Drive the Middle

The Drive the Middle Contest is a hole event similar to "Long Drive" or "Closest to the Pin" contest and it can be held at any charity golf outing. Guidelines to participate in the Drive the Middle Contest are listed below.

Drive the Middle is sponsored by WaterPark Car Wash located in Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois.

Drive the Middle measures the golfer's accuracy with a driver.

Golfers who make a pledge to Birdies for Charity are given the opportunity to hit their drive closest to the middle of the fairway. The golfer who comes the closest to the middle wins a full week pass to the John Deere Classic worth more than $140.

The winner of each contest is invited to TPC at Deere Run on Sunday before tournament to compete in the finals. The winner of the finals is awarded a 2008 John Deere Classic Wednesday Pro-Am spot worth $3,400.

If your charity is having a golf outing why not incorporate a Drive the Middle Contest into your event? Players enjoy the competition and your group can raise additional money for your charity through the Birdies for Charity program.

Drive the Middle Charity Guidelines

TO SCHEDULE BIRDIES FOR CHARITY'S DRIVE THE MIDDLE CONTEST AT YOUR EVENT:

1. Your charity must be a participant in the Birdies for Charity program to take part in the Drive the Middle event. Call Andrew at the John Deere Classic office (309-762-4653) to register your organization or to schedule the Drive the Middle contest at your golf outing.
   
   You will need to provide the information regarding the location and date of event and number of golfers. Please call as soon as possible to reserve your DTM kit, as there are only a limited number of kits available.
   
   
2. Once your event has been scheduled with the John Deere Classic office, contact the golf course to:
   - Ask permission to include Birdies for Charity in your event.
   - Determine the Drive the Middle hole.
   - Request that a line be drawn from 150 to 300 yards on the determined hole.
   - Request a marker for the contest from the pro.
   - Request the use of a golf cart for the date of the event.
   
   
3. To effectively implement the Drive the Middle contest, you will need to station two (2) volunteers on the tee.

ON THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT:

Check out special event kit at John Deere Classic office between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.


ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT:

1. Check in with the pro shop to reconfirm the Drive the Middle hole, that the line has been striped down the fairway and to pick up the maker and golf cart.
   
   
2. Prior to play, the sign and tee blocks must be placed at the Drive the Middle tee.
   
   
3. Two (2) volunteers should be stationed on the tee.
   
   
4. Volunteers should be supplied with pledge cards and clipboards.
   
   
5. The winner of the Drive the Middle contest is the golfer whose ball lands closest to or on the line. In the event of a tie, the longest drive wins.
   
   
6. All golfers tee off from appropriate tees.
   
   
7. Once play begins, volunteers encourage golfers to pledge Birdies for Charity. Golfers are asked to make a per Birdie donation (i.e.; $0.01, $0.02, $0.05). The minimum pledge required to enter the contest is $0.01 or $20 flat donation.
   
   
8. 100% of the pledges made during the event go directly to the charity sponsored by the event.
   
   
9. Golfers may tee off from the Birdies tee once. Even if a golfer makes a multiple cent donation, he/she may only tee off once. The golfer does not get to tee off one time for each cent pledged.
   
   Only golfers who make a pledge to Birdies for Charity may participate in the Drive the Middle Contest!
   
   
10. Golfers who make a pledge (minimum $ .01 per birdie):
    - Compete in the Drive the Middle contest for a chance to win a week-long VIP badge to the John Deere
      Classic ($140 value), a 2008 Wednesday Pro-Am spot ($3,400 value), a new Buick and over 500
      other prizes.
    - Receive John Deere golf tees, when available.
    - Receive a commemorative Birdies for Charity pin, when available.
    
    
11. After the first group plays through, give the golfer closest to the line the marker, have them sign the card and place it where the ball landed. Use golf tee or other small marker. If too close, others won't try.
    
    
12. Any golfer that shoots closer to the line moves the marker himself/herself and signs the card.
    
    
13. At the end of the event, remove sign, tee boxes and marker.
    
    
14. The winner of the Drive the Middle contest is the last person who signed the marker. Limit one winner per outing.
    
    
15. On the front of the contest winner's Birdies for Charity pledge card, please write WINNER. The John Deere Classic office will contact the winning golfer to award the week-long JDC VIP badge, to register them in the Drive the Middle Shootout on the Sunday before JDC tournament play.
    
    
16. Return the marker and golf cart to the pro shop.
    
    
17. If there is a reception after the event, announce the winner of the Drive the Middle Contest.

ON THE DAY AFTER THE EVENT:

Return all completed pledge cards (with winner's card clearly marked), signs, tee boxes, clip boards, tee packs, pins and any unused pledge cards to the John Deere Classic office between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.

Please note that the John Deere Classic Tournament Office is located at: 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline. The phone number is (309) 762-4653 or 800-336-4655. E-mail AndrewL@jdclassic.com for more information.