The LDA Tour "Endless Summer Invitational"

[AArdvark]

The time has finally come gentleman!

For the first time, in a long time, a Major LDA Tour Event will be held in Southern California! The Endless Summer Invitational promises to be the "Must See" event of 2012! This will be the second biggest purse/ event in North America along side the Re/Max World Long Drive Championships. 48 of the most elite Long Drivers in the World will mingle with sponsors at black tie parties and dinner events. Then flex their power on one of the best grids in the World at the prestigious Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia, CA.

"My Goal was to make the Endless Summer Invitational the best event on the LDA Tour" said Tournament host Jeff Farley. "I have been competing in this sport for 10 years, I know how special the talent in this sport is, and I wanted all of our hitters to feel special when they attend the ESI"!

Preliminary rounds of the Endless Summer Invitational will be held at the Mid-Hill Driving Range in Corona, California.

"Our grid in Corona is downwind 90% of the time" said Marty, owner of the Mid Hill Range. "Conditions in June should be perfect for the 48 hitters invited to attend" he continued.

If you would like to enter the Endless Summer Invitational please go to this link.
http://www.endlesssummerinvitational.com/register-Professional.html

[myellow]

Why is this scheduled so close to the TN shootout? That's too close to plan your travels unless u plan on flying there straight from tennessee

[StevePratt]

Will the new tee area at Mid Hill be ready A.J.? I am interested in seeing what it looks like.

[mrbig]

It's two days after Tenn, just book your flight right after Tenn.  Should be less flying because you can book a three way flight.

[bigjunk]

prestigious Alta Vista Golf Club in Placentia....hmmm, I live 5 minutes away and never knew it held such accolades
played there numerous times musta been on a different 9 or 18 ?

[BTOWNBOMB]

 I can't remember for sure but when this tournament was first announced  it was going to be a 32 man field with 15 to 20 thousand for 1st place. Just got my brochure on this tournament and now it is a 72 man field with a $750 entry fee with $12,000 for 1st and $6,000 for 2nd. A regular LDA tour event is a 48 man field with $650 entry fee with $10,000 for 1st and $6,000 for 2nd. The odds of winning got harder with 24 more people, the costs of competing went up $100 but the prizes pretty much stayed the same. Just wondering what happened?? I understand that there are a lot of costs running a tournament but there is $14,000 taken out of the players entry fees

[POUNDS IT]

I can't remember for sure but when this tournament was first announced  it was going to be a 32 man field with 15 to 20 thousand for 1st place. Just got my brochure on this tournament and now it is a 72 man field with a $750 entry fee with $12,000 for 1st and $6,000 for 2nd. A regular LDA tour event is a 48 man field with $650 entry fee with $10,000 for 1st and $6,000 for 2nd. The odds of winning got harder with 24 more people, the costs of competing went up $100 but the prizes pretty much stayed the same. Just wondering what happened?? I understand that there are a lot of costs running a tournament but there is $14,000 taken out of the players entry fees

Hey bro, I got mine in the mail the other day too and thought the same thing. $54,000 for entry fees and only $40,000 gets paid out. Which the $40,000 says its based on a full field of 72. I highly doubt that you'll get the full 72. So, if you don't is the payout going to stay the same? I applaude the efforts of Jeff and company putting on the tournament but this kinda feels a little like the 2011 Mile High Shootout. More entry fee money and more players but the same payout.

Gentry

[Allen]

Kevin & Landon,

I believe this is what you are going to see out of every tournament from here on in. I do think there are a few tourneys that pay back the entire amount of entry fees, but it is now up to the player to put up all costs associated in running an event. I guess with lack of sponsorship the players are now considered the sponsors of long drive. I do agree with you guys 100% and hope more sponsors come on board eventually. I think I have said enough on this in previous posts. I really think the players should run their own events.

[rdwinther]

That is very disappointing.  The only event last year where we didnt hit for "our own" money was Denver.  Now this one is going to be the same?  Total bummer, even after we talked about it at hooters in denver last year.
Ill still probably go, but its too bad that it has come to this

Ryan Winther

[Geekoman]

Is it really that hard to canvas local companies/businesses to put up X amount of $$$ in addition to monies LDers put up?

I see local golf tournaments, at some muni, offering no more than lunch or dinner and a round of golf with some sort of silent auction with entry fees upwards of $250.00 per and not only do they generate all kinds of funds from local business sponsors...but, just the entry fees alone weighs heavy as well!

Now let's take a field of mostly the finest Pro LDers in the World and you guys can't generate Jack!!??

What the Hell is up with that?

Would someone please explain the logic in that regard?

[bombinbrian]

As someone who has ran an event for the past two years and am in the middle of planning the third, I wanted to chime in. THis is my opinion only.

Running an event is HARD work. The time and effort it takes is tremendous. THe last two years I have been lucky to not have to pay for the golf course use. I didn't make any cash myself on the pro-am gifts. I ran it for the pure enjoyment of seeing "the guys".

If one looks for sponsors, and looks at getting a bunch instead of one or two, it can be done. Long Drive is a sport of extreemness. Everyone likes it. But you are not going to find many people to plop down $10,000 or more for a local event. I run mine on $500 sponsors and below. Last year I doubled the purse in entry fees. People aren't going to get rich, but they brought home $3000-$4000 and had a great weekend for a win.

If you don't like hitting for less than your own money don't go, but this seems to be the trend. My event will never be like this, but soooo many are.

Good luck to everyone

[T-Rex]

Both the Dixie and the Masters last year paid out more than the entry fees last year. This year we are planning on adding more to pot. I wanna say Bullards events also pay more than the entry fee.

[mem400]

To be honest on the APG events we end up out of pocket. However we dont mind because we love offering you guys a place to display your awesome talents.


Matt

[Geekoman]

There has to be a better way.  When I say that I mean....The Host and crew makes money for time, effort and equipment.  The Lders get a purse/payoff that is WELL beyond their own pockets.  Lastly, a gallery of fans is present!

I think of AP and others overseas and they seem to generate all of the above...all the time (So I am told)!

And please.....Do not misunderstand me....any of you that puts on an event or is part of any event you should be applauded...I just think that your skills and talent are not being taken advantage of fully to generate more $$$ for you to compete for.  Something is being overlooked here.

[Allen]

Steve,

Unfortunately it seems as though we as players are very lucky to even have tournaments. This is the sentiment I have received from many anytime there is a question as to why full entry fee money isn't paid out etc.... There obviously is no interest in finding the smaller sponsors. Everything is based on some sponsor bringing in 1K or more to an event or maybe even higher. Somewhere along the lines the smaller mom and pop operation doesn't exist. Also as players we are not privy to the expense it costs to run events or what the LDA, ALDA fee is so it is really hard to figure how much needs to be raised to make the event profitable. I do applaud everyone for running events, however the money is terrible. There really is no better way to say it. Long drivers are such a close knit family that they try and support everyone. This is the reason most fields fill up. We also like to compete, but since the money has dropped there needs to be a way to pick this up on the back end. Maybe change the format to give hitters more opportunities to hit. $750 is allot of money for a long driver to pay especially when all I hear is how bad the economy is and how there are no sponsors out there. Apparently we as long drivers have all the money. Realistically it costs players about 1,500-2K to travel to these events so it would be nice to feel appreciated for doling out that kind of cash. We are expected to be on our best behavior, attend pro-ams, black tie dinners so it would be nice if they had some player swag there or just something to say thanks for supporting the event. Have some towels made up of the event. Anything would be nice.   

[Geekoman]

Excellent post Allen.  I had to chuckle a bit at the thought of most Pro LDers having to wear and attend a Black-Tie party.  (i.e. not only all the expense of just attending the event..but, now you have to rent a tux on top of it all...LOL!)

In any case, I really find it fascinating that the majority will spend large amounts of monies to support and compete in most any event concerning LDing!  I am impressed!

So, after consulting with Mark R., I have decided to try this myself.  It will have to happen in 2013 as no way this year...just too much on the table for Geek.  I do not want to rush into this if I cannot generate a first class event with large payoffs to LDers...first and foremost, with minimal entry fees!  We have some radical ideas that could work...maybe!  But, the main gist of my getting involved is no more than I want to see if I can really pull it off.  I have no desire to make either a business of this or even possibly doing it a 2nd time.  I just want to do it for selfish reasons...to see if I can do it!  If it does happen to work successfully, it will be a blueprint for you to follow, if it happens at all.  It may not be feasible for what I have in mind.  In other words, if we cannot pull off a first class event...I won't waste either your time or my time!

After watching LDers and grass roots events for 12+ years now...I just have to see if this experiment is doable!  Some of you can expect telephone calls for advice in the future.  Let's see if I can walk the walk...we already know I can talk the talk!  LOL!

Mark R./Steve A.

[mem400]

Until you run a event you do not realize the amount of work it takes. Especially a good event that has perks and extra funds in the pot. The problem is finding companies that are willing to put money into the event. Plus many just do not understand what a TRUE LONG DRIVE PRO is. Many of them equate a long driver to some local Joe who claims to be a LDer because he attended a local before. The Master's of LD event we are having in April is at my home course. I have been telling the members how you guys are going to blow them away. In fact I made a joke in the flyer sent out to them that they talk about how far I hit the ball, and how I am at least 50 yards (no jokes here thanks lol) short of yall. I know you guys will get a great reception from the members and they will be telling the stories until next year. I am pulling every string and calling in all favors to make sure we have a nice event and have some decent money for yall to hit for.

We do want to thank all of yall for your help and for participating in the Pro AM. It does make a lot of difference. It helps to promote and grow the sport here in Atlanta.

Matt

[Bullard]

I totally agree with all these posts.  I am hosting two events this year being April 13th and August 6th.  I would not even send out invitations until I had a minimum of 3k above entry fee for my April 13th event and 5k above entry fee for my August 6th event.  By the way this event is at a very nice Atlanta golf course.  I will go on record for sure and say I have hosted 3 events in my longdrive career never not paying out more than entry fees by several thousands.  If you look at what some of these tournaments charge for pro-am teams they could be adding to the purse for sure.

I think we are missing the whole point of competing.  Believe me I dont try to make a living doing longdrive and know it is a hobby but when we are finishing 3rd and 4th at these events and losing money it really does take a lot out of the future of this sport.  We as a longdrive community should have standards we set before every entering a longdrive event.  The purse should be a minimum of 5k above and beyond entry fees.  That should be the minimum we compete for.  Then the people putting the events on should work that number into their budget. 

Why do you think the bigger names in our sport that perform tons of corporate outings do not attend LDA events and longdrive events in general.  The comment to me has always been why would I attend when I have 2000.00 or more of guaranteed money? So when I hear these comments I wonder how many more years are we going to compete before making some standards and sticking to them.  I remember a comment made by the biggest name in our sport when THE PLAYERS TOUR was trying to get off the ground.  WHY WOULD YOU GUYS EVER COMPETE FOR YOUR MONEY?  No we compete for less than our money. 

I just returned from Maui for a week.  I played Kapalua and Ka'anapoli and met several pros there.  I am going to try and have an event out there in 2013.  I know for a fact we could hit for our money for a minimum but get rooms and rounds comped.  Sadlowski was there doing a celebrity deal the sametime I was there.  They know longdrive and love it in Maui. 

With everything being said here, I have always supported everyone's events and will support the LDA this year.  I can honestly say that if I had not had the career I had I would have left this sport many years ago.  This is the most expensive sport with the smallest upside potential I have ever seen.  Yes, they are exceptions to this post like Sadlowski, Pavlet, Boever, Fister and Zuback but when you look across the map at the big names in our sport it is for sure feast or famine sport.  I am not bad mouthing anyone in this sport nor event in general but maybe issuing a challenge for people or groups that chose to host events to think outside the box when raising sponsorship and adjusting their overhead expenses to help achieve the purses we need to justify the expenses longdrive guys take on....see you guys in Mesquite. 

[tgarber]

The comment to me has always been why would I attend when I have 2000.00 or more of guaranteed money?

Kevin, that (and few senior divisions) is exactly why I am never part of a pro event. Guaranteed money is pretty attractive. I don't know the ins and outs of putting an event together, but I do know because of many conversations I've been privy to, it's a serious undertaking to make it an elite event.

I'm not a big name by any means of the definition, but I would love to compete more often... but a guaranteed and much needed couple $K in my pocket is gonna take presidence over competing. There just isn't enough prize money to make it an affordable risk.

Tom Garber