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The 2009 RE/MAX Long Drive Programme has been announced by promotional partners, PaR nz Golfing Holidays and RE/MAX New Zealand Limited.

September has been deemed Long Drive month with a series of nine Regional Qualifying Events at three venues for the RE/MAX Long Drive Championships including Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

The program at each of these venues will include three days of individual qualifying in all Divisions and a new Business House Long Drive Team event. The 2009 RE/MAX New Zealand National Final will be held in Auckland after the Regional events.

McLeans Island Golf Club, will host the three regional South Island qualifying events from Friday 11th – Sunday 13th September.

Set in the tranquillity of the country, yet close to the city, McLeans Island Golf Club has a large practice area that includes target greens, chipping and putting greens, bunkers and a very long length for all driving shots.  The location of the driving range is set in its own amphitheatre of pine trees.  This is the second time that McLeans Islands has hosted a long drive event, the first being in 2008 where Michael Berry won the men’s open section.

Trentham Race Course, in Wellington’s Upper Hutt suburb, will host the lower North Island series of three regional qualifying events from Friday 18th – Sunday 20th September.

The final series of three, for the Upper North Island regional qualifying events will also be held at a race course.  Avondale Race Course in Auckland’s Western suburbs, will be the host from Thursday 24th – Saturday 26th, with the national final set for Sunday 27th September.

Tournament Director Denise Langdon, from PaR nz Golfing Holidays is delighted with all the venues. “To have such large spaces available that we can dedicate to a series such as the 2009 Programme is fantastic. The tournament grid and layout will provide the best possible landing areas for all competitors”.

The RE/MAX Long Drive Championship of New Zealand is open to all, men and women, juniors, golfers, social golfers and aspiring power golfers. You do not have to be a member of a golf club or even a golfer to enter, you can simply join to challenge your mates and its great competitive fun.  Separate divisions include a men’s open, men’s masters (50 years plus) women and juniors, aged under 16 as at the day of competing.

Competitors can enter more than one qualifying event and may have multiple attempts. Prizes will be awarded in all Divisions at each venue. A competitor may only win one prize and qualify for the National Final at one venue only.

The Business House Teams event is open to companies, golf clubs or just groups of friends, in a team of three, all competing on the same day.  RE/MAX New Zealand will award a special team prize at each venue to the winning team.

The sport of LONG DRIVE was first introduced in the USA in 1995. It is the premier event in power golf and one of the world’s fastest growing television spectator and participation sports. Its star attraction is being able to unveil hidden talent and stir up an enormous potential following.

Over 10,000 competitors from 300 events covering 45 countries including USA, Canada, UK, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa compete nationally for qualifying places in 5 divisions in the annual RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship in the USA with a purse of over USD $550,000.

The RE/MAX Long Drive Championship of New Zealand aims are to uncover New Zealand’s long hitting superstars. In 2006 New Zealand produced the RE/MAX Women’s World Long Drive Champion, Phillis Meti from Auckland. Her drive of 326 yards was 40 yards ahead of her closest rival.  At 19, she was the youngest ever World Long Drive Champion.

In 2007 and again in 2008 Phillis was the longest driver at the World Championships but was beaten in a match-play final by a local American.

New Zealand has also regularly sent male golfers to compete in the Men’s Open section. Our best result was Baden Waiwai from Wairoa finishing 5th in 2006. In 2008, Sheridan Vining from Palmerston North (The 2008 RE/MAX New Zealand Champion) and Baden Waiwai competed in the World Final but came up against some pretty tough competition with the winner Jamie Sadlowski from the USA shooting 418 yards.

“The ‘have a go’ attitude fuels the power golf craze, providing power hitters with an adrenaline-drenched, high impact event, and the opportunity for international notoriety as the RE/MAX World Long Drive Champion”, said Chris Chapman, Regional Director from RE/MAX New Zealand. “RE/MAX, is one of the world’s largest selling real estate companies, and has been the naming sponsor for a number of years.  RE/MAX was instrumental in creating a purpose-built Long Drive stadium to hold the championships in Mesquite, Nevada, USA. We look forward to seeing the event grow in New Zealand”, he added.

For more information about the New Zealand RE/MAX 2009 Long Drive Championships refer www.parnz.co.nz or call Jenny Young on 09 486 1077.  Regular updates and results will be covered by The Golf Club on Sky Sports and in The New Zealand Golfer.