Faster than Rory, further than Bryson - the world of Long Drive golf

Aaron Lennie is one of the top Long Drive players in Europe

Six golf balls, a shot clock with music blaring, and a WWE-style belt for a prize.

No, its not a scene from the new Happy Gilmore film, but the professional sport of Long Drive golf.

As the sports name would suggest, it is all about hitting the longest drive possible - and Northern Irelands Aaron Lennie is one of the best in Europe.

No putts, no wedges and no water hazards. Driving distance off the tee is all that matters.

Just how far are those drives? Well, at the recent Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Bryson DeChambeau topped the driving distance category with an average of 327.5 yards - a full football pitch less than Lennies personal best of 437 yards.

At more than 185mph, Rory McIlroy is one of the top players in professional golf for ball speed, but Lennie can surpass 200mph. Thats as quick as a Formula 1 car.

Players have two and a half minutes to hit six balls down a long grid, with an out of bounds area either side.

They go head-to-head in group or knockout stages, and theres plenty of drama, a party in the stands and some showboating alongside it all.

"Its like a party atmosphere, a totally different scene to golf," said Lennie, who recently won his first professional event in Austria.

"I dont know if people will like this, but it kind of has a LIV feel to it. Theres music blasting, theres a lot of noise, a lot of energy. Its fast-paced, which for some people is something thats missing from golf.

"Its a breath of fresh air that way. Its a game within a game. None of us claim to be good golfers but we can hit a ball far and we can do it well."

Bryson DeChambeau, who topped the average driving distance category at the Open, competed in the Professional Long Drivers World Championship in 2022

Speaking of DeChambeau, the two-time major winner has played a key role in the growing popularity of the sport.

Not afraid to step outside his comfort zone, the American entered the World Long Drive Championship in 2022 and, of the 128 players to start the event, he came second with a drive of 406 yards.

"My generation have benefited massively from Bryson doing what he did," Lennie said.

"When he dipped his toes in the Long Drive scene it was kind of at rock bottom.

"The spotlight he brought to it was massive for us and its getting bigger and bigger year on year."

Lennie came across Long Drive golf after a failed attempt at breaking into golfs professional ranks.

The 26-year-old went to college in the USA and said he wanted to stay involved with the sport, taking part in his first Long Drive tournament in 2022.

"I got the bug for it and just wanted to hit it further, further and further," said Lennie.

"Its got explosive power movements - you want to be able to rotate really quickly and create a lot of force from the ground.

"Its the same thing a lot of the pro golfers are doing now to hit it further, its just we are at the extreme end of that."

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Watch: European longest drive’ champion Aaron Lennie prepares to compete in the World event.

Lennie combines his Long Drive commitments with being an assistant professional at Clandeboye Golf Club in County Down.

Despite only picking up the sport three years ago, he won his first professional event in Austria on the European tour and qualified for his first World Championship in September.

"It felt good and it was a monkey off my back," he said.

"Hopefully its the start of a few more to come."

Because of the distances professional Long Drive players can strike the ball, Lennie does the majority of his practice sessions indoors.

It allows him to adjust his technique, look at the data behind each swing, and track each one of his drives.

"In some sessions we dont really care where the ball goes, we just want it to go fast and far. In terms of hitting it straight its a whole other practice session.

"Theres a lot of ego in the sport, I dont think anyone can deny that, but theres a science to it as well with all the fine details to make sure the ball is going as far as it can.

"We get to do the fun part - we dont need to worry about the bunkers or anything like that. We just tee it up and give it a hit."