who hit the longest drive in golf history
Long drive Professional long drivers can average over 350 yards (320 m) in competition,[1] compared with 300 yard (274 m) averages from the top PGA Tour drivers[2] and 220 yards (201 m) for an average amateur.[3] Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards (366 m).[4] The world record recognized by Guinness Records as the longest drive in a competition is 516 yards (472 m) by 64-year-old Mike Austin in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver.[5] The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship is 473 yards (433m) by Allen Doyle in September 2005.[6] The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX South African Long Drive Championship is 506 yards (462.9m) by Nico Grobbelaar in September 2012. Fast swingers can swing their club heads at over 150 mph (245 km/h), well beyond the 85 mph (140 km/h) average for an amateur. They train for strength, flexibility, and speed and often perform corporate exhibitions for money, exhibiting a variety of trick shots. Ball speeds are nearly double that of an average golfer (220 mph).