The 64-year-old Mike Austin holds the record of hitting the longest drive so far. He drove the ball to 515 yards (471 meters). It was approved by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest drive in a competition so far. Mike Austin created the sensation in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5″ steel shafted persimmon wood driver.

Long-drive golf is quite different from the traditional golf. The creation of this new format especially the evolution of traditional golf took almost seven decades since 1949. Scores do not matter in this exciting format of the game. It is all about gripping and hitting the ball as far as it is possible. The events always consist of loud music, fireworks, and the fans’ continuous high-pitched shouting. Long Drive Golf does not ay the traditional announcement of ‘Quiet Please’ during the event. Calm golf claps are not seen in this event.

In the Long Drive Golf players are given stipulated time to hit six to eight drives. Different types of clubs and shafts are used in this format. But the golf balls are the same as the traditional golf competitions.

However, the biggest difference between the Long Drive Golf and the Traditional Golf competition is the rest of the shots. The Long Drive events mean the bombardment of the shot off the tee with enough accuracy to stay on the grid. But in Normal Golf competitions, the players can obviously play shots after their initial drive.

The anchor man was Sukhsimran Singh Gill. He started the Long Drive Golf at Chandigarh Club.

Gill created history in the USA, being the first Indian golfer to make it to the Remax World Long Drive finals.

Later he introduced Maxx Power Golf, an innovative golf events company. His longest drive to date is recorded at 394 yards. 

Maxx Power Golf organized the first International Long Drive Golf Championship in India at Chandigarh Golf Club in 2021 with participants from India and other countries. Then the competition was expanded to the country’s other regions and golf courses.

Interestingly, the first-ever Long Drive Golf competition turned into a golf carnival. Not only did more than 1000 participants enjoyed playing in the competition, various kinds of recreations were organized where the family members of all the participants and their friends, and relatives also took part. The prize money for the professional golfers in the competition was set at Rs 3 Lakh while the champion received Rs 1 Lakh and the top 20 placed players, competing in 10 different categories were awarded cash prizes. Then the Long Drive Golf did not have to look back. The popularity of Long Drive Golf has grown gradually with more golf event companies like Golfing Nation having come forward, organizing international Long Drive Golf competitions.

Famous Indian golfers have also started playing in this new format of the game, enjoying it to popularize the game more. For example, famous Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri not only takes part in the Long Drive Golf, but he also has the laurel of being the champion in a competition organized by PGA in the USA in 2015, claiming 327-yard pop. Long Island-based club pro-Matt Dobyns’ 323-yard drive was second, while four-time PGA Tour winner J.B. Holmes rounded out the top three with a 314-yard blast.

In 2021, Kolkata witnessed the first-ever Long Drive Golf event Long Drive Tour of South Asia. Protouch Sports along with My Golf Tours jointly launched Asia’s first-ever long-drive golf event and it was a grand success. More than 80 golfers from the age of 6 to 70 years played in the competition. The tournament was held at Kolkata’s Tollygunge Golf Club.

South Kolkata’s Yash Agarwalla sealed victory in the inaugural edition with a 296-yard-long drive.

Looking forward to the future of Long Drive Golf in India, the game as it is growing rapidly, will create an array of enticing opportunities for sponsors seeking to invest. The intense fan base and the grandeur that the new format of the game has been able to generate will ultimately steer Long Drive Golf to an attractive prospect, offering unique branding and marketing prospects.

As the sport continues to gain momentum, early supporters are likely to reap the benefits of increased visibility and recognition. Several success stories of current Long Drive Golf sponsors serve as a testament to the potential rewards of strategic partnerships.

Maximizing return on investment is crucial for sponsors, and targeted marketing and promotional efforts can ensure that their involvement yields tangible results. Through well-executed campaigns, both online and offline, sponsors can effectively engage with the Long Drive audience, amplifying their brand and fostering positive associations with the sport.

Long Drive Golf is a captivating and rapidly growing sport that offers a unique blend of power, skill, and sheer determination. As we’ve explored throughout this article, the future of long drive is ripe with potential, and the involvement of dedicated sponsors can play a crucial role in its ongoing success and expansion.

By investing in this burgeoning discipline, sponsors can tap into a passionate fan base and access a wealth of unique marketing opportunities. At the same time, they can contribute to the advancement of the sport and help forge lasting partnerships with talented athletes who serve as ambassadors for their brand.

The symbiotic relationship between athletes, sponsors, and the Long Drive Golf community is the key to unlocking the sport’s full potential. Together, they can pave the way for a prosperous and exciting future, where the exhilarating spectacle of long drive captivates fans and athletes alike on a global scale.