60 Years Ago at the Masters Long Driving Contest

Augusta National Golf Club, circa 1950s.

In April 1959, six foot five inch George Bayer won the long driving contest on the first fairway at Augusta National for the second straight year. Bayer was last to go, and his first drive went 304 yards, but his second went 321 yards. In 1959… here is a link to an S.I. article about George’s long-drives.

George Bayer winning the 1959 Masters long-drive competition

Two years earlier, in 1957, Mike Fetchick won the Master’s long drive when he hammered his ball 351 yards from the 1st tee. In 1957…

It would seem that the 250-feet-per-second velocity rule for golf balls has been useless for decades!

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