Long Drive
A long drive is an exceptionally long tee shot hit with a driver, or the competitive golf discipline in which players compete to hit the ball the farthest within a marked grid.
What is a long drive in golf?
The term has two meanings, and which one applies depends on context.
In everyday play, a long drive is a tee shot that meaningfully exceeds a player’s normal driving distance or surpasses common benchmarks for their skill level. A 290-yard drive is a long one for most male amateurs but a routine result for a PGA Tour player. The word “long” is relative to the golfer, not an absolute number.
The other meaning is the competitive sport. Long drive is a separate golf discipline in which players hit a ball with a driver and try to land it as far as possible inside a marked range. It started life as a side event at the PGA Championship in 1949, when Chick Harbert won the first contest with a 305-yard drive at Hermitage Country Club in Virginia. By 1974, it had become its own World Long Drive Championship, and today it has televised tour events and a global professional circuit.
Both senses share the same underlying idea: hitting the ball a long way off the tee. The sport is just a formalised, maxed-out version of what every golfer attempts on a par 5.
How far is a long drive?
What counts as “long” depends entirely on the player. The numbers below show average and notable distances across major skill categories.
| Player category | Average driving distance | What counts as a long drive |
|---|---|---|
| Average male amateur | 217–225 yards | 250+ yards |
| Scratch male amateur | ~240 yards | 280+ yards |
| Average female amateur | 140–147 yards | 180+ yards |
| LPGA Tour pro (2024) | ~260 yards | 285+ yards |
| PGA Tour pro (2024) | ~300 yards | 320+ yards |
| Pro long drive competitor | 356+ yards in competition | 400+ yards |
Sources: Arccos Driver Distance Report via Golf.com, Independent Golf Reviews, Wikipedia, CaddieHQ.
A few specific numbers help anchor these ranges. According to Arccos data published by Golf.com, the PGA Tour average passed 300 yards for the first time in history in 2024, with Cameron Champ leading the field at 323 yards per drive. Rory McIlroy averaged 320 yards over the same season. On the LPGA side, the 2024 average was around 260 yards. For amateurs, industry stat-tracking data from Arccos and Shot Scope puts the male all-handicap average between 217 and 225 yards.
Distance depends on a mix of swing factors (clubhead speed, ball striking, launch angle, spin rate) and the conditions on the day. Altitude is one of the biggest of those external variables. Playing in Denver, for instance, can add roughly 10 yards over a sea-level course because thinner air creates less drag on the ball.
The sport of long drive
The competitive discipline has been part of golf for over 75 years. The PGA of America held the first formal long drive competition in 1949 at the PGA Championship, and the event was contested on and off through the following decades. Jack Nicklaus famously won the PGA Championship long drive contest in 1963 with a 341-yard drive using a persimmon-headed driver and a wound ball.
In 1974, long drive split off from the PGA Championship to become its own event, the World Long Drive Championship. Long Drivers of America took over governance in 1995, the Masters Division for over-45s was added in 1996, and a Women’s Division followed in 2000. Golf Channel acquired the series in 2015 and rebranded it as the World Long Drive Association. After the WLDA paused in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a player-run body called the Professional Long Drivers Association filled the gap. Both organisations merged in 2023 under GF Sports and Entertainment as the current World Long Drive (WLD), with PGA Tour player Bryson DeChambeau joining the ownership group.
Three divisions exist today: the Open (anyone under 45), the Masters (45 and over), and Women’s.
How long drive competitions work
The format favours raw distance with a basic accuracy requirement.
Up to 128 players enter the Open division at the World Long Drive Championship, split into eight groups of 16 by world ranking. Each round gives competitors two minutes and 30 seconds to hit six balls. For a shot to count, it has to land and come to rest inside the grid, a scoring zone measuring 45 to 60 yards wide and 420 to 450 yards long.
Players progress through group rounds to a final 16, which is run as a single-elimination head-to-head bracket. Equipment must conform to USGA rules, with a maximum club length of 48 inches and a 460cc clubhead limit. Open division winners in recent editions have taken home $75,000 along with the championship belt, according to coverage of the 2023 World Long Drive Championship by Bunkered magazine.
Long drive vs. a regular tee shot
The two look similar from the outside, but the equipment, technique, and objective differ across the board.
| Element | Regular tee shot | Long drive (competition) |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Lowest score on the hole | Maximum distance within the grid |
| Driver length | Typically 45 inches | Up to 48 inches |
| Clubhead loft | 9–10.5 degrees | 4–5 degrees |
| Clubhead speed | ~93 mph (avg amateur), ~118 mph (PGA Tour) | 150+ mph |
| Ball speed | ~135 mph (avg amateur) | 220+ mph |
| Shaft | Standard graphite or steel | Stiffer graphite, higher kick point, lower torque |
| Ball | Player’s choice (USGA-conforming) | Often a high-compression spec ball (110 compression) |
| Target | Fairway, playable area | 45–60 yard wide grid |
| Swing intent | Controlled, repeatable | Full-effort, maximum output |
The lower loft on a long drive club reduces backspin, which prevents the ball from ballooning into the air and shortens the carry-to-roll ratio. A flatter trajectory and more roll-out is exactly what a long drive competitor wants. A regular golfer, by contrast, needs height and stopping power for approach shots and uses a higher-loft driver to balance distance with playability.
Records and notable champions
Mike Austin holds the longest drive in officially sanctioned tournament play. In 1974, aged 64, he hit a 515-yard drive at the US Senior National Open Qualifier in Las Vegas, recognised by Guinness World Records. Austin used a 43.5-inch steel-shafted persimmon driver, a far cry from modern long drive equipment.
The longer hit on record came in October 2023, when Kyle Berkshire drove a ball 579.63 yards at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Wyoming. The shot was not in a sanctioned competition and is not recognised by Guinness, but it is the longest verified golf drive ever recorded.
Jason Zuback, nicknamed “Golfzilla”, remains the most decorated competitor with five World Long Drive Championship titles, including four in a row from 1996 to 1999. Sean Fister won three times. Kyle Berkshire has also won three (2019, 2021, 2023). On the women’s side, Phillis Meti has won five Women’s World Long Drive Championships and holds the women’s record at 414 yards. Sandra Carlborg won five women’s titles between 2011 and 2017.
Related Golf Terms
- Lob wedge — A wedge with very high loft (58-64 degrees) for short, high shots.
- Lob shot — A high, short shot designed to clear an obstacle and land softly.
- Lip — The edge of the hole or the edge of a bunker.
- Loft — The angle of the clubface that determines trajectory and distance.
- Lip out — When the ball hits the edge of the cup but does not drop in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is a good drive in golf?
For a male amateur, anything over 240 yards in the fairway is a good drive. For a scratch player, the bar moves to 280 yards or more. PGA Tour pros average around 300 yards, so a good drive at that level is usually 310 yards or longer.
What is the longest drive in golf history?
Mike Austin’s 515-yard drive in 1974 is the longest recognised by Guinness World Records in tournament play. Kyle Berkshire hit a longer non-tournament drive of 579.63 yards in October 2023, though this is not officially recognised.
Is long drive a PGA Tour event?
No. Long drive is governed separately by World Long Drive (WLD) and has its own qualifying system and championship.
Who is the best long driver of all time?
By titles, Jason Zuback leads with five World Long Drive Championship wins. By distance, Kyle Berkshire holds the longest verified drive at 579.63 yards.
Can amateurs compete in long drive events?
Yes. World Long Drive runs local and regional qualifiers that anyone can enter. Winners advance toward the World Championship.
What clubs do long drivers use?
Drivers built to USGA spec with a maximum 48-inch shaft, a clubhead up to 460cc, and a low loft of around 4 to 5 degrees. Shafts are stiffer than standard with a higher kick point for a flatter trajectory.
Sources
- Wikipedia. “Long drive.” Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia. “World Long Drive Championship.” Accessed May 2026.
- World Long Drive. “Official Rules.” worldlongdrive.com.
- Bunkered. “World Long Drive Championship: Format, prize money and TV explained.” October 2023.
- Golf.com. Arccos Driver Distance Report coverage by Zephyr Melton. November 2024.
- Independent Golf Reviews. “Average Driver Distance: Pro Golfers And Amateurs.” February 2025.
- Pro Long Drive. “History of Long Drive Championships.” prolongdrive.com.
- PGA.com. “PGA Championship Long Drive Competition: A brief history.” May 2019.
- CaddieHQ. “What Is Considered a Long Drive in Golf?” November 2025.
- England iGolf. “The Longest Golf Drive Ever.” August 2025.
