The 3rd Annual Angkor 4-Ball Championship takes place next month (April 7,8,9) and an added bonus for players attending this year is the inclusion of an exhibition by the 2013 World Long Drive Champion, Stephen Kennedy from Australia.
Stephen has been competing in the REMAX WORLD LONG DRIVER SERIES for a number of years now and in 2013 finally cracked the big one (so to speak) by winning the seniors division with a mighty drive of 369 yards off his last ball of the tournament.
When speaking to Stephen about Cambodia, he says, ”I have travelled the world to play golf and do Long Drive Clinics, but never in Cambodia so when the opportunity arose I jumped at the opportunity to come. I’m looking forward to conducting a few clinics and sharing my secrets for hitting the long ball; hitting a few over the driving ranges and maybe losing a few!”
Stephens average swing speed is 217km/h, rocketing the ball at 321km/h which gives him distances of between 370-430 yards depending on conditions of the day. To put those sorts of numbers into perspective, the fastest club head speed on the PGA Tour during the 2016 season was 207 km/h, and Bubba Watson’s best this year has been recorded at 194 Km/h. As for that question about "how far can you hit a driver?" - the best Stephen has recorded in competition is 425 yards( 387metres). Admittedly, Stephen says with a wide smile “that hit was with a long-drive driver, which are allowed longer shafts for greater club-head speed than standard clubs, but my best-ever drive was a 424m cannon during a pennant trial - with regulation equipment” (maybe downwind I think !!)
Not just “A Happy Gilmore” Stephen can also putt, and plays from a +2 handicap at his home club, so not only does he knock it past you 150 yards, he beats you into the hole as well.
