Long Drive Golf Association Inaugural Event

[DavidWallace]

All long drivers:
The Long Drive Golf Association (LDGA) has announced the first tour stop in their long drive schedule.
Mark your calendar and set March 26, 2006 aside to participate in the Costa Mesa Classic. Registration is open now. The field will be limited to the first 64 paid entrants (due to daylight considerations).
The LDGA will be paying a $15,000 purse (based on a minimum of 48 paid entrants). First place will earn $4,200, second $2,700, third $2,100 and so on. Entry fee is $350.
For more information go to www.ldgatour.com or call (714) 963-4406.

David Wallace <davidwallace@ldgatour.com>

[vinny]

Are all the events going to be in Cali ?

[DavidWallace]

Vinny:
Our market expansion plan includes So. Cal, Nor. Cal, WA/OR and others. Based on interest and demand we will go where the market can support the events.
Thanks for your question.
Yours,
David

[vinny]

Thanks for the quick response Dave, I plan on going to all of these events. Im in AZ so it is pretty close to me. Thanks for putting them on.

[Juice]

Hey Dave, I would be interested in trying to put on one of these in South Carolina, as part of LDGA, you have a lot of guys on the east coast that would be interested.  I am not sure how quick you are looking at expanding all the way over here.  Send me an email or let me know what the plans of coming to the East Coast are?  Thanks, Juice

[gringo]

Do you plan on getting sponsors so you can pay out 100% of the fields entry fees?

[DavidWallace]

Juice, Gringo & Bill:
Your comments are appreciated.

Thanks for your offer of help, East coast events may be sooner than later. Stay in touch.

Sponsors, yes! We are in negotiation with several. Bridgestone is already onboard. We hope to make additional announcements soon.

Misleading ...? Your comment and opinion is well taken. The LDGA is simply stating our events will all have purses.

Thank you for your interest. We hope to see you at our events.
Sincerely,
David Wallace

[remax]

Mr. Wallace I wouldn't put too much into what you advertise we all understand what you mean , and I am in for the first event . Mike Leonis
I can't wait.

[PatDempsey]

Count Pat Dempsey in too. Should be fun!

[MyAgent]

Should this be on :

Players Tour, ALDA, LDGA and Independent Event Forum

Can we ,move it? Best of luck with the event.

I appreciate the work and organization it takes to put these on.

Thanks for the work. Let us know how it goes, we have a perfect site in East Texas for an event. I just do NOT want to lose $ ,time and effort in the process.

Dan

[gringo]

Just another question.  If, as you state, "Bridgestone is already onboard", then why is the event paying out less then 90% of the entry fees' "based on a minimum of 48 paid entrants".  If this is the kind of event that we are looking for, then we can all put one on like this across the country.  Hell, I could put one on every month for an entry of $1000 and pay out roughly $42,800, based on 48 competitors.

As you stated, "Finally, a long drive tour that pays prize money in each event", is very misleading.  Every event that I have competed in, whether it was LDA, Players Tour, Meter, NoCal, Sean Fister, Canadian, etc.. have all paid out prize money.  You state it is though your events are some new revolutionary type of event.  I really don't see it that way.  I see it as an event that is paying out less than 90% of the entry fees.

Just my opinion.

[atroskie]

y'all need to chill out. I don't know who Dave is and I wouldn't recognize him if we bumped into me on the street but at least he's making an effort to further our sport.  It's so easy to sit behind the computer screen and criticize somebody for what you think may be doing wrong.  What are you really doing to enchance the sport of long drive? If Dave and the ldga want to give out 89% or whatever the figure is, that's their prerogative.  Every business man has the right to make a buck.  Perhaps when he gains more sponsors he will be able to pay out 100% of the entry fees.  In the mean time, if you don't like it, don't enter.  It's really that simple. The more opportunities there are to hit the better.  Why don't you guys comment on how entry fees are $150 cheaper than any lda tour or players tour event?  

Dave i think it's great that you're taking a chance and starting something new.  All the best to you,

George

[remax]

Really these guys are right, if you have nothing good to say dont say it at all . A guy looking for support to run events for long drive does not need this crap to think about. ............ I cant wait to get this tour started , it is going to be a blast.

[CaseyD]

Gringo, you ever thought that maybe even though dave is doing this to better our sport that maybe he deserves just a little bit of money for his time?  i mean im pretty sure that its not dave and his wife putting on a long drive event. i would  imagine that he has a few guys helping out that arent doing this for free, and im sure that the costa mesa country club didnt just say sure dave, we'll  shut down for the day for free for you to throw an event that you have no idea how successful it will be.  come on man get a clue.  lets see, every other event and "tour" folds because they cant afford to keep going, but what do they advertise?  %100 payout, so if they dont get enough guys to cover everything then they have to pay out of thier pocket to honor that garauntee right? well maybe dave is on to something, maybe he can start a bank roll to cover his a$$ if he doesnt get the full amount of guys everytime.  i dont see that happening with how many of us there are in california and arizona but just in case.  and Dave thank you for giving this a go, the lda is great but not even the big dog could do it paying out a hundred percent so maybe you are on to something.  anyone that complains about making 4200 of 350 needs to find another sport.  4200 is plenty to continue your career in long drive, let the pot fall a little farther down the chain so more guys can afford to enter the next one.  paying top 6 alot is great but it kinda burns the rest of the field.  A little less up top will help the bottom fill the next event.

[gringo]

Lets face facts, shall we.  

I have no problem with anyone making a buck, never have.  I do not see how this is "good for the sport" though.  If we as a group are willing to go to events and hit for less than the total entry fee then we are setting a presedence, that in my mind is not good for the sport.  

"Why don't you guys comment on how entry fees are $150 cheaper than any lda tour or players tour event" True, but those events payed out more than the entry fees.  The LDA Tour events matched the entry fees 125% and some people pissed and moaned that they were too expensive or that Art made too much money.  Yes, these events are less frequent, but is it maybe that the LDA is holding out for something better?  Who knows?  I hope so, though.  

I am not knocking anyone for trying to run events.  I think what Paul and the Players Tour is trying to do is great.  But, don't come out and make a statement that knocks any and every other event out there  "Finally, a long drive tour that pays prize money in each event".  That statement is a knock to every other person who has tried to put an event on.

Lastly, don't knock me for stating an opinion.  Believe me when I say that I have a clue or have done something for this sport.  

Remember, as always, these are my opinions.

[Kenny]

Well said gringo, maybe the LDGA should do something in the sport or actually run an event before they take cheap shots at the LDA or The Players Tour.


Kenny

[golfdude]

Gringo DOES have a clue and HAS DONE more for this sport than a lot of people know.  
Although the lower entry fee doesn't allow as much of a payout as the bigger events, it allows more people to compete who don't have the sponsorship or the high-paying employment to pay the high fees required by other tours.  I believe that in itsself will help the sport to grow.  Otherwise, all we have (and it's becoming not as affordable) are local qualifiers and districts and there isn't even a payout there.  In my case, it's just the thrill of competition and doing well that keeps me going back.

Alan

[CaseyD]

how many events did the lda put on last year?  How many tour events were there?  now why is that, Art told everyone that it was too hard to secure sponsors and he wouldnt set any dates until he had them, well guess what no tour last year.  How many events did the players tour do last year? 3 i believe.  Im not knocking on the lda or players tour, but maybe the presedent that we have set wasnt the right one to set because its not working.  maybe if sponsors dont have to cover so much they will be more willing to join?  i dont see the big deal that hes not paying out 100%, i mean if you look at his break down the top six will get back more than 100% of what they paid to participate.  I think as long as maybe all the way down to 12th atleast get their money back what more can you ask for?

[SMT]

CaseyD,

While I actually do not have a horse in this race. And I did put on my own event ( the Cotton Classic" as well as funded MANY events in the 4 years my company has been in "the sport"....


A couple of comments that you typed keep jumping out at me... I will lsit them below, but I would like to start off by saying that I realize that it more than likely, an idea that got tangled up between thought & keyboard.... so my apology early if this is the case. I really am not intending on offending here.



quote:

"...even though dave is doing this to better our sport ..."    I don't see HOW it is "bettering" the sport. It seems like it is simply an idea born of a love of the game and a capitalist metality. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but under the guise of "bettering the sport" ?




quote:

"... let the pot fall a little farther down the chain so more guys can afford to enter the next one. paying top 6 alot is great but it kinda burns the rest of the field. A little less up top will help the bottom fill the next event..."
   I have always been taught not to discuss politics or religion  :wink: ...... this comment or perception seems to have infested "the sport" a bit.
  It is my perception, and of course I might be wrong..... but.... "taking care of" or diluting the winner's share" is a little bit like the same thing we all bitch about when we see things like the "No Child Left Behind Act" and such.....

What it seems to me that would make this Tour a better place to particpate, in your eyes, is that they COMPENSATE people further down the line for NOT performing better.
Seems a bit like "dumming down" the sport.


Again, not trying to be offensive here, just my perception of how it came through your keyboard.

Either way... Spring will be here soon,a dn we will all be sunburned and happy.
Mike

[CaseyD]

Mike dont worry, absolutely no offense taken.  I can see where i might come across as saying let the not so good guy get some of that pie, and i promise that i dont want to see this sport diluted in any way.

what im trying to say is where is our "nationwide tour"?  We have remax which is very similar to the us open.  Amatuers and Pros alike can make it and win it.  we dont have a stable tour yet, but when the LDA and Players tour, the cotton classic, the Alpha classic are going they draw the best, which is exactly what they should be doing.  But where is the smaller events for people to get started?

I know a major problem with this sport is its all or nothing.  There are alot of guys out there that can smack the ball with the best of them but cant afford to be dropping the cash yet to get the consistency, to get on a launch moniter every other week to make sure their equipment is the best it can be, that cant afford to be flying across the united states to hit in the big events(i know this effects more than just the small guys so please dont take it as it doesnt hurt the pockets of the pros).  and that gets me to where i think that daves process is bettering the sport.  Maybe his tour can be the "nationwide" for us?  i cant wait to see my message box after i say this, but, why not even say that anyone who has placed so high in a LDA, Players tour or another big event cant enter the LDGA events yet?  

Maybe a small tour is what is needed right now, let the guys enter them and try to get a little money going so they can afford to get the best equipment, or so they can afford to hit 500 balls five days a week.  Thats all i was trying to get to.  I dont think Daves idea is revolutionary.  But maybe 125% isnt whats needed yet.  yes we all would like that and i agree that the top hitters deserve to get that when they enter.