By Russ Pate
Several things LDA members should know and ponder as the season-opening Desert Launch approaches:
Purse Adjustment – Total prize money for the Desert Launch is $44,000. The open division, as previously announced, pays 12 spots a total of $33,500. The senior division pays four spots a total of $10,500. Senior division prize money was adjusted downward after the number of Desert Launch entrants (15) fell short of a full field (24 hitters).
Pace of Play – Barring unforeseen developments, Desert Launch tournament director Mike Ambriz expects open division on-site qualifying on Wednesday to take about 2.5 hours. A total of 45 open division hitters will be competing for 28 spots in the main draw. Competition in the Desert Launch senior division competition will start at 2 p.m. and last roughly 2.5 hours.
Dress for Success – Sunshine should be abundant in the Virgin Valley on February 7-8. Even so, temperatures in Mesquite in the early morning and late afternoon can be, shall we say, nippy. Desert Launch competitors should take steps to have several layers of clothing available at all times, lest they potentially be victimized by a big chill.
Research Project – One of LDA’s newest members, Dr. Abraham T. Rasul, Jr., will be in Mesquite conducting an ongoing study of the sequence of muscle contraction in the golf swing. Should they wish, Desert Launch competitors are welcome to assist with Dr. Rasul’s research.
The Tucson-based physician will be on the scene at the Palms GC using a surface electrode electromyography system that analyzes muscle sequences while recording swings on video. Notes Dr. Rasul in recent correspondence with LDA: "If the golfers are interested, I can discuss the findings and recommend pertinent exercises for any abnormal muscle activity." (Thanks, doc, but some long drivers simply wish to know how to find the grid under pressure.) Be sure to introduce yourself to Dr. Rasul if the opportunity presents itself.
Magnificent Seven – The European delegation at the Desert Launch swelled to seven with the addition of Sweden’s Johan Tumba and England’s Joe Miller. Both finished in the top seven on the 2006 Long Drivers of Europe (LDE) Order of Merit — Miller fourth and Tumba seventh.
If you haven’t heard of Miller, winner of the 2005 RE/MAX European Championship (where Tumba was third), either you’re new to long drive or you’ve been in a fog for the past 24 months. Knowledgeable sources say no one in the sport swings a golf club any faster.
Previously announced hitters crossing the pond for the Desert Launch are Sweden’s Mikael Lindblom, Marcus Edblad and Christian "The Viking" Sterning, plus England’s Daniel Konyk and Adam "Stinger" Stacey.
A Special Request – Those Desert Launch competitors who gain coveted RE/MAX WLDC exemptions for 2007 are kindly asked to contact me at their earliest convenience and share the deets on their splendid achievement. Ditto for Diamond in the Desert Classic entrants who sack up world finals spots over the weekend.
Good luck to all long drivers headed to Mesquite. No doubt you’ll get the 2007 long drive season off to a blazing start.
Contact:
Russ Pate
rrprsp@airmail.net
(214) 349-3603