KOHR Golf Instructor Mai Dechathipat Is Among The Best Long Drive Competitors In The World

The highlight of Mai Dechathipat’s trip to Colorado in June this year wasn’t just the staggering 387-yard personal-best drive that earned her a victory on the World Long Drive circuit. (Yes, that number is correct). It was something a little less predictable and a lot more adventurous.

 

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It was never supposed to be this way. As a college player, Dechathipat had aspirations of playing on the LPGA Tour. She spent her early years at Auburn University before transferring to Wake Forest, where she excelled. But as so often happens in sports, life had other plans. After graduation, with the world of professional golf appearing increasingly out of reach, she found herself at a crossroads. Dechathipat moved back to Thailand for a year and was debating whether to make a go of it in golf or return to school.

It was only a pandemic-inspired conversation with Wake Forest’s coaches, Kim and John Lewellen that led her to the sport of long drive—a perfect fit for someone who already had a penchant for hitting the ball far. “It started as a hobby,” she recalls, “but I quickly realized I had the potential to compete.”

Around that time, she received a call from Iain Highfield, with whom she had crossed paths while she attended Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy in Orlando, Florida. Highfield was taking the job as KOHR’s Academy Director and decided to bring his former student with him to Massachusetts to shape promising youth in this part of the country.

Fast forward to today, and Dechathipat is not just playing for fun—she’s a seasoned competitor in WLD, an emerging circuit after several previous versions were sold in recent years. Still, it’s a far cry from the game enjoyed by most—focused on specific techniques, raw power, and endurance, and certainly not for the faint of heart.

“In long drive, you swing at full speed for as long as you can handle,” she said. “A typical session can mean hitting 60–100 balls at 100% effort each day, and when you’re done, you’re exhausted.”

Her preparation is also balanced, incorporating a mix of CrossFit, plyometric exercises, and hill sprints into her training routine, ensuring that her mind and body feel sharp throughout the year instead of just in phases. “This year, I focused on staying fresh, and it paid off,” she said.

 

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Dechathipat’s journey this year wasn’t without some doubts. After being selective with competitions throughout the year, the 2024 National Championships in Georgia approached. Despite her two wins and her teaching commitments, the $1,000 entry fee and additional travel expenses loomed large.

After seeking advice, she launched a GoFundMe campaign, and her clients, friends, and acquaintances rallied to ensure she wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

During the competition, she found her rhythm and advanced smoothly to the final match. “I was hitting balls in the 350s, and no one else was close,” she recalls. However, a single out-of-bounds (OB) shot dashed her hopes for the title. “That was emotional; so many people were behind me, and I OB’d. I did my best, and people still wished me well.”

While long drive provides a competitive platform, Dechathipat remains grounded in her love for teaching. While she came up short of winning the ultimate prize for the year, she has maintained humility and resilience throughout the process. It’s traits like those she hopes she can impress on her students, especially as they develop life-long skills.

“Getting to do what I do best with the best kids around town is really cool, and I’m grateful for that. It makes me learn more about the game,” she said.  “I want to be the best coach I can be, to help these athletes grow not just as golfers but as people.”

“Mai is one of the most dedicated and passionate coaches that I have seen in my 30 years of coaching the game,” says KOHR Golf’s CEO/Co-Founder Bill McInerney.

As she looks to the future, Dechathipat knows there’s a finite timeline for her ability to be among the longest hitters in the world. For as long as that lasts, she is focused on fulfilling her potential both as an athlete and as a coach.

“In that time, I want to be the best at both,” she says, a blend of ambition and gratitude in her voice. “Golf is just the vehicle to help me become a happy, well-rounded person.”