LDA event locations for 2004

[tjgeorge1]

Any comments about the cities for the 2004 LDA events (listed below)?

ALBUQUERQUE, NM
CHICAGO, IL
DES MOINES, IA    
MADISON, WI
ROCHESTER, NY
TULSA, OK
TORONTO, CANADA

From what I understand, Pinnacle had a major part in determining this due to the Pinnacle challenge that will be held on Saturdays of each LDA event.

This is what I noticed:
1. No West coast cities (no California even - I don't count New Mexico as West Coast - Southwest US yes)
2. Good to have a Canadian city since there are so many great LD'ers that come from Canada
3. No Southeast US cities - ouch
4. Heavy concentration in the Central US (3 Midwest & 1 Great Plains), especially the upper Midwest - the three Midwest cities are no more than a 5 hr. drive between any of them
5. Only a 3 hour drive distance from Toronto & Rochester - another two close cities
6. No repeat cities from either of the last two years that I have seen (LDA tour or Pinnacle Distance challenge) - I could be wrong here

I don't understand why the cities are more dispersed throughout the US. Seems that there are two groups of cities that are clustered together as mentioned above. I understand the Midwest has a lot of golf interest &  population of golfers (density of golfers in relation to square miles???).
The possible reasoning of a non-repeating city may be Pinnacle's doing. Maybe Pinnacle wants to continue to spread out the interest to newer locations - they may feel that a repeat location will not gain the same interest as its original event there.
Other than Chicago & Toronto, the other cities are not the top major metropolis locations (2nd & 3rd tier YES - no slight on those other cities - just a fact).
Comments?

[stroz]

I think that the LDA has found more support from the smaller market cities because they are the "BIG SHOW". When going to Major cities they now are competing with professional teams for air time on the local channels. At the smaller cities they recieve more media attention and draw more fans as this is one of the only things happening. As far as the location, is it not easier for everyone in the country to reach these venues.I know I did not go to the LDA tour events last year due to the length of travel to places,along with the cost to go to these places. Big markets usually equals big dollars for hotel rooms as well as food and so on. Yes I do feel they need to spread the sites out more equally, but I did not hear anyone complaining last year about the people east of the mississippi having to travel to the majority of events. If the LDA event in Des Moines,Ia. is held where the local qualifiers are held at everyone should go. This place is awesome foursided range with over 600 yards. You could stand on one side and never reach a person at the other side of the range. The grid is awesome and the people who own the place are the nicest people you could ever meet. Pete who runs the locals along with the help of his wife and local remax people are also the nicest people you could ever meet.For me these events are all every much with in driving distance for a change. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and to everyone a Happy New Year.

Thanks

[salty]

I'm really looking forward to the event in Toronto because it's only about 45 minutes away for me. Salty

[Casey]

i am sure the cost of an LDA event will completely kill my idea but I think they should have like 12 events; 4 west coast, 4 central, 4 eastern; these could all include canadian areas for example west could be  Calgary, central could be Saskatoon/Winnieg and eastern could be Toronto.  Since the LDA usually has 6 to 8 events they could set the rule that you can compete at all of the events for money, but you can only take your points from the first seven events.  This way almost everyone has a fair shot at travel expenses, you could hit all of you close ones for cheap and then decide which ones you want to travel to.  Also if a competitor already has all seven of his events done with all the points from the remaining events would be moved down a notch or "pro rated" to the competitors that are still trying to get there seven events in.

[tjgeorge1]

Glen,
If I lived near you, I would be happier than a pig in...
You are in the middle of three events, the furthest being Des Moines which is a 4-5 hr drive. You must have been pumped when you saw the locations. Good for you.
And if you didn't want to fly & save $, the Toronto and Rochester events are a day's drive (9+ to 11ish hours) away. If you find some people willing to carpool, those locations are very doable.

I understand your thinking and basically agree w/it. It is good to be the "big show" in town & the media attention it attracts. It maybe arguably less $ for room & board in those locations. I do not know the flying $ to get into these cities vs. bigger cities (for those that have to) - if it is more $ that negates any perceived savings of food & stay.  :?
I don't know if any complaining was warranted in 2003 (unless you are a Canuck). Locations were well dispersed (in the US, mind you) - Boston (NE), Atlanta (SE), Blaine, MN (North Central), Dallas (South Central), and LA & Sacramento (SW - West Coast).
Now, the 2002 tour was heavily concentrated east of the Miss. River (NY, NC, MO, Detroit, and Atlanta)(I don't know if I got every location, but the point is made). If I was a West Coast guy that year, what an awful travel schedule 2002 was.
This year, good luck travelling for the West Coast competitors as well as the SE people.  
Glen - have a safe & happy New Year & hoping that 2004 is your best year yet!  

[TimS]

Someone asked Art about this on one of the LDA chats, and he said that Pinnacle chose the sites for the PDC and I guess the LDA just follows.  He also said that they were testing the "Big fish in a small pond theory".  I'm on the West Coast and I'm not even considering traveling to one of these events.  I simply don't have the money.  But like Art says, the LDA tour isn't for everyone.

[tjgeorge1]

It seems that there may already be a change in venue for one of the seven regular tour stops.
The most current listings on the LDA website show new additions (Richmond, VA and New York City) and missing from that list is Madison, WI.
I cannot locate the news article from the LDA website that had the locations I originally posted. That same article also had a suggested itinerary of events for the LDA event; this itinerary is also MIA.

There are 8 sites listed for 2004. There is only 7 regular season events and the tour championship. Thru speculation, I am thinking the tour championship is going to be NYC. It's the last site on the list, and the other 7 are in alphabetical order. Again, pure speculation.

There is no info on pinnaclegolf.com yet to try and cross-reference this information regarding the sites (assuming that all LDA events are being held in conjunction w/the Pinnacle Distance Challenge).

Assuming that these sites do not change, for me it adds at least one more Mid-Atlantic location in Richmond, VA (northern part of the SE US region - at least there is an event close to the SE US...sorry West Coast, still nothing yet).
I am assuming that NYC is the tour championship, so I am not counting on that one unless I qualify for it (hope & pray). If NYC is not the tour championship site, heck - another East Coast/Mid-Atlantic site...cool!