2006 REMAX Mens Senior Division Champion Gerry James from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, hitting the longest and straightest in the Finals Competition, at 366 yards 31 inches, using Taylormade R7 TP 7.5 degree Driver with a Graphite Design shaft.

          Absolute Power - Open, Senior, Super Senior and Women's divisions. The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is open to pros and amateurs alike.
          In the sport of professional long drive, the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is the red carpet event. It’s the Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe, all rolled up into one Gargantuan show. In a word, it’s huge.
          The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship brings together an international field of golf’s biggest hitters. It offers long drive’s largest purse, $500,000, and pays the open division champion a cool $125K.
          The RE/MAX WLDC in scenic Mesquite, Nevada is where long drive careers are launched and reputations are made. Winning a RE/MAX world title is the dream of every golfer who’s ever swung a driver so hard and fast that he or she came off their feet and almost out of their shoes.
          It’s been said that to be the best, you have to beat the best. Anyone interested in beating the best long drivers knows where to find them — at the RE/MAX world finals.
          Floridian Gerry James, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, won the senior division for the second consecutive year. When asked, he said that he would be back in 2007 to defend his title again.
          Gerry James is the tallest WLD Senior Champion ever, at 6’5” tall. He won the 2006 WLD Championship hitting 366 yards 31 inches, within the grid. When asked about the type of driver he used, Gerry told reporters he used a Taylormade R7 TP 7.5 degree Driver with a Graphite Design shaft.

Senior Gerry James from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL hoists his 1st Place Trophy

Pam Garrity of Jupiter FL. placed #4 in the Womens Division of the WLDC

Pictured above and below: Leanne Quinn, from Winter Haven Florida, placed #8 in the Womens Division of the 2006 REMAX World Long Drive Championship

          We have a first hand account of this years World Long Drive Championship from eye-witness, Leanne Quinn, who was there as a competitor. Quinn, the proverbial girl next door, hails from Winter Haven Florida, hometown of Florida Golf Magazine.
          Quinn, (also pictured on the previous page), made it all the way to #8 in the Womens Division of the 2006 REMAX World Longdrive Championship. We asked her a few questions about her experience, competing in this years Longdrive.
FGM: How many Floridians made the semi-finals?
Quinn: Two in the Women's division, but only Pam Garrity of Jupiter, Florida made the women’s final four...
FGM: How many preliminaries did you have go through to get to the semifinals?
Quinn: Its a double elimination of 7 rounds. I won three times without a loss in the early rounds. This was great and fortunate because that took me all the way to round eight . Last year in 2005, I lost once in an early round and had to battle back up through the losers's brackets. Its much less fatiguing to avoid early losses.
FGM: How far did you make it?
Quinn: I made it to the round 8 or the quarter final round. Basically the whole event starts out as a double elimination from the approx 50 women whom have qualified from around the world. The double elimination bracket system gets the field down to a final group of ten. The last ten meet up in the quarter final round and have a shoot-out for four spots to go on to the semi-final round. Then, its gets really exciting as the four semi-finalist go to match play to end up two semi-finalist and eventually one winner.
FGM: How will you prepare for next years event?
Quinn: I am going to continue with the same mixed bag for training incorporating strength, power, and flexibility work. I was disappointed in my performance down the stretch this year.Its a long day of swinging hard and my swing seemed to tighten up towards the end of the day. I think this is a product of tension and fatigue. I have a few new ideas about next year's training. I think for me to make it to the final round its all about strength and endurance. Next year I will be ready. I have some imbalances and weakness in my body and these have lead to fatigue, inconsisitency, and injury. Also, I am going to have to get better at adjusting my swing under pressure. You have to be able to adapt if something is not working. It could be as simple as changing your set up or grabbing a different club. Repeating a bad swing is like chasing bad money, it never ends well and you keep digging a bigger hole.
FGM: What will it take to win next year?
Quinn: I am guessing 330yds for the women's divivision. Thats the number I will be aiming for.
FGM: Why do you like competing in long drive?
Quinn: I like having a focus for my training and practicing. I like the challenge of trying to perform under pressure. When things occasionally all come together its a great feeling. Also its a tight liitle group and its great to see the same faces each year. Everyone is so passionate about the sport. Its nice to be around that.
          
          We’ll be watching the 2007 World Long Drive Championship to see how many Floridians bring home trophies. Maybe Quinn could bring a first place trophy home to Winter Haven.