GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A record field of nearly 50 foursomes is expected to tee off at Egypt Valley Country Club on Aug. 30 for the 16th Annual Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic, presented by Meijer and Dean Foods.

Continued growth of the classic, one of the largest charitable events in West Michigan, has spurred two significant changes for its second year at this renowned club in Ada, Mich., which recently hosted the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.

Two 18-hole courses will be used for the first time in the event’s history, with half of the field playing on the Ridge course and half on the Valley course. In addition, every participant will have the opportunity to walk away with high-end electronics and other exclusive items through a newly revamped raffle and auction that will take place during the post-event dinner.

Ten-dollar raffle tickets will give attendees the chance to win nearly 100 items from Michigan businesses and attractions, including a 32” Vizio LCD HDTV, a Samsung Blue Ray/DVD player, an HP Mini Notebook PC, a Magellan GPS, an iPod touch, an iPod nano, an iHome system, an RCA portable DVD player, Sony noise-cancelling head phones, a Nikon Coolpix S3000 camera, and golf equipment such as Calloway irons and Taylor Made drivers.

Live auction items will include a 40” Samsung LED HDTV, two round-trip tickets on AirTran, use of a 20-person suite at a West Michigan Whitecaps game, a ride-along in a Grand Rapids Police Department patrol car (four to 12 hours), a two-night stay at the Inn at Bay Harbor, $1,000 gift cards for Calloway and AK Rikk’s, a Darren McCarty autograph package including a jersey, and a Washington Capitals jersey autographed by Kentwood native Mike Knuble.

In addition, a silent auction will be conducted offering rounds of golf at some of the premier courses in Michigan, including Egypt Valley, The Jewel on Mackinac Island, Pilgrim’s Run in Pierson, and Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

For a complete list of raffle and auction items, please click here.

Knuble and several Griffins personalities, including captain Jamie Tardif, coaches Curt Fraser and Jim Paek and GM Bob McNamara, are scheduled to play in the scramble format that tees off at 10 a.m.

Registration is still available for individual golfers ($225) and foursomes ($800), while sponsorships start at $1,000. For more information, please visit griffinskids.org or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 3027.

The golf classic serves as the primary fundraiser for the Griffins Youth Foundation, whose mission is to promote academic excellence, community involvement and healthy lifestyles among the youth of West Michigan, enhancing their lives through hockey and ice-related sports. Last year’s outing netted almost $80,000 for the foundation, providing funds that enabled nearly 200 underprivileged or underserved kids to participate in the foundation’s various programs – including first-through-ninth grade hockey, Girl Scout hockey and sled hockey – at no cost.