Calling all amateur golfers! Do you have what it takes to out-drive Queenslander Matt Nicholls, currently ranked No 2 in Australia in Long Drive?

The power-hitter – better known as “Matty Bombs” on Instagram – has a claim to fame that even golf legend Tiger Woods can’t match. He can drive a golf ball further. While Woods’ longest recorded drives reach 338 and 376 metres, Nicholls boasts an astonishing personal best of 410 metres.

But a local contender who can beat him in the adrenaline-fuelled Australian Long Drive & Tour Final Round and Grand Final, set to unfold during next month’s Gold Coast Festival of Golf and Australian WPGA Championship could be out there!

New entrants will join two talented Gold Coast teenagers looking to outshine Nicholls, a regular competitor in the World Long Drive Tour in the United States. They are 13-year-old Australian Junior Golfer Byron Rieck and 17-year-old Flynn Carter, captain of the Australian Trans-Tasman Cup Team.

Also lining up for a chance to out-drive Nicholls will be two New Zealanders, Chris Charlton, who won the first event of the 2024/25 Australian Long Drive season with a drive of over 380 metres, and George Wardell, who won the 2024 Xtreme Drivers League North Island Championship and picked up his second New Zealand Championship.

There are two rounds of simulator-based qualifying at the Gold Coast Festival of Golf, one on Thursday 6 March and one on Friday 7 March, that the public can enter, for the chance to be in the final on Saturday. LEARN MORE 

Public can register here to compete 

The electrifying event will run alongside the inaugural Gold Coast Festival of Golf, from March 6 to 9, and the prestigious Australian WGPA Championships at Sanctuary Cove. Open to the public, the final round of the competition invites golf enthusiasts to test their skills against Nicholls and other elite long-drive contenders.

The Gold Coast Festival of Golf is a spectacular four-day festival at the iconic Sanctuary Cove that will blend world-class golf with electrifying entertainment, family-friendly activities, and star-studded events. More than just a tournament, it’s a celebration of the game, set against the stunning backdrop of Queensland’s Gold Coast. 

At the heart of the event is the action-packed Australian WPGA Championship, where the world’s best female golfers will showcase their talent on the rolling fairways and challenging bunkers of The Palms Golf Course. With the coveted Karrie Webb Cup at stake, spectators can expect a thrilling contest featuring elite players including LPGA Tour winner Grace Kim.

In an exciting development, the Gold Coast event will feature the first Australian Women’s Long Drive competition, fittingly held on International Women’s Day.

Competitors will play for a prize pool of $5,000 per event, with each competition featuring qualifying rounds in a simulator, before an eight-person elimination matchplay-style final on a live grid.

To be eligible for the events, participants must be a member of a golf club (international players excepted). Professional golfers and professional long drive players are welcome.

“The development of the Australian Long Drive events held around the country has shown all golf is golf and we are thrilled that this year our Tour Final will be held on the Gold Coast in concert with the Australian WPGA Championship, Gold Coast Festival of Golf and our first ever women’s Long Drive event,” General Manager of Events & Operations for the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia Therese Magdulski said,

“To be rewarding three of our competitors with a chance to contest the world final in America will no doubt attract a tremendous field to the Gold Coast and Sanctuary Cove, with the added excitement of everything else that week making it a perfect fit for the exciting world of long drive.”

Speed and strength are the key to a powerful long drive.

“The secret of a long drive is in the speed and strength of the swing,” says Nicholls, who is sponsored by The Lucky Golfer. “The faster you swing, the greater the potential for distance.” His club speed reaches an impressive 155 mph, and ball speed 225 mph, making him one of the fastest hitters in the sport.

Nicholls has already claimed victory in the Cobram Barooga leg of the Australian Long Drive Tour, earning $2,500 in prize money and valuable Order of Merit points leading up to the Tour Final. 

With his sights set on the World Long Drive Championship in September, Nicholls is pushing himself to peak performance. If he secures a top-two finish at Sanctuary Cove, Golf Australia will cover his entry fee and contribute $5,000 toward his travel expenses.

“Hitting a golf ball faster and further is a science,” says Nicholls, who balances his competitive career with his day job as a construction labourer. “It’s incredibly taxing on the nervous system because you’re going from a standstill to engaging every muscle in your body. Recovery is just as crucial as training.”

His intense training regimen includes hitting up to 200 golf balls twice a week, dedicated gym sessions, and walking 20,000 steps daily to maintain peak physical condition.

“We’re thrilled to see Matt compete in this high-energy showdown, which promises to be a hit with both competitors and spectators,” says Corey Rattray-Wood, Head of Mulpha Event.

Be part of the thrilling action – secure your spot now. 

Entry to the Gold Coast Festival of Golf is FREE, however tickets for the Australian WPGA Championship and exclusive events are available online now. Register for FREE entry and secure your tickets today at www.festivalofgolf.com.au

Tickets

• Coast Festival of Golf – FREE Entry 
• Australian WPGA Championship – GA Tickets – $15pp 
• Australian WPGA Championship – Champions Lounge Tickets – $395pp 
• Beach Party – $120pp 
• International Women’s Day Charity Luncheon – $250pp 

The Gold Coast Festival of Golf is owned and operated by Mulpha Events and is proudly supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.