We look back at Callaway Golf and Golf Monthly's brilliant Kings of Distance - Live! event at Stoke Park
Some 90 golfers joined Golf Monthly and Callaway Golf at Stoke Park on Tuesday May 6th for Kings of Distance - Live! - a unique and extremely popular event that gave amateur golfers the chance to sample new Callaway product, meet some famous faces, take part in tour pro and professional clinics and experience a brilliant Grand Finale.
At the start of the day - following a welcome speech from Callaway ambassador and Sky commentator Rob Lee - competitiors were split into eight teams.
They then rotated around seven different zones - long driving, putting, irons and hybrids, media, tour truck, short game and long bunker play - with different experiences on offer in each.
Two of the most popular sections were Joe Miller's long-driving masterclass and Callaway driver-custom fitting in the long diving zone, with huge entertainment emanating from Rob Lee's media area, where the presenter turned producer to test out participants' broadcast skills.
After lunch, those taking part were treated to some clinics from Callaway Staff Professionals Alex Noren, Danny Willett and Alvaro Quiros, with advice on everything from putting and chipping over obstacles to long bunker play.
Throughout the course of the afternoon, a large stand was erected behind Stoke Park's first tee in preparation for the Kings of Distance - Live! Grand Finale.
Participants gathered in the stand to witness Noren, Willett and Quiros hit a selection of shots - as requested by compere Lee - including chips into hats, low hooks and high slices.
The extrovert Quiros, in particular, showed his light-hearted side by telling jokes and interacting with the sizeable crowd behind the first tee.
After the professional showcase, Lee introduced 16 players - two from each of the eight teams - who were taking part in the Shoot Out.
Two players from each team hit two drives each, with the largest combined driving distance couting towards the team total.
Sam Mendoza and Steven Tilley - the Grey Team's representatives - managed a massive 622 yards between them, bagging brand new Callway drivers for themselves and the rest of their gleeful team.
"It's been a fantastic day all round and being crowned Kings of Distance is just the icing on the cake," said Steven.
Martin Jones - who improved his post custom-fitting driver distance by a whopping 60 yards - was also awarded a new Callway driver.
In total, participants gained a total of 1,376 yards after a proper custom fitting from one of Callaway's technicians.
The day culminated in a spectacular long-hitting showcase from 2010 World Long Drive champion Miller, which included shots through watermelon and wood, back-hand drives and even a drive with an Odyssey 2-ball putter, which, to the astonishment of the crowd, travelled some 300 yards!
His longest drive of the day - into a slight wind - was a remarkable 403 yards, hit with his #AngryDog golf ball, one of five #AngryBalls dispatched down Stoke Park's first hole.
Click here to see our blog from the day
Click here to see our gallery of the morning's action
Click here to see a gallery of the afternoon's action
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