Vancouver Island long-hitters will be able to show off their power at a RE/Max World Long Driving Championship qualifier July 5-7 at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach.
Three qualifying positions 鈥� two in the open class and one in senior 鈥� are available to advance to the main competition in Mesquite, Nev., Sept. 18-27. From there, eight finalists will advance to the championship, set for Oct. 30 under the lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The finals will be aired on The Golf Channel and carry a total of $250,000 in prize money.
How鈥檚 that for drive for dough?
Matt Leslie, who competed in the 2012 world championship, is the local organizer along with Andy Robison of Duncan. He says there is no pre-registration, so it鈥檚 a first-come, first-serve competition open in the two classes of 45-and-under and over-45 for men (there is a women鈥檚 division for worlds, but it鈥檚 a buy-in position).
鈥淲e鈥檙e not sure how many we鈥檒l get,鈥� said Leslie, who qualified for worlds last season out of an Oklahoma event. 鈥淲e could have 10 guys; ideally I鈥檇 like to have 50 to 60. I would love it if we had 100 tries.鈥�
The Friday and Saturday events are local qualifiers where competitors can try as many times as they like within two-hour time periods. The longest four from each of those events moves on to the regional on Sunday.
The driving range at Pheasant Glen will have a grid set up on the left-hand side and warm up area on the right.
An entry fee of $40 gets you six balls and if you advance to regionals, it becomes a $150 touch.
鈥淚 know the West Coast hasn鈥檛 seen one [a qualifier] for at least 10 years,鈥� said Leslie, who is affiliated with the Uplands Golf Club.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to get all the boys who think they can hit it long. We鈥檙e hoping to separate the men from the boys,鈥� Leslie said with a chuckle. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e donating the proceeds back to the junior program at Pheasant Glen. We鈥檙e not interested in making money, we鈥檙e just hoping to get an annual event going here.鈥�
Equipment wise, competitors must use USGA conforming equipment, which means the longest the driver can be is 127 centimetres long. All clubheads have to be conforming.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 within length restrictions, you鈥檙e good to go,鈥� said Leslie, who won his qualifier in Oklahoma last year with a poke of 391 yards, but couldn鈥檛 pull it together at worlds in Mesquite.
鈥淚t was a bit into the wind, but the ball goes a lot farther in Oklahoma than on the Island here,鈥� Leslie said of the 2012 competition. 鈥淚f we saw some 391-yard numbers here I鈥檇 be blown away.
鈥淟ast year I had a pretty poor showing [at worlds],鈥� added Leslie, who will be competing at Pheasant Glen. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 hit the ball very well when I got down there so I only made it through a couple of rounds.鈥�
The Pheasant Glen event will begin at 9 a.m. on the Friday and Saturday and regionals go at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Competitors will play Slazenger balls, which are assigned throughout all RE/Max World Long Driving Championship qualifiers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 basically like a rock. It鈥檚 rock hard and at higher swing speeds it allows you to hit it pretty far,鈥� said Leslie. 鈥淭he same balls are used across the board.鈥�
LONGball Inc. is the title sponsor for the event and will be providing qualifiers with clothing contracts. Crystal trophies will also be given to the winners.
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