RE/MAX LAUNCHES 2011 WORLD LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP
Category Regional News
RE/MAX of Southern Africa invites all long drivers and golfers to test their driving ability at the launch of the RE/MAX 2011 World Long Drive Championship. The first qualifying round of the championship will be held in conjunction with the RE/MAX charity golf day on 24 August at Zwartkop Country Club in Johannesburg.
The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is an annual golfing event which has been held in the USA and Canada for the past 15 years. Peter Gilmour, Chairman of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says that the championship was successfully brought to the country for the first time in 1998 by RE/MAX of Southern Africa, and over the years, the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship has evolved from a low-key event to the premier grass-roots long driving event in the world. "The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is one that includes golfers from virtually every corner of the globe, and one whose finals are televised annually on ESPN and ESPN2," he says.
Over the years longer and longer distances have also been recorded. "Whereas drives of 297 meters in the 1980s and early 1990s gave hitters a chance at making money, today's power hitters typically need to post at least 320 or 330 meters to advance in the qualifying rounds," says Gilmour. "In 2008, the winning distances over the 13 events held locally were between 320 and 403 metres."
South Africa was also well represented at the international event last year. Erik van der Walt of Pretoria won the South Africa 2010 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship at the national final held at Maritzburg Golf Club in Pietermaritzburg, with a drive of 362 metres. He went on to compete with other drivers at the Mesquite event although he was knocked out in the early rounds. Rynardt Combrinck, the 2008 South African champion, was placed second in the South African championships last year with a drive of 352.9 metres while Ryan Lowe finished third with a drive of 339 metres. Louw hit a distance of 414.4 yards (378.9 metres) in the World quarter finals last year, although he was knocked out during semi finals with a drive of 388 yards (354.79 metres). Louw also holds the record for the "highest ever ball speed recorded by Trackman" of 224.9 mph (361.94 km) and was placed fifth in the 2009 World Championship. The 2008 World Championship runner up, Dewald Gouws, came in fourth at the South African Championships last year with a drive of 320 metres. Ryan Louw and Dewald Gouws have both received exemptions to participate in this year's event due to their performance in the 2010 World Finals.
This year's South African champion will join others from 80 different countries to compete at the World Long Drive finals in Mesquite, Nevada in October. Aside from the qualifying round to be held on 24 August, other South African qualifying events will be held on 29 August at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club West Course and on 2 and 3 September at the Gardener Ross Golf and Country Estate course.
Make sure you participate or watch some of South Africa's longest hitters in action as they compete for the top positions to secure their spots in the National Final shootout scheduled for 3 September at Gardener Ross.
Should you require any additional information, please contact Sandy Smith on 082 991 0687 or ssaneproject1@telkomsa.net
