2006 Re/Max Junior World Long Drive Championship

[DavidY]

Know anyone going the 2006 Re/Max Junior World Long Drive Championships in Fort Worth, Texas (July 13-15th)?

A 18 year old Grade 12 student from the BC interior (Matt L) is heading down there. His ball speed has been clocked between 182 and 188 mph with a regulation driver. He's very tall (6'8") and gangly. His longest drive this year has been reported at 365 yards. Earlier this season, he had cracked two $500 Ping drivers. Normally he shoots high 70's to low 80's. From 150 yards, he uses a pitching wedge. But it appears that his shortcoming is putting.....all info obtained from a local newspaper.

Dave

[Thimble]

it ain't all just swing speed. a big part of long driving is equipment. some of these guys spend at least a grand per driver! and they gotta have lots of them to suit different conditions and breakage. not a cheap sport by any means and the rewards are very small.

[DavidY]

Since I live in a small city and it's at least 8 hours away from the nearest big city, the local golfers don't have regular access to a launch monitor....just a swing speed monitor at a local Nevada Bob dealer.

Several weeks ago, during a demostration day, people were testing out a launch monitor at a local golf course. The head pro there knew of a kid, a part time worker at the club, that had a very long drive and wanted to see the kid's launch monitor results. The Ping rep during the demo reported that the kid's recorded swing speed was faster than he had ever seen. Within several days of the demo and probably a few long distance phone calls, the kid was going to Fort Worth, Texas. Funding for the trip south is suppose to be paid by the head pro, a few golf course members and the men's tournament committee.

All of this is due to a reported growth spurt (six feet to 6'6" over two years).

I am definately sure that the skinny kid doesn't have thousands of special drivers like Fister. However, the head pro has recently provided him with a specialized long drive club...and possibly knocking a golf ball over the 345 yard driving range and into private tennis courts. Due to liability/safety issues, the kid was prevented from hitting any more long drives.

P.S. In the 2005 tourney, the boy's 16-18 winner hit a 400 yard drive. 2nd and 3rd place hit 385 yard drives. 4th place got 379.

Dave

[Golfer18]

What's the big deal about hitting a PW 150 yrds, I do im only 16, 5'10 and he probly only averages like 280 of the tee. It sounds like he is not a great golfer.

[wayland]

there's a TGN tournament coming up. Why don't you sign up and you can come showoff in front of everyone. Or you can simply sit at home in your mom's basement hiding behind that screen name, being arrogant and obnoxious.


What's the big deal about hitting a PW 150 yrds, I do im only 16, 5'10 and he probly only averages like 280 of the tee. It sounds like he is not a great golfer.

[DavidY]

What's the big deal about hitting a PW 150 yrds, I do im only 16, 5'10 and he probly only averages like 280 of the tee. It sounds like he is not a great golfer.

Just getting an invite to THE long drive event is a honour itself IMO. He is one of only 27 in his age category at this event. BTW, did you get an invite to this event? If not, he's one up on you. :rofl:

Dave

[wrigley]

What's the length of his driver? At 6'8" it has to be the size of a hockey stick!

[DavidY]

What's the length of his driver? At 6'8" it has to be the size of a hockey stick!

Probably the max permitted....50 inches. A local TV news noted that he's getting another long driver built from components. Until recently, he has been using stock drivers like Ping....and breaking them on occasion.

Dave

[Dan_L]

Probably the max permitted....50 inches. A local TV news noted that he's getting another long driver built from components. Until recently, he has been using stock drivers like Ping....and breaking them on occasion.

Dave

If he was using a stock length driver for those drives then wouldnt an even longer driver have some sort of "learning curve"??

[Thimble]

If he was using a stock length driver for those drives then wouldnt an even longer driver have some sort of "learning curve"??

yep. but then again... he's only gotta get 1/6 in the fairway...

[TourIQ]

What's the big deal about hitting a PW 150 yrds, I do im only 16, 5'10 and he probly only averages like 280 of the tee. It sounds like he is not a great golfer.

Hi Golfer18

Do you know the loft of your irons and wedges?

Was it down wind or on dry hard packed fairways? For example, did you know TaylorMade is touting the new http://www.taylormadegolf.com/media/uploads/iron-r7-xd-hdr.gif http://www.taylormadegolf.com/media/uploads/iron-r7-xd-subhdr.gif as delivering 'Extra Distance Without Extra Effort' BUT the loft of the 9-iron is set at 39* with the matching r7 XD PW at 44*. In my books those clubs are an 8 and a 9-iron.

[phil17]

What's the big deal about hitting a PW 150 yrds, I do im only 16, 5'10 and he probly only averages like 280 of the tee. It sounds like he is not a great golfer.

Just because you hit your PW 150 once really far does not mean that you hit it 150 all the time. No offense but I doubt that you hit your PW 150 on a consistant basis.

[DavidY]

A local boy, Matt Leslie, places 6th in the 16-18 category....qualified at 406 yards, but only got OBs in the finals. Heard from a local club member that he only bought a couple of drivers with him....unfortunately, he broke one during the championship. A very good result for only having a month's experience before heading down to his first long drive event.

2006 results here:

http://longdrivers.com/news/remax/071706.html

Dave

[golfinseb]

long drive is kinda neat, but its only the smallest part of the entire gofl game

[TourIQ]

2006 results here: http://longdrivers.com/news/remax/071706.html (http://longdrivers.com/news/remax/071706.html)
Dave

Boys 16-18
Jamie Sadlowski, 420
Alan Manning, 403

Alan hits it over 400 yards and ONLY comes in 2nd ... :rofl: in Boys Division!