Agostini On Golf: Get a boost with new golf gear

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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Looking for a deal on apparel or equipment? Wishing to try out the latest irons or metal clubs? Seeking a discount on a round of golf?

All the above will be available at the first Valley Golf Expo Demo Day and Liquidation Tent Sale, an event for golfers and golf fans on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Creekside.

"I've heard about events like this around the country and wanted to try out something in our area," said event director Mike Dowd, the head pro at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. "It's pretty much a year-end clearance sale for golf clubs who want to get rid of their old stuff and for customers to try out the new stuff."

Displaying their wares will be pro shops from Del Rio, Spring Creek, Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Tracy and Creekside. Equipment from TaylorMade, Cobra, Titleist, Callaway, Adams, PowerBilt also will be on hand.

Green fees and carts also will be discounted at Creekside that day for golf. Adding to the atmosphere will be the 2010 model cars from Heritage Ford and American Chevrolet. For golf lovers and those always on the lookout for a good deal, what's not to love?

"Everyone loves a sale. We're hoping it is a multi-purpose event," Dowd said. "We're starting small this year and hoping it will grow."

The Creekside demo day will be staged the same day as the Tour Players First Tee Benefit, a clinic and golf auction and raffle featuring Modesto's PGA Tour Pro Matt Bettencourt. The open-to-the-publc fundraiser will be held from noon until 3 p.m. at Del Rio CC's practice center.

Bettencourt will be joined by fellow pro Colt Knost, the 2007 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links champion and member of the victorious Walker Cup team.

Activities include a demonstration of a First Tee class and a clinic featuring Bettencourt and Knost. Auction items are topped by a foursome of golf with Bettencourt and part-time Modestan and Tour standout John Merrick.

Merrick and the other pros have donated much equipment to be raffled. Featured in the raffle are drivers signed by Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, a shirt autographed by Lee Trevino and rounds of golf at area clubs.

"You can come to our demo day in the morning and jump over to Del Rio in the afternoon," Dowd said. "It gives you more than one reason to come to Modesto."

Both the demo day and the First Tee event are free and open to the public. Call 847-2924 or 571-5123 for information on the day day. For the Bettencourt and Knost clinic, call 341-2414 for more information.

• THE SHAG BAG — Mini-tour pro Stan Mathews of Manteca tied for second last week at the Northern California Open at Davis' El Macero CC. Mathews (68-65-72) finished five swings behind winner Todd Fischer of Livermore. ...Tickets for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, set for next Feb. 11-14, will be discounted 25 percent through Oct. 9 to recognize AT&T's 25th anniversary as title sponsor. Visit www.attpbgolf.com or the tournament box office, (800) 541-9091.

• HOLES-IN-ONE — David Starck, Modesto, two aces within one month at Spring Creek club tournaments in Ripon: the 155-yard 15th, 8-iron; and the 165-yard 12th, 7-iron. He played golf for 40 years without a hole-in-one. "The real drama was that both holes-in-one were my last shots of each tournament. What a way to finish," he said.

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