Columnist Peter Benton: New golf store offers cloned, knock-off clubs

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 | 11:41 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Well, fellow golfers, there's a new kid on the block.

This "kid" is Baker Boys Affordable Golf, on the southeast corner of Rainbow and Eastern.

What sets this new entity apart from other golf retailers in the city is that this store -- run by professional Mike Colandro -- sells only cloned, copied or knock-off clubs.

No top-of-the-line brand-name clubs are sold here, but you can purchase copies of Callaway, Titleist, Taylor Made, Ping or Tommy Armour.

I am not advocating that these clubs are good or bad because I really don't know. However, for someone who is considering taking up golf, the opportunity to obtain a full set of clubs, golf bag, a dozen balls, plus five private golf lessons for $299, or a full set of irons -- steel or graphite -- for $199, sure sounds good.

Affordable Golf is also selling a replica of the new rage, the Calloway ERC driver, which retails from $500 to $700. This outlet's copy of the new trampoline effect driver, a UST gold-shafted 400cc True Power, goes for $199 and conforms to all USGA specifications.

Apart from selling and custom fitting clubs, you can have your clubs regripped or repaired, have loft, lie and alignment checked, and receive golf lessons.

The professional giving these lessons is the aforementioned Colandro, whose name may conjure up memories for golfers who have lived here for a while.

Colandro was an assistant pro under Charlie Teel at the Sahara Country Club back in 1978-79. He gained his U.S. PGA Tour credentials in late 1979 and played the Tour full-time in 1980-81 before losing his card.

He spent many years on the Australasia tour, where in 1987 he defeated such luminaries as Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle and Bernahrd Langer to win the New Zealand Open, and he also was victorious in the 1990 Western Australian PGA Championship. In 1992 he won the Victorian Open in British Columbia, Canada.

Colandro qualified and competed in three U.S. Opens and two British Opens and avows that there are very few countries he has not visited or played in as a professional golfer.

It is pleasing that Colandro has decided to settle in Las Vegas. Even if you are not in the market for new clubs, pop in and say hello to him.

The Las Vegas Founders Club has announced that the 18-hole qualifying event is expected to have a full complement of 156 competing for the four available spots to fill the 78-player field for our Senior Classic.

This qualifying tournament is open to all professional golfers over the age of 50. Any amateurs who wish to compete must declare themselves professional at the time of completing their entry forms.

The $1.4 million Las Vegas Senior Classic is scheduled for April 20-22 at the TPC Summerlin.

Full entry information may be obtained by calling (702) 242-3000.