Mesquite September 20, 2014

         LONG DRIVE  WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Well we are back.  This year John is only entered in 1 division.  Legends (60-65 yrs. old)  Still hasn't had his shoulder fixed but is going ahead and trying anyway.  His division is loaded with lots of world champions, some have one it 3 and 4 times in different divisions.

Here we are again for the 2nd year in Mesquite Nevada for the LDA World Championships  This are some pictures driving up to the Mesquite Sports Center and where John will compete. The cliffs are beautiful.

Here are some pictures I took this year at the Championships in Mesquite Nevada.  John only entered this year in the Legends Division (60 to 64 yrs old). 

          John checking in his clubs.  Everyone has to make sure their clubs are to legal regulationsThe board, he is in Group 2 - 4th person down.

 I also took some pictures of the Grand Champion Division (55 to 59 yrs old) that right before Johns class.  John was eliminated and didn't get to the semifinals but it is amazing to see how long these guys have been doing this.  The winner of on of the divisions had been doing it 2 decades before winning this year, one of the others had been doing 9 years.  The final winner of Johns division had one 3 other divisions in the past years.  Some of the pictures below will show some guys that are Hall of Famers in LDA and have been competing for 20 years!  John is already practicing for next year. 

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Bill  "Doc" Droege (Hall of Fame) on the left.  He took John under his wing and gave him some pointers.  He is in the same division as John and did quite well.  He has won in the past and has been doing it for 20 years.  He is a Chiropractor in St. Louis and works on atheletes (The Rams) On the right is Pat Dempsey, a retired Professional Baseball Player and has been doing Long Ball for 18 years.  He is in the Hall of Fame also.  If you note his golf bag is almost as tall as John, John would have to drag it.  This sport is the Land of the Giants.

     This is Bobby Wilson, Hall of Fame and won this years Grand Champion Division (55-59).  He is quite a colorful character as you can see.  Always has wild outfit on and comes from Texsas.  He beat out Pat Dempsy (retired Professions baseball player) another Hall of Fame and has won many division titles for different ages.  Pat Dempsey on the left. and Frank Miller on the right                John and Steve Clements (Masters Division (65+) and previous Division winner.  They were watching the guys practice.  

No, John is not crying or even praying, he is just putting on his golf shoes and getting ready to practice at his assigned spot. When the guys are warming up before their time to hit and between rounds, they have a fenced off area with assigned spots.     

 John amongst the giants.  Both of these guys were around 6'6"  On the left is Doyle Wilson and John beat him in this round.  On the right is Steve Griffin and he actually came in 2nd in the finals.  Don't know the guy that was watching, but he was a giant, looked more like a wrestler than a golfer. 

Johns 1st round.  Pierre, Bill, Steve and John. 

2nd round, Bill John and Doyle

                        Doc on the left of John and Doyle on the right.  Getting ready for the 2nd round.     Bill and John move on to the 3rd round

 John far left, on the far right is Miguel , he won the division last year.  John was in a tough 4 some.  

After Johns competition he is in the stands watching the others.

    If you look at the front row, John is on the right, Pat Dempsey on the left of him and another giant to his left.  Note John is sitting with his legs normal and theirs are bent up.

John is already working on things and we will try again next year.