October 4, 2023 |
Photo – Berkshire hitting ball inside The 19th Hole – Courtesy Kyle Berkshire
Long drive golf champion Kyle Berkshire broke the world record for longest golf drive on Monday at the golf course in Rawlins. Later the same day, Berkshire also broke the golf ball speed record.
Professional golfer Kyle Berkshire came to the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course with the aim of breaking the world record for longest golf drive. Rochelle Ranch Head Golf Professional Kevin Gannon said Berkshire broke the record by more than 60 yards. Gannon said Berkshire also broke the record for fastest golf ball.
The former world distance record of 515 yards was set in 1974 by Mike Austin at Winterwood Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada. Berkshire, himself, held the previous speed record. In December of last year, he set a hit for 236.2 miles per hour. Yesterday, Berkshire clocked a club speed of 241.6 miles per hour, breaking his own record.
Gannon said he wasn’t sure Berkshire was going to get an opportunity to break the record on Monday. The course pro said he and Golf Maintenance Superintendent Abe Coulsey were worried by the still air. Gannon said Berkshire’s record attempt hinged on having the right amount of wind.
Gannon said Berkshire and his team were prepared to wait until the afternoon for the weather to cooperate. Gannon said the wind arrived and Berkshire wasted no time to take his shot at the record.
Gannon said on his eighth swing, Berkshire hit his record-breaking 579-yard drive.
Afternoon rain put a stop to any more world record drive attempts. However, Golf Maintenance Superintendent Coulsey said Berkshire wasn’t done setting records. Coulsey said the golf pro decided to try for another record in the golf course’s restaurant, the 19th Hole.
Coulsey said golf course staff set up a net in the clubhouse restaurant for Berkshire to hit golf balls into.
Head Golf Professional Gannon said it took around three quarters of an hour for Berkshire to break his own 11-month-old speed record. Gannon said the golf pro had a surprising amount of endurance.
Rawlins Parks and Recreation Director Jason Sehon said having Berkshire at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course was an exciting experience. Sehon said city staff did a great job of keeping up with the changing weather conditions to make the world record attempt possible.
The current world golf ball drive record is now set at 579 yards, as measured by Engineering Associates. Head Golf Professional Gannon said Berkshire felt like he could have hit farther. Gannon said he expects Berkshire to return in the spring to attempt to break his own record.
