2003 ReMax British Long Drive Championships

PGA Golf Professional, Paul Barrington, has won the title of 'RE/MAX British Long Drive Champion' for the second year running.

The competition attracted 'long drivers' from across Europe and was held at Stoke Park Golf Club on Friday 22nd August. Over 50 Amateur and professional golfers battled it out to take the title and the chance to represent Great Britain at the World Finals in Nevada in October.

Competitors are put into groups of four with each person taking it in turn to hit six balls. Only drives landing within a grid measuring 49 yards wide are measured. The longest drive of each group advanced to the next round until there were only five competitors left who took part in a head-to-head shootout.

Paul hit an incredible drive of 401 yards, taking the title and the chance to once again represent Great Britain in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Finals. Paul competed in the World Finals in Nevada in 2002 and was two yards short of qualifying for the Semi-Finals. It is the first time that the Great British title has been won back to back by the same person.

"Last year really was a fantastic experience" said Paul. "To be able to represent Great Britain for the second year running is a great honour and I can't wait to compete again. I didn't really know what I was up against last year and arrived at the World Finals with my 'pretty' golf swing and my standard length driver. But there are no prizes for a standard golf swing. You've got to hit it long and hit it hard and these boys can serious hit the ball. For many of them it is their livelihood and with a first prize of $80,000, they take the sport very seriously. I have my sights set on reaching the final and bringing home the trophy and this year, I feel better prepared to take it all the way".

Paul will be competing against the best in the world, going up against such names as Jason Zuback, Shaun 'The Beast' Fister and Carl Wolter. Carl took the World title in 2002 with an amazing drive of 384 yards, using an SMT driver with a 62 inch shaft and 5 degrees of loft. This year, the LDA (Long Drivers Association) have restricted the club length to 52 inches.

2002 ReMax British Long Drive Championships

PGA Golf Professional, Paul Barrington, has won the title of 'RE/MAX British Long Drive Champion 2002.

Amateur and professional golfers from across Great Britain competed to gain entry into the final of the RE/MAX British Long Drive Championships held at Stoke Park Golf Club on Tuesday 11th September. The finalists were each given three warm up balls followed by six shots to gain the title.

Paul hit a massive 337 yard drive into the wind, taking the title and the chance to represent Great Britain in the 2002 RE/MAX World Long Drive Finals in Nevada in October. Paul will be competing against the best in the world, going up against such names as Jason Zuback and Shaun 'The Beast' Fister. Jason was the World Long Drive Champ from 1986 - 1999 and recorded a tournament record of over 412 yards in 1997. Shaun won the title in 2001 in Mesquite, USA after hitting the ball 376 yards, 2 inches.

Paul is now looking forward to five weeks of intensive training and his role as Golf Director at The Players Club, Codrington gives him the perfect venue. Open in May 2002, The Players Club boasts a course of over 7,600 yards, making it the longest course in the United Kingdom and incorporates the longest front nine in Europe at 4,000 yards.

2002 ReMax World Long Drive Championships

Paul Barrington, 33 year old Golf Director at The Players Club Codrington, blasted his way through to the Quarter Finals of the 2002 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships.

Over 14,000 competitors battled it out across the world to qualify for a place at the Championships held from 16 - 19 October in Nevada. Paul represented Great Britain and finished 15th out of a field of 96 competitors, leaving him two yards short of qualifying for the Semi-Finals.

"It really was a fantastic experience" said Barrington "I gave it my best shot and was thrilled to get through to the Quarter Finals. To compete against such names as Jason Zuback and Sean 'The Beast' Fister was awesome; these guys can really strike the ball."

Paul was using a Yonex V Mass 400 with a Penley ETA 49 ½ inch shaft, which was a short in comparison. The standard length of shaft being used by competitors ranged from anywhere between 52 - 62 inches with groove less heads and lofts from 4 - 6 degrees. "It was like a different sport entirely" said Paul. The equipment they were using was for Long Driving and not for playing golf! There were no prizes for a 'pretty' swing; 'Grip it and Rip it' summed it up perfectly".

The winning drive was a staggering 384 yards. Car Wolter from America picked up a cheque for $80,000 and took the title using an SMT driver with a 62 inch shaft and 5 degrees of loft. "Carl used the longest driver in the competition and it certainly paid off" said Barrington. "The longer the shaft the more difficult it is to control, but you only need to find that one ball out of six in the grid, it doesn't matter about the other five!"