Longest Drive
The longest drive is the special competition at tournaments for the longest tee shot on a designated hole.
The longest drive is a side competition within a tournament. The organisers designate a long, straight hole, usually a par 4 or par 5, on which all participants have their tee shot measured. Whoever hits the ball farthest wins the competition, often with a prize of its own. Important: as a rule only a tee shot that comes to rest on the fairway counts. A 300-metre shot into the rough can usually not be returned. The competition has nothing to do with the actual tournament result and runs in parallel to it.
In practice it works like this: next to the fairway of the designated hole there is a marker, or a fellow player notes the length. If you hit a new best of the day, your name goes up at the marker. An example: on hole 7, a 400-metre par 4 with a following wind, your drive lands at 260 metres and beats the previous best. You write your name on the board or report the shot at the club office. At the end of the round the competition is settled, regardless of how you played the hole.
A typical mistake is tensing up over that one shot. Whoever forces the tee shot with full power often produces a slice into the rough and loses fairway and score. The longest drive rewards length with control, not raw power. The related term Driving Distance describes a player's average driving distance instead, for example in professional statistics.
FAQ
How is the measurement for the longest drive run at a tournament?
The organisers designate a long, straight hole on which all participants have their tee shot measured. If you hit a new best of the day, your name is noted at the marker on the fairway or reported at the club office. The competition is settled at the end of the round, regardless of your actual tournament result.
Does a tee shot in the rough count for the longest drive?
As a rule, no. Most conditions of competition require the ball to come to rest on the fairway for the distance to count. A monster shot into the rough therefore brings you neither the special prize nor a good position for the hole.
Is it worth swinging with full power for the longest drive?
No, tensing up over a single shot is the classic mistake. Whoever tries to force the tee shot often produces a slice into the rough and loses fairway and score at the same time. The longest drive rewards length with control, not raw power — swing your normal, safe drive.