Las Vegas, Nevada (November 3, 2010)–The RE/Max World Long Drive Championship is THE power event in golf, and championship week in the Las Vegas Golf Region kicks off this week in the Las Vegas Golf Region. Specifically in the golf destination of Mesquite, Nevada, where there are several top golf courses. A highlight of the week is the 2010 Military Long Drive Championship Presented by 7UP that will be co-hosted by Las Vegas resident Butch Harmon in addition to former Las Vegas resident Art Sellinger, the man who basically created the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship. The Butch Harmon School of Golf is located at Las Vegas golf course Rio Secco Golf Club. –By Brian Hurlburt.
The military long drive event, one of the highlights of RE/MAX championship week in Mesquite, awards $10,000 to the longest hitter in uniform. Coast Guard Ensign Ryan Hixson is the three-time defending champion. Harmon, in addition to working with many of the world's top-ranked golfers, including Phil Mickelson, is to be escorted to the tee in Mesquite by seven OEF and OIF service members wounded in combat veterans to whom he has been giving private lessons at Rio Secco as part of the "Troops First Harmon's Heroes" initiative. "Butch has done a great deal in the area of Warrior Care and serves on the executive board of the Troops First Foundation," Sellinger noted. "Butch has also traveled to Iraq to give lessons to our troops and boost their morale during the Thanksgiving holidays. Having made two trips to Iraq myself, I know how meaningful and special that opportunity is."
Mesquite is a golf resort locale which features such top golf courses as Wolf Creek Golf Club, which was recently ranked 32nd on Golfweek's 2011 list of Best Resort Courses, and also Casablance Golf Club and The Oasis Golf Club, which features the majestic Palmer 18 designed by the King himself. Click now for more information on Mesquite golf courses and Mesquite golf tee times. There are also quality resort properties in the area including the Eureka and Casablanca. The Eureka offers all-inlclusive Las Vegas Golf Region packages in conjunction with Wolf Creek Golf Club. The Harmon School is open to all golfers, and golf school sessions are available with Harmon and/or his top-level teaching professionals. Rio Secco is a resort Las Vegas golf course that was designed by the legendary Rees Jones. Click for a photo gallery.
The RE/MAXS World Long Drive Finals determines the biggest hittters in the game of golf. A trio of heavyweights that includes a SportsCenter anchor, a two-time U.S. Open champion and a long drive legend will host ESPN's telecast of the 2010 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship finals. John Buccigross, who anchors ESPN's afternoon SportsCenter, will handle play-by-play duties for the RE/MAX finals. He will be joined in the booth by Andy North, winner of U.S. Opens in 1978 and 1985. While Buccigross will make his debut broadcasting power golf's premier event, North will serve as color analyst for the fifth time.
ESPN will telecast the Senior Division and Open Division finals live on ESPN3.com, ESPN's signature broadband network, starting at 6:30pm ET on Friday, November 5. Full coverage of the 2010 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship will debut on ESPN2 on December 25 (2-3:30pm ET) and re-air on ESPN on December 26 (2:30-4pm ET). Canadian sensation Jamie Sadlowski will be seeking a third consecutive title at the RE/MAX finals, which take place at Mesquite Sports and Event Complex in Mesquite, Nevada.