I found this older article on the web about Jesse Pettersen who specialises in the long drive competitions. Jessie practices in the off season at Urban Links.
Dave
Kelowna Native Eyes World Long Drive Championship
Imagine for a moment that you have established yourself among the best in the world in a particular discipline, yet on the home front you are unable to find a suitable place to continue honing your skills.
Fortunately for Jesse Pettersen, now 23, he temporarily found a way to deal with his dilemma.
As a competitive long driver, he had been politely advised by a number of facilities in the Kelowna area that he was, in effect, unwelcome.
That is, as long as he intended to use the driving ranges to practice hitting his driver. “I guess it’s kind of funny,” Pettersen laughed back in 2006. “I suppose I’m kind of a hazard at some of the driving ranges because I fly the ball over some of the fences. There’s a chance I might injure someone or we can’t find the range balls afterwards.”
Thankfully, Randy Barr at The Golf Centre in Kelowna decided to help Pettersen. The deal was simple. After Pettersen finished practicing, he’d take a couple of shag bags to the back end of the driving range and retrieve the golf balls that had flown over the fence.
While it added some time to his practice sessions, Pettersen certainly wasn’t complaining. “My first coach was Marty Ann Monroe at The Golf Centre and I remember doing some video work,” Pettersen said. “We were able to identify and eliminate some flaws in my swing.
"Then I began working with Don Brayton and I liked his approach. Don really helped me to relax and he helped me to focus on aligning my legs and hips. It really took the stress and tension out of my mind and body.”
In December of 2006, Pettersen packed his bags and headed west until he reached the Far East. He traveled throughout China where he taught English and sold motorcycles. Through it all, he never lost focus on his ultimate goal to become a world champion.
"I spent nine months in the Jiangsu Province of China in Suzhou, a 45-minute train ride from Shanghai," Pettersen explained. "I helped out a vintage motorcycle rebuilder with odd jobs to pay my bills.
"I made an inspired decision to become a world champion. I started training and receiving support from people. Without the help of Tianma Country Club in Shanghai, and Marquass Motorcycles, and some great friends I couldn't have made it to world qualifiers."
When the 6'3, 215-pound Pettersen finally arrived in Mesquite, Nevada last October for the 2007 Remax World Long Drive Championship, he felt comfortable mentally and knew his ball striking was consistent.
With A Swing Speed Timed At 150 MPH Pettersen Regularly Launches Massive Drives In Excess Of 400 Yards - Image Courtesy Jesse Pettersen"I hit the longest ball of the competition at 408 yards in the first round," Pettersen said. "After two more winning rounds, I made my first professional cheque for making the top 24. Then on the Saturday, I advanced to the final eight."
It is at this point that the annual competition becomes a match play event, with each player hitting six drives. The rules are simple as the player who hits the longest drive moves on to the next round.
In his match against 2007 Long Driver's Association Tour leading money winner Steve Monroe, Pettersen hit a 404-yard drive to win by 11 yards.
Next up was a semi-final match against Mike Dobbyn, who defeated Pettersen with his final drive. Dobbyn would go on to win the final match as well.
For Pettersen, whose clubhead speed has been measured at 150mph, the experience is helping to build his confidence and his profile among the world's best.
On its 2007 top ten list of strength feats, Muscle & Fitness Magazine ranked Pettersen's 408-yard drive at the Remax in seventh place, just ahead of a 151mph serve by tennis superstar Andy Roddick.
“My first year at the Remax was in 2005 and I was almost the youngest out of the 128 guys,” Pettersen recalled. “It was an unbelievable experience, but also comforting when I was hitting balls with the best in the world and seeing that I was right there with them. It’ll take a lot of hard work to get to be number one, but that’s what I’m prepared to do.”
With Long Driver’s Association competitions scheduled throughout the United States this year, Pettersen does have one other particular event he's looking forward to. The Canadian Championships are set for July 24-26 in Barrie, Ontario and will feature a Canada vs. USA event.
The Canadians will be captained by Long Drive Hall of Famer and five-time world champion Jason Zuback from Calgary. Until then, Pettersen is enjoying life in his new home in Scottsdale, Arizona where he has committed himself to becoming the best at his craft.
He’ll also be spending a few weeks in Kelowna this summer. "There have been some sacrifices, absolutely," Pettersen said. "I'm working hard in the gym and on the driving range. I really have to focus on training my body and my brain. My goal is to win the $250,000 USD at the 2008 Remax World Long Drive Championships in the new state of the art facility in Mesquite.
"I will be prepared."
Glen Erickson is a Kelowna-based freelance writer, entering his sixth year as a contributor to Inside Golf Magazine.
Urban Links Kelowna
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#320 - 1405 Stevens Road
Kelowna British Columbia
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He must have practiced for quite some time, and is probably gifted. Jesse has a blogsite as well.
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www.forsale-house.com
Golf is the game which has enjoyment, challenge and winning spirit in it. One should learn to play golf before playing it on the ground. By joining sports centers or sports club one can get golf coaching and training camps based on the game.
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