Long Drive Veteran Cleverdon Heads Up Long Drivers Of Canada
ROANOKE, TEXAS (Jan. 25, 2008) – Long Drivers of America (LDA) today announced it has reached an operating agreement with start-up Long Drivers of Canada Inc.(LDC), which will conduct local and regional qualifying events associated with the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, the premier event in power golf.
LDC, headed by veteran long drive competitor Brett Cleverdon, a multi-time world finals participant, will also stage qualifying events in Canada for the Exceptional Driver Championship, LDA’s grass roots competition for amateur golfers that spans North America.
“LDA is pleased to have found a franchisee in Canada that can build on our sport’s rich tradition there,” said Art Sellinger, chief executive officer. “Brett Cleverdon and his team at LDC understand the demands of long drive competition and the desires of competitors. That base of experience and know-how will enable them to conduct first-class events. We consider this a win-win for LDA and LDC.”
LDA has existing franchisees that annually stage RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship qualifying events in more than 30 countries nationwide. Franchisees encompass Europe, South Africa, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, South America and the Caribbean, among others.
Now add Canada to the growing list.
“I am thrilled that LDA and Art Sellinger have given me the opportunity to purchase franchise rights for Canada,” said Cleverdon, who has competed in professional long drive since 1996. “It is a huge opportunity for me to grow the sport in a country that has produced the best long driver of all time (five-time RE/MAX world champion Jason Zuback, a Calgary resident and member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame) and is producing more superstars each year. I really look forward to running all the qualifying events in Canada associated with both the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and Exceptional Driver Championship.”
LDC will be based in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario; the company’s website is www.longdrivers.ca.
Cleverdon said LDC anticipates having three RE/MAX WLDC regional finals in Canada in 2008 and a Canadian Long Drive Championship. A total of 24 slots in five divisions at the RE/MAX world finals next fall will be available.
LDC will also stage Exceptional Driver Championship local qualifying tournaments in Canada in 2008 feeding into three regional finals; 12 competitors from the three regional events will advance to the 2009 EDC finals.
Long Drive Season Set to Start
First-stage qualifying for the 2008 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship begins with LDA’s Diamond in the Desert Classic, scheduled for Feb. 8-10 at the Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada. Local RE/MAX WLDC qualifying events begin immediately thereafter and continue globally during the spring and summer months.
RE/MAX WLDC local qualifiers will begin in Canada this spring. A complete schedule of Canadian qualifying events will be posted and maintained on the LDC website.
Twelve RE/MAX regional finals in the United States will unfold between the beginning of August and the middle of September.
RE/MAX championship week in Mesquite takes place on October 20-25. Nearly 300 long drive competitors from around the world will compete for titles in five adult divisions. At stake is a record purse of $600,000, with the open division champion earmarked to receive $250,000, by far the largest payday in the sport’s history.
The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is broadcast by ESPN and shown throughout Canada on TSN. The Exceptional Driver Championship airs on Golf Channel.
More information about the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and Exceptional Driver Championship is available at (888) 233-4654 or www.longdrivers.com.
Contact:
Brett Cleverdon, LDC, brett@longdrivers.ca
Russ Pate, LDA, (214) 349-3603
