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It wasn’t just the temperatures that were soaring this week, as some of the longest drivers in the country sent their balls flying down the runway at RAF Honington.

American Golf challenged some of the Long Drive stars who’ll be appearing at its 2018 UK Long Drive Final this August to set various Long Drive World Records and in doing so help celebrate the anniversaries of On Course Foundation and the RAF.

Mike Browne

First up on the temporary tee positioned at the end of the 900-yard
main runway at RAF Honington was On Course Foundation beneficiary and
Gecko Tour player, Mike Browne, above.

Despite having never taken part in Long Drive before, Mike, who is a
single leg amputee, belted a staggering 564.65 yard drive using a
Callaway Epic Driver to record the longest-ever drive by a single leg
amputee.

• American Golf customers raise £20k for On-Course Foundation

What is most remarkable about Mike’s World Record is that before his
leg was amputated in 2013 he had never hit a golf ball.  He commented,
“I have never done anything like this before so I can’t believe how well
I struck the ball.”

Ilona Stubley

Using her Callaway Rogue Driver, current American Golf UK Long Drive Champion Ilona Stubley, above, hit a remarkable 460.94-yard drive to set a new (unofficial) Long Drive World Record for women.

Since winning the American Golf UK Long Drive Championship last year, Ilona has been training for the sport and her consistent performance today bears testament to that.

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“I’ve worked really hard this winter to make sure that I am in great shape to defend my title at Chester Racecourse in August,” she said. “When American Golf invited me to try and set a Long Drive World Record in the meantime, I was obviously delighted to take part. It’s been a fantastic day and it was great to see everyone else perform, including the golf team from the RAF.”

Matt Nicolle

The biggest hitter of the day was Long Drive European Tour champion and American Golf staff member Matt Nicolle, above.

He smashed his Callaway ball 657.44 yards, which is shorter than some of the unofficial records out there, but is the longest drive on a flat surface using conforming golf equipment and will be submitted to Guinness for their consideration alongside the other two records.

• “I remember thinking there’s no way I’m dying here in this sh*thole” – how three servicemen got their lives back on-track through golf and the On Course Foundation

All the records were documented and verified by independent adjudicators including members of the RAF, who kindly donated their time and their runway as part of their own 100th Anniversary celebrations. 

Think golf fans are over Tiger? These stats say you are very, very wrong.

Matt Bacon, Head of Events at American Golf, said: “It’s been a pleasure to be here with the RAF and OCF today. We can’t thank them enough for arranging the loan of their runway and for helping us collect all the evidence we need to submit the records to Guinness.

“I can’t think of more reliable witnesses, so we’re confident the applications are in safe hands.”

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