<P> Professional long drivers can average over 350 yards ( 320 m ) in competition , compared with 300 yard ( 274 m ) averages from the top PGA Tour drivers and 220 yards ( 201 m ) for an average amateur . Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards ( 366 m ) . 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 . The record distance achieved in The RE / MAX European Long Drive Championship is 473 yards ( 433m ) by Allen Doyle in September 2005 . The record distance achieved in The RE / MAX South African Long Drive Championship is 506 yards ( 462.9 m ) 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 ) . </P>
<P> Professional long drivers can average over 350 yards ( 320 m ) in competition , compared with 300 yard ( 274 m ) averages from the top PGA Tour drivers and 220 yards ( 201 m ) for an average amateur . Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards ( 366 m ) . 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 . The record distance achieved in The RE / MAX European Long Drive Championship is 473 yards ( 433m ) by Allen Doyle in September 2005 . The record distance achieved in The RE / MAX South African Long Drive Championship is 506 yards ( 462.9 m ) 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 ) . </P>
who has the longest drive in pga history
who has the longest drive in pga history
Mike Austin
Mike Austin