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Diablo Grande To
Host Second California Stop In 2006
by Marty Henwood/Focused Sports & Entertainment
January 24, 2006
PATTERSON, California--Focused Sports & Entertainment today announced a
three-year agreement with Diablo Grande Resort to host and sponsor a
Canadian Tour event as part of the California swing.
 The
7,100-yard, par-72 Legends West Course at Diablo Grande, co-designed by
legends Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen, will play host to the California
Classic April 17th-23rd.
Diablo Grande, a world-class resort featuring two award-winning courses,
is set on 33,000 acres in the historic Oak Flat Ranch and is surrounded
by 40 acres of its proprietary vineyards and winery.
“It is a great privilege for our members to play the fine golf courses
that they do throughout the season and I am confident that their
experience at Diablo Grande will be very special”, stated Canadian Tour
Commissioner Richard Janes. “This will be a wonderful test of golf and a
very welcomed addition to the California Swing of the Canadian Tour.”
“Diablo Grande fits ideally into
our long-term strategy to create sponsorship and community value around
the Canadian Tour,” said Tom Ondrejicka, Focused Sports &
Entertainment’s Vice President of Marketing & Business Development. “It
is a classic layout which Canadian Tour professionals will both enjoy
and find challenging.”
Diablo Grande replaces Del Rio Country Club (Modesto, CA) as host of the
California Classic. Last fall, Del Rio implemented course maintenance
changes designed to enhance fairway turf conditions. The benefits of
these changes are not expected to be fully realized prior to the
scheduled date of the 2006 Tournament.
“It is always difficult to replace such a fine and respected venue as
Del Rio,” said Focused Sports principal Pat Bennett. “However, doing so
quickly and with such an outstanding facility as Diablo Grande is not
only pleasing but an indication of the quality of play and the high
regard those in the golf business hold the Canadian Tour.”
“We’re very excited about today’s announcement,” said Shane Balfour,
Diablo Grande’s Director of Golf Operations. “Diablo Grande joins a
select few facilities capable of hosting a world class golf event. We
look forward to the international field that is setting its sights on
Diablo Grande April 17th to 23rd. Our site, facilities, staff and
management are eager to host the Canadian Tour and showcase Diablo
Grande.”
The Diablo Grande tournament is the second California event to be
confirmed for the 2006 Canadian Tour season. Brookside CC in Stockton
will play host to the Northern California Classic March 20-26.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for us,” added Don Panoz, Managing
Owner of Diablo Grande. “The Canadian Tour is made up of a group of
golfers with the goal of one day playing on the biggest tour in the
world. That energy mirrors how we built this property and continue to
develop it. It all comes down to vision. I am looking forward to the
event and meeting these exceptional golfers as they compete on our
Legends course and enjoy what we have to offer”.
Focused Sports & Entertainment, a Stockton, California-based sports
promotion company, will also promote the Northern California Classic at
Brookside CC. This will be Brookside’s third year hosting a Canadian
Tour event. Focused Sports & Entertainment markets the Canadian Tour
across the state of California and expects to expand the California
Swing for the 2007 Canadian Tour season.
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