WEST PALM BEACH (Fla.) — The air traffic controllers of Palm Beach International Airport may have seen some blips in their radars recently, but don’t worry.
Kyle Berkshire, World Long Drive champion, and his friends launched some bombs at Bear Lakes Country Club located 4 1/2 miles from the club. Berkshire, his buddies and their golf clubs can hit the ball high (250 feet), and long.
How long? Berkshire set a world record in the month of August when he drove 579 yards in ideal weather conditions on the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course at Rawlins in Wyoming . This was two weeks before Berkshire won his third long-driving title.
Imagine that… 579 yards with a carry distance of 512. This is twice as far away as the average pro and three times farther than most amateurs. What does it matter if there was a tailwind at 17-22 mph and 6,700 feet elevation, even though the temperature was only in the mid-50s? This would be enough distance to drive every par-5 golf course in the U.S.
Berkshire shouted “Oh, That’s It!” on video following his world record drive. “That’s it!”
Berkshire thought back on the moment he had last week while having lunch at Bear Lakes new clubhouse.
“When I caught the ball, I knew that it was the hardest one I had ever hit,” said Berkshire. A 27-year old Orlando resident, Berkshire is well-known for his dark, long hair. It was spinning enough for it to stay up in the air even with a tailwind. The wind was coming from the right and I had a 10-yard window to allow the ball to reach the fairway. It felt amazing.”
Berkshire knows that most golfers focus on the distance of his drives. However, he and other players use the ball speeds coming from their extended drivers to gauge their true talent. Berkshire broke the world record for ball speed with 241.6 mph.
The answer was as quick as his swing when asked which meant more to him: the world record, or the championship belts that he received after winning three world titles.
Berkshire stated, “I care more about the belt than anything else as an athlete.” “When my professional career ends, I would like to be remembered as the best. You must have belts. You need rings, just like in basketball. “If you want to win the belt, then you must be clutch.”
Berkshire was a collegiate golfer at North Texas and had dreams of playing on the PGA Tour one day. But during a practice session his sophomore year, that dream changed. The backup allowed the entire team to watch him drive 440 yard on the 17th. The drive was 70 yards longer than everyone else.
Berkshire stated that “my path was pretty well set” when his entire team and coach noticed. “I had to choose whether I wanted to get my (PGA Tour card) first or first win a belt. I thought I could win a belt within three years and a card would take six.
He’s just as long as he is accurate: it took him three full years to win his world title. He’s no longer worried about the other.
“Once the belt is on, you can earn a very good living here,” he smiled.
The 2023 World Long Drive, Atlanta, where Kyle Berkshire was crowned champion.
Berkshire made millions of dollars by being known for the guy who has long hair and hits the ball very far. Berkshire claimed that his hairstyle was organic.
Berkshire stated, “I went to a barbershop early 2018 and the barber did not show up.” In a few weeks, I was on TV. My hair was long enough that announcer Jonathan Coachman mentioned it. After hearing that, I grew my hair and it became an issue.
Berkshire filmed his “Bombers Club”, YouTube podcast last week at Bear Lakes with Billy Ray, Bobby Bradley, and Karol Pricilla. The videos show a younger, cooler side of golf as they play matches, exchange barbs, and hit 400-yard shots.
The Bombers Club didn’t care if Berkshire loved Jack Nicklaus’ Lakes and Links course design. One of the competitions involved hitting from the fairway 15 on the Lakes Course up to the 14th par-3 hole. The 341-yard carry was into the wind and over water. Berkshire won after hitting his driver regular length to 25 feet.
He said, “I enjoy doing the show because it allows me to be myself.” When I compete, people only see me through a serious lens. It allows me to express my personality.”
Kellie Stenzel is a teacher and former Berkshire Bombers Club member. She said that his appearance should not be taken for granted.
Stenzel, who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, said: “It is easy to see him as the guy with long hair and the long drive,” he added. When Kyle begins to speak, he is so intelligent and thoughtful. Behind the talent is intelligence.
Who doesn’t want the ball to go further? “We all want to do that.”
Berkshire acknowledged that his sport is more mental than many fans think. It’s more than just hitting, screaming and hitting again.
He said: “A lot people think that long drives are just bashing the ball repeatedly, but it’s not true. It takes skill.” “If both players swing at the same speed, but one of them hits the ball further, then that is the skill in the game. It’s because the fastest guy doesn’t win every time. “We’re not just screaming away without regard for consistency or accuracy.”
Berkshire and Bryson deChambeau are friends and often discuss their quest for greater clubhead speed and range. Berkshire, unlike DeChambeau has not yet achieved his dream of playing the PGA Tour. Or Korn Ferry Tour with a sponsor exemption. Why not? Why not?
Berkshire told professionals, “I can play mini-tours and hang with them.” “I don’t get blown out.” “I usually shoot in the low 70s.”
The only question is: How long should the course be?
