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Maurice Allen (golfer)Maurice Allen (born November 20, 1981) is a World Long Drive Competitor, former two time number one ranked in the world. Allen competes in events that are sanctioned by the World Long Drive Association, which is owned by Golf Channel, part of the NBC Sports Group, and a division of Comcast. The season-long schedule features events airing live on Golf Channel, culminating in the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in September. Allen grew up in Pine Hills, Florida, an unincorporated subdivision in West Orlando, where he attended Maynard Evans High School. During his high school years, Allen played Varsity Football, Varsity Volleyball and excelled in Track & Field. Maurice initially attended the University of South Florida before transferring to FAMU. Maurice has one son. Allen won the 2018 Volvik World Long Drive Championship on Sept. 5 at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla. Allen blasted a 393-yard drive in the championship match against Justin Moose (Columbia, S.C.) to claim his first Volvik World Long Drive Championship title.[1] World Long Drive CareerAllen has been competing in long drive events around the world since 2010, where he essentially picked up golf for the first time at age 28. Two years later, he set a then-Guinness world record for the fastest ball speed (211 mph)[2] and in 2015 won three long drive events in Europe (Belgium, Italy, Sweden). In 2016 Allen won events in the Czech Republic, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Slovenia. Allen also won in New Zealand in 2017 and 2018, along with Japan in 2018. Allen's breakout World Long Drive Association season came in 2017, when he captured championships at the Catawba Classic (North Caroline), Tennessee Shootout, and Mile HighShowdown (Colorado). Allen also ascended to No. 1 in the World Long Drive rankings leading up to the 2017 Volvik World Long Drive Championship. In 2018, Allen reached the quarterfinals in two events (Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash and Bluff City Shootout) but then capped off his season with his victory in the Open Division at the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in Thackerville.[3] Long Drive Stats9 time World Long Drive Finalist (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) 2 time #1 ranked player in the world (2017, 2018) Volvik World Long Drive Champion (2018) World Long Drive Tour Champion (2017) 2 time Long Driver European Tour (LDET) Champion (2015, 2016) Guinness World Record Ball Speed 211mph 3 wood (2012) First person to hit a golf ball across Niagara Falls (2019) 26 Long Drive championships worldwide Longest ball in competition 483 yards Fastest ball speed 228 mph Fastest swing speed 162 mph Long Drive Results
Niagara FallsOn May 23, 2019 Allen became the first person to ever successful drive a golf ball over the horseshoe at Niagara Falls. It aired as a three part series August 1, 2019 on Skratch as a part of Avis “is it drivable” campaign. This was done at Niagara Falls to promote Niagara as a golf destination. Allen crossed the Falls on his 4th attempt with a ball that carried 393 yards and took a bounce and finished at 427 yard. The ball was hit from the visitors center on the Canadian side to the Niagara park on the American side. Back in 2005 PGA tour player John Daly attempted to complete the task with over 5,000 onlookers at Table Rock to watch the Guinness World Record attempt. After over an hour of attempting Daly was unsuccessful at crossing The Falls Unfortunately Allen’s attempt wasn’t recognized as a Guinness World record as Daly’s would have been, there also wasn’t much media attention on the accomplishment. Viral moments with lots of "flair"Allen’s win in Denver at the 2017 Mile High Showdown came with a viral moment that introduced himself to many sports fans around the United States. His post-match interview and victory celebration included a flamboyant impersonation of professional wrestling superstar Ric Flair.[4] Another viral moment for Allen came during the 2017 Clash in the Canyon (Nevada) on Golf Channel, when he made the claim that World Long Drive competitors are ‘the best athletes on earth.’[5] Before World Long DriveA former sprinter, Allen initially walked on the football team as a wide receiver at the University of South Florida. He was set to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials in track and field in 2004 before tearing his hamstring. Allen was a biology/chemistry double-major at Florida A&M University, where he earned his degree. He was working toward his doctorate in the chiropractic field at Life University before ultimately turning to World Long Drive on a full-time basis. Community workAllen works with, Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association “OMYGA” in Orlando, FL. Allen is also a Boys & Girls Club ambassador of golf, along with an ambassador for The American Cancer Society Real Men Wear Pink program. Following his 2018 World Championship win, he was the subject of a proclamation from the Orange County (Orlando) mayor, who declared it “Maurice Allen day” in the community, in response to Allen’s decision to create four $5,000 scholarships at Evans High School in Orlando, Allen’s alma mater.[6] Between 2019 and 2020 Allen is responsible for raising $50,000 in scholarship money for graduating seniors at Evans High School and Dr. Philips High School; in Orlando, FL. In 2020 Allen founded, Grow the Game Initiative. Grow the Game InitiativeThe program sponsors three black women and three black men, per calendar year. The selected athletes will be awarded $50,000 a year, to help with entry fees, travel expenses and equipment costs. Each year six different athletes will be selected by the selection committee based on the six step application that all athletes must submit. In 2020 there were two major fundraisers for this program. The auction of 3 sets of Black Lives Matter iron shafts 3-pw. There were only five sets of these shafts ever made. Each shaft was labeled with “Black Lives Matters” in bold yellow letters along with a fist on each side of the phrase. On the opposite side each shaft listed 6 names of victims that lost their lives due to social injustice. The other fundraiser is a pledge system based on Allen’s participation in the Diamond Resorts Invitational golf tournament. The DRI is a LPGA tournament of Champions which also has a celebrity division which uses a stableford scoring system. The pledge system allows for corporations and individuals the opportunity to show their support with pledges that range from $1 to $500 per point. References
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