Agostini on Golf: River Oaks kids program going strong 16 years later

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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Greg Silva remembers the conversation with River Oaks owner Rob Phipps more than 16 years ago.

"He asked me, 'Have you noticed there are no junior golf programs around here?'" said Silva, who was still breaking into his position back then as River Oaks' teaching pro. "Rob said, 'We're going to start our own junior golf during the summer, and we're going to attract 500 kids to the program within five years.' "

New junior golf program? Check.

Ron Agostini,
Bee Sports Columnist

500 kids within five years? Check. In fact, they got there in four.

Sadly, Phipps died in December of 2007, but part of his legacy is his commitment to junior golf. River Oaks steams into another summer of lessons and golf fun for juniors of all ages.

"It's still a huge part of junior golf in this area," said Silva, who still coordinates the project. "You have to say it's been successful."

Long before there was The First Tee of Modesto, there was junior golf instruction at River Oaks. Kids weren't even charged the first two years and today, the cost is still reasonable for the two four-week sessions June 9-July 3 and July 14-Aug. 7:

$30 per session for beginners, which includes seven group lessons and free use of River Oaks' practice range Monday through Friday.

Intermediates $50 — seven lessons plus free range and free use of the front nine.

Advanced $75 — seven lessons plus free range and free use of all 18 holes.

It leads to a tournament for all students on Aug. 7. An offshoot of the program are the River Oaks junior match-play tournaments, four each year, which have been staged the last 12 years.

Canadian Tour pro Ryan Thornberry, sisters Marina and Shawnee Martinez, and high school stars Daniel Covrig (Johansen) and Christine Uhalde (Beyer) all have benefited from River Oaks.

More than a few advanced juniors have taken advantage of what's happened at River Oaks. About 9,000 have learned the game's basics since Phipps' memorable conversation with Silva.

"The match play was kind of a pilot program. It was the next step to our instruction," Silva said. "I thought if I could get kids in competition early, they're players right away."

JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS — The Junior Golf Association of Northern California has geared up for more than 100 tournaments this summer. The fee is $75 to join, which opens doors to a circuit that has produced stars such as Johnny Miller, Juli Inkster, Pat Hurst, Christina Kim, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, Nick Watney, Awater's Matt Hansen and many others.

Modesto's Ken Miller, owner of McHenry Golf Center, is a past president of the JGANC and remains on the board along with Jane Smith of Turlock and local pros Shane Balfour, Dana Ebster and Jim Toal.

Close to home, the schedule is attractive for all juniors and skill levels:

The JGANC/NCPGA Championship, a premier event and the 29th time the juniors have come to Ripon's Spring Creek Country Club, June 15-18. The tournament closed its signups two weeks ago, however, after reaching the maximum 250 entries.

The Oakdale CC Junior, July 20.

The George Maroney Junior Memorial, at Dryden Park and Creekside, July 21-22.

The 57th Bumgardner Junior Memorial, at Del Rio CC, July 27-28.

The Turlock CC Junior, Aug. 3-4.

Information: www.jcanc.com.

THE SHAG BAG — Silva will promote the Play Golf America program by hosting a free clinic Saturday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at River Oaks. Glean a few tips from one of the area's best instructors on the driver. ... Cal State Stanislaus coach John Cook will advance to the U.S. Open's Sectional Qualifying, the 36-hole grind on June 8, at Saticoy CC in Somis. Cook watched his Warriors tie for sixth at the NCAA Division II Championships last week. ... Willie Toney, former assistant pro at Stevinson Ranch, now works at the famed Olympic Club.

HOLES-IN-ONE — Martha Jones, Modesto, 132-yard second at Del Rio CC (Oak), 5-wood. ... Dennis Halliday, Copperopolis, 187-yard 14th at Saddle Creek, Copperopolis, 5-wood.

Bee sports writer Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.