Mark Paul Gosselaar, Dexter's own 'Masuka': C.S. Lee, and The Goldbergs' dad himself, Jeff Garlin.

For more info, go to www.lapd.com or phone (213) 847-4239,

They had held the annual event at Rancho Park for ages, until 2009, when they moved the event to the Trump National Golf Course, in beautiful Rancho Palos Verdes. (And yes, it's that Trump. In fact, Donald was the 2009 celebrity host.)   It stayed there for three years, before eventually coming home to Rancho Park in 2016.

The 2013 event was cancelled, due to a lack of volunteers.  But it returned the next year, when actor  Dennis Quaid hosted.  In 2015, they were at Brookside Golf Course, in Pasadena, and the host was actress Heather Locklear.

The 40th annual Tournament was held at Rancho Park, on Saturday, October 13, 2012.  It was hosted by Dodgers' announcer Vin Scully.

Celebs scheduled to appear  included Adam Baldwin ("Chuck"), David Hasselhoff ("Baywatch"), Daryl Hannah ("Splash"), singer Paula Abdul ("American Idol"), Joe Mantegna ("Criminal Minds"), Micky Dolenz ("The Monkees"),  Michael Pena ("End of Watch") and many others.

The 2011 event was held on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Stars participating included Ron Perlman ("Hellboy", "Beauty & The Beast" & "Sons of Anarchy"), Luke Wilson ("Legally Blonde", "Charlie's Angels"), Erik Estrada ("Chips"), Joe Mantegna ("Criminal Minds", "Joan of Arcadia"), Ron Masak ("Murder She Wrote"), Michael Cudlitz ("Southland"), Neal McDonough ("Desperate Housewives"), model/actress Angie Everhart, and many others.

Looking back:

The 2010 tournament, also at the Trump course, featured actor Luke Wilson ("Old School") as host, and appearances by George Lopez ("The George Lopez Show"), Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan"), Ron Masak ("Murder, She Wrote"), Regina King ("227"), Robert Hays ("Airplane!"), Gary Valentine ("King of Queens") and many others, including several of the same names from 2009.

That 2009 event brought out the likes of Daniel Baldwin ("Homicide"), Ron Perlman ("Hellboy"), Don Johnson ("Miami Vice"), Erik Estrada ("CHiP's"), Chad Everett ("Medical Center"), Rick Dees, Joe Mantegna ("Joan of Arcadia"), etc

The 36th annual Tournament was held on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Rancho Park Golf Course near Century City. And that year, it also included a car show, and an appearance from Jay Leno. Other celebs appearing at the 2008 event included host Neal McDonough ("Band of Brothers", "Flags of Our Fathers"), Tom Arnold ("Roseanne"), Ron Perlman ("Hellboy", TV's "Beauty & the Beast"), Rob Morrow ("Northern Exposure", "Numb3rs"), Joe Pesci ("Goodfellas", "My Cousin Vinny", "Lethal Weapon"), Tyler Mane ('Sabretooth' in "X-Men"), Ron Masak ("Murder, She Wrote"), Miguel Ferrer ("Twin Peaks", "Robocop"), Chad Everett ("Medical Center"), C. Thomas Howell ("The Outsiders"), Anne Marie Johnson ("In the Heat of the Night"), Kyle Chandler ("Early Edition", "Friday Night Lights"), Paula Trickey ("The  O.C.", "Pacific Blue"), Jonathan Banks ("Wiseguy"), Eagles' guitarist Don Felder, and many more.

In 2007, the celebrity host was Miguel Ferrer ('Dr. Garret Macy' on "Crossing Jordan"). Other participants included Jack Nicholson ("The Departed", "Chinatown"), Robert Wagner ("Austin Powers", "Hart to Hart"), Joe Pesci ("The Good Shephard", "My Cousin Vinny"), Dennis Franz ('Sipowicz' on "NYPD Blue"), Rob Morrow ("Numb3rs", "Northern Exposure"), singer/songwriter Mac Davis, Ron Masak ("The Benchwarmers"), Chad Everett ("Airplane II", "Medical Center"), Ken Howard ("Crossing Jordan", "The White Shadow"), Don Felder (of The Eagles), C. Thomas Howell ("24"), Kyle Chandler ('Eric Taylor' on "Friday Night Lights"), Mark Moses ('Paul Young' on "Desperate Housewives"), Carlos Alazraqui ('Deputy James Garcia' on "Reno 911"), Paula Trickey (Taylor's mother on "The O.C."), Jack McGee ('Chief Jerry Reilly' on "Rescue Me"), Bobby Castillo (formerly with the L.A. Dodgers), Ken Landreaux (formerly with the L.A. Dodgers), Rogie Vachon (formerly with the L.A. Kings), and many more...

In 2006, the host was Mark Wahlberg ("The Perfect Storm", "Three Kings", "Boogie Nights"). Other participants included Rob Morrow ("Northern Exposure", "Numb3rs", Joe Pesci (the "Lethal Weapon" films), Chris O'Donnell ("Batman & Robin"), Chad Everett ("Medical Center"), Ron Masak ("Murder She Wrote"), Joe Mantegna ("Joan of Arcadia"), Anne-Marie Johnson ("In the Heat of the Night"), Tyler Mane ("X-Men"), Will Wheaton ("Star Trek - TNG"), C. Thomas Howell ("The Outsiders"), Scott Patterson ('Luke' on "Gilmore Girls") Bruce Jenner (1978 Olympic Winner), baseball great Jose Canseco, Rogie Vachon (L.A. Kings), and many others.

In 2005, Chris O'Donnell ("Batman & Robin", "Kinsey") was the celebrity host. Other stars present included Joe Pesci ("Lethal Weapon"), Ron Perlman ("Hellboy"), Alan Thicke (Dad on "Growing Pains"), Mark Moses ('Paul Young' on "Desperate Housewives"), Scott Patterson ('Luke Danes' on "Gilmore Girls"), Tanya Roberts ('Midge' on "That '70s Show"), DMC (of 'Run DMC'), Don Most ('Ralph Malph' on "Happy Days"), Joe Mantegna ('Will Girardi' on "Joan of Arcadia"), Dennis Hopper ("Easy Rider"), Gary Dourdan ('Warrick Brownon' on "CSI"), Ron Masak ("Murder She Wrote"), Miguel Ferrer ('Garret Macy' on "Crossing Jordan"), Anne-Marie Johnson ('Althea Tibbs' on "In the Heat of the Night"), Tyler Mane ('Troy", "X-Men"), Chad Everett ("Medical Center"), singer/actor Mac Davis, and many more.

In 2004, Kelsey Grammer was the host. Other stars included "Lethal Weapon"'s Joe Pesci, rockers Eddie Van Halen and Tommy Lee, Joe Mantegna ("Joan of Arcadia"), Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan"), wrestler/actress Chyna, "Medical Center"'s Chad Everett, C. Thomas Howel ("E.T."), Ron Masak ("Murder, She Wrote"), NFL star Eric Dickerson, Stephen Root ('Jimmy' on "NewsRadio"), Michael Damian ("The Young & the Restless"), Jodie Sweetin ('Stephanie' on "Full House"), and many more.

The gates open at 8:00 a.m. Tee off is at 10:00 a.m., and the game usually concludes at approximately 5:00 p.m. The cost of admission is just is $5.00 at the entrance (or at any LAPD division.)

The celebrity participants in 2003 included Host Craig T. Nelson ("The District", "Coach), Kelsey Grammar ("Fraiser"), Jackie Chan ("The Tuxedo"), Chris Tucker ("Rush Hour"), Pauly Shore ("Bio-Dome"), Evan Marriott ("Joe Millionaire"), Greg Vaughn ("Psycho"), Joe Mantegna ("First Monday"), Ron Masak ("Murder, She Wrote"), Lorenzo Lamas, singer/paramedic Bobby Sherman, musicians Eddie Van Halen and Kenny G, baseball legend Maury Wills, Playboy Playmates and many more. You can read the entire list on their site.

In 2002, celebrities scheduled to play included host Joe Mantegna ('Joseph Novelli' in "First Monday"), Joe Pesci ("Goodfellas", "Lethal Weapon"), Craig T. Nelson ("Coach", "The District"), musicians Meat Loaf ("I Won't Do That"), Bobby Sherman ("Little Woman") and Eddie Van Halen, actors Macaulay Culkin ("Home Alone"), John Ratzenberger ('Cliff' on "Cheers"), Thomas Gibson ('Greg' in "Dharma & Greg"), Alan Thicke ("Growing Pains"), Robert Stack ("The Untouchables"), Donnie Wahlberg ("The Sixth Sense"), Erik Palladino ('Dave' in "ER," "U-571"), Robert Loggia, Elke Sommer and many more.

2001 celebrity players included Martin Sheen ("The West Wing"), Joe Pesci ("My Cousin Vinnie"), George Wendt ('Norm' on "Cheers") Jamie Farr ("M*A*S*H"), Cheech Martin ("Nash Bridges"), Robert Stack ("The Untouchables"), Steve Guttenberg ("Police Academy"), boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, Stephen Baldwin ("The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas"), Ron Masak ('Mort' on "Murder, She Wrote"), Chad Everett ("Medical Center"), Dennis Farina ("Saving Private Ryan"), Benjamin Salisbury ('Brighton' on "The Nanny"), Joel Murray ('Pete Cavanaugh' in "Dharma & Greg"), Molly Culver ("V.I.P."), Anne-Marie Johnson ('Althea Tibbs' in "In the Heat of the Night"), Salli Richardson ('Viveca Foster' in "Family Law") and others.

In 2000, it was held on Saturday, May 20, and the celebrity host was hockey great Wayne Gretzkey. (They changed locations in 2000- it was held at the Woodley Lakes Golf Course, in the San Fernando Valley. But for 2001, they were re back at Rancho Park.)

Among the other stars who appeared in the 2000 tournament: Richard Dreyfuss ("Krippendorf’s Tribe," "Mr. Holland’s Opus"), Dennis Hopper ("Waterworld," "Easy Rider"), Dennis Quaid ("Frequency"), Rick Schroeder ("NYPD Blue"), Frank Bonner ('Herb' from "WKRP in Cincinnati"), Tanya Roberts ("Charlie’s Angels"), Leann Hunley ("Dawson’s Creek"), Ron Perlman ("Beauty and the Beast," "Price of Glory"), Wilmer Valderrama ('Fez' on "That ‘70s Show"), Steve Yeager (former Los Angeles Dodger) and Rogie Vachon (former L.A. Kings hockey player.)

That 1999 Celebrity Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, May 15. The celebrity host for 1999 was NYPD Blue's Dennis Franz. Other celeb players in 1999 included Jack Nicholson, James Woods, Dennis Quaid, Jane Seymour ("Dr. Quinn"), Craig T. Nelson ("Coach"), Jamie Farr ('Klinger' on "M*A*S*H"), Dennis Miller, Ron Perlman, Donnie Wahlberg, Tanya Roberts and many more.

Richard Dreyfuss ("Mr. Holland's Opus", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind") and Police Chief Bernard Parks hosted the 1998 event. Other celebrity players included Dennis Hopper ("Easy Rider"), comedian Damon Wayans, actor Robert Stack ("The Untouchables" and "America's Most Wanted"), and Thomas Gibson ('Greg' on the sitcom "Dharma & Greg'').

James Woods ("Contact," "Against All Odds") hosted the 1997 event, along with stars such as Dennis Franz ("NYPD Blue"), Billy Bob Thornton ("Sling Blade"), Ron Masak (Mort on "Murder, She Wrote") and Joe Pesci ("My Cousin Vinnie"). The host of the 1994 tournament was superstar Jack Nicholson, and Nicholson has returned to play in each year's event.

Other stars who have participated over the past few years include the late Jack Lemmon ("Grouchy Old Men"), David Carradine ("Kung Fu"), Leslie Nielsen (of the "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" movies), Samuel L. Jackson ("Pulp Fiction"), Robert Wagner ("Hart to Hart"), musician Kenny G, singer Pat Boone, actor Joe Regalbuto (Frank on "Murphy Brown"), Joe Santos (Lt. Becker on the "Rockford Files"), Michael Chiklis ("The Commish"), Tom Poston (the handyman, George, on "Newhart") comic Norm Crosby, and assorted soap opera stars, and the mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant.

In earlier years, the now-departed Frank Sinatra, Fred MacMurray, John Candy, Henry Fonda, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Dinah Shore, George Peppard, Telly Savalas and McClean Stevenson, also used to join the fund-raisers on the golf course.

One other bit of irony is that just one month before Jack Nicholson was to host the police golf tournament, he made headlines by jumping out of his car at a Studio City intersection, and smashing in the windshield of a stranger's Mercedes-Benz with - what else?- a golf club! (Nicholson reached an out-of-court settlement and all criminal charges against him were dismissed.)

Tickets are available at all LAPD stations and at the gate on the day of the event.

Phone for more details about this year's event.

 Getting there: Ranco Park is located near Century City.

Trump National Golf Course is located atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula, at One Ocean Trails Drive, in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ocean Trails Drive lies off Palos Verdes Drive, the main road which circles the peninsula (and offers breathtaking ocean views along the way).  The golf course is about three miles southeast of the Point Vicente lighthouse (for those familiar with that landmark).

Getting there can be a little tricky, though. Most people will probably take the Harbor (110) Freeway south to its end at San Pedro, where it become Gaffey Street, then take 1st Street west to Western Ave, Western south to 25th Street, then 25th St northwest to the golf course.

Alternatively, for a longer scenic route, one could take Hawthorne Blvd over the hill to Palos Verdes Drive South, turn left, and then just follow Palos Verdes Drive (past the lighthouse) until they come to Ocean trails Drive and the golf course (which would be on the driver's right side).

(If you've never been to that part of the world, it would benefit you greatly to study a map.)