Former World Long Driving Champion Joe Miller blasted balls from the hotel roof at the Celtic Manor Resort as a spectacular appetiser for next week’s Golf Live and The Celebrity Cup.
From his makeshift tee some 110 feet above the ground, Miller was set the task of hitting the ball onto a par-three green on the golf course some 360 yards away. He completed that task with room to spare, managing to smash his longest drive from the top of the towering, 400-bedroom hotel a scorching 402 yards – into the wind!
To put his feat into context, tour pros average around 285 yards for driving distance and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts topped the European Tour rankings last year with 318 yards.
Miller said: “My longest drive in competition is 474 yards but I don’t think I’ve ever hit drives from a more unusual location than up here on the roof of Celtic Manor. When I saw the hotel from the motorway, my first reaction was, ‘I’m not going up there, am I?’ It’s a good job I’m not afraid of heights!
“It was a lot of fun hitting balls from up here and I’m delighted I managed to really get hold of a few. I’m sure I’ll be hitting the ball even further at Golf Live and The Celebrity Cup. My show has always been a real crowd-puller at previous events.”
Using a Callaway X-Hot driver with a customised 48-inch shaft and a loft of just 3.5 degrees, power was never a problem but Miller had a tough job controlling his line with a steady breeze blowing across the rooftop, into his face and from the left. Nevertheless, from a couple of dozen attempts, he got a few balls greenside before nestling his best effort some 25 feet behind the flag.
Miller, who became the first European to win the RE/MAX World Long Driving Championship in 2010, will be part of a star-studded Golf Live and The Celebrity Cup event at Celtic Manor from May 10-12.
As well as marvelling at his long driving prowess, golfers visiting the event will be able to pick up tips from tour stars Colin Montgomerie, Shane Lowry and SorenKjeldsen, watch jaw-dropping trick shots from Paul Barrington and hear from top coach Simon Holmes.
Secrets in every department of the game from putting and chipping to power hitting will be revealed and interviewing the stars and describing the action will be BBC golf commentator Andrew Cotter and Sky Sports presenter Di Dougherty.
Golf’s leading brands will be on the range offering custom-fitting sessions for the latest equipment and a large tented village will house all things golf from clothing and accessories to the most visited golf holiday destinations.
New to the event with its move to Celtic Manor is The Celebrity Cup which features the likes of Olympic hero Sir Steve Redgrave, comic Rob Brydon, Hollywood actor IoanGruffudd, former Westlife singer Brian McFadden and football legend Kenny Dalglish.
They will play in six-man teams for national pride in a clash of the nations which pits England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales against each other.
For more information or to buy tickets visit www.thecelebritycup.co.uk or phone 01633 410318.
Golf Live www.golfliveevent.com