RE/MAX World Long Drive Announces 2008 Northern Illinois Competition Schedule

RE/MAX, the Chicago real estate leaders, is hosting World Long Drive qualifiers in northern Illinois for the 2008 season beginning June 21. All golfers can experience the challenge and excitement by competing in one of five divisions: the highly competitive Open Division, Women’s Division, Men’s Senior Division (45 to 52), Men’s Super Senior Division (53 to 60) and Men’s Grand Champion Division (61 and over).
The RE/MAX WLDC, organized by the Long Drivers of America, Inc. (LDA), provides an unsurpassed competitive arena testing how far and straight participants can drive a golf ball.

As part of the championship competition, a series of local qualifying events are scheduled this summer in northern Illinois. The RE/MAX WLDC gives competitors a chance to test their long driving skills against their friends as well as some of the world’s biggest hitters.

The entry fee is $40 for men’s Open and Senior divisions, $30 for the Women’s, Super Senior and Grand Champion divisions. It entitles a competitor to hit six golf balls at a 40-yard-wide measuring grid. Men’s drives must travel 250 yards to reach the grid; women’s drives must travel 200 yards.

Time permitting, a competitor may enter more than once, but a separate entry fee must be paid each time. Golf clubs used by competitors must be on the USGA list of conforming clubs.

Northern Illinois local qualifying events currently are scheduled on the following dates (additional qualifying events are likely to be added):
June 21, Saturday
Two events -- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Golf Shack, 1631 Bell School Rd., Rockford, Ill., 815-332-9998. Event director is Glen Stroberg.

June 28, Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Deer Creek Golf Club, 25055 Western Ave., University Park, Illinois, 708-662-6667. Event director is Dave Zajac, Sr.

Sept. 5, Friday
Two events -- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m., Golf Shack, Rockford, IL Event director is Glen Stroberg.

The Illinois-Wisconsin District Championship will take place Sept. 6-7 at the Golf Shack in Rockford, where top finishers in all divisions from local qualifying events will compete for slots in the world championship finals.

In the finals, competitors in the Women’s, Open, Senior, Super Senior and Grand Champion divisions can earn a share of a $600,000 purse (the largest in the history of the competition). The finals will be held Oct. 20 through 25 at the Palms Golf Club in Mesquite, Nev.

For more information about the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, call 888-233-4654 or go to http://www.longdrivers.com/.