FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 6th, 2018

WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2019 SCHEDULE; INCLUDES INAUGURAL EVENT FEATURING MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS

New Event to Feature Military Service Members Competing Alongside

World Long Drive Athletes in Fort Jackson (S.C.) in May

 

Six Events Being Televised Live on Golf Channel in 2019, Including Season-

Culminating Volvik World Long Drive Championship in September

 

Schedule Includes More Than a Dozen Qualifiers Worldwide

Ahead of 2019 Volvik World Long Drive Championship

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2018) – The World Long Drive Association (WLD) announced its 2019 schedule today, featuring an increased number of televised events airing live on Golf Channel: six, as well as more than a dozen qualifiers around the world offering exemptions into the season-ending Volvik World Long Drive Championship (Aug. 30-Sept. 4). In 2018, WLD posted its most-viewed season ever, with 8.3 million unique viewers (+23% year-over-year) according to data released by The Nielsen Company.

A new highlight of the 2019 WLD schedule will be the inaugural Celebrating Service: Fort Jackson event, presented by The Exchange and American Greetings. The event will feature a division represented by military service members competing alongside World Long Drive athletes, and will contribute to a stretch of televised WLD events airing live on Golf Channel each month from April-September:

 

2019 World Long Drive Association Events Airing Live on Golf Channel:

April 16            Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun (Maricopa, Ariz.)

May 7               Celebrating Service: Fort Jackson (Fort Jackson, S.C.)

June 5              Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash (Atlantic City, N.J.)

July 24             TBA Event

Aug. 12            Tennessee Big Shots benefiting Niswonger Children’s Hospital (Kingsport, Tenn.)

Sept. 3-4           Volvik World Long Drive Championship (Texas/Oklahoma border)

 

“The momentum and growth WLD is experiencing is a testament to the dynamic personalities and extraordinary talents of our competitors, driving the sport’s most-viewed season, as well as global engagement to an international audience across 66 countries in 2018,” said Matt Farrell, executive director, World Long Drive Association. “With the support of our partners in 2019, viewers will be able to connect with our competitors on an even deeper level, with events airing on Golf Channel each month beginning in April and leading up to the Volvik World Long Drive Championship.”

Celebrating Service: Fort Jackson to Highlight Service Members: The Celebrating Service: Fort Jackson event will be staged in partnership with AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Service) and IMCOM (United States Army Installation Management Command). The military division will consist of those having advanced from 12 preliminary qualifying events at U.S. Army bases around the country (March-April) leading up to the Fort Jackson event in May. Qualifying is open to all active, reserve and retired Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy service members. The winner of the military division in Fort Jackson also will earn an exemption into the field at the 2019 Volvik World Long Drive Championship.

“The Exchange is truly honored to partner with the Army’s Installation Management Command to support this event,” said Tom Shull, Executive Director/CEO, Army & Air Force Exchange Service. “The Exchange and IMCOM go hand-in-hand, supporting Quality-of-Life programs in military communities worldwide to ensure service members stay ready and resilient.”

“On behalf of the United States Army and Installation Management Command, I’m excited for the opportunity this event provides for our Service Members,” said Lieutenant General Bradley A. Becker. “The Soldiers of America’s Army are rugged professionals with a wide variety of talent they develop to make our Army the best in the world. In this event, a few special Soldiers will get to demonstrate the focus, timing and discipline it takes to compete alongside the best in the world, and to showcase Fort Jackson, one of the places where we start the process of training citizens to become Soldiers.”

Qualifiers Offer Spots Into Volvik World Long Drive Championship Field: In addition to the Tour events, nine official Volvik World Long Drive Championship qualifiers will take place throughout North America, offering exemptions into the World Championship for those aspiring to compete alongside the sport’s longest hitters. Showcasing the truly global nature of World Long Drive, several additional qualifying events will be staged in 2019 through officially sanctioned WLD international partners, including stops in Australia, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

 

2019 World Long Drive Association Schedule (Tour Events & Qualifiers):

 

DATE EVENT LOCATION
March 22-23 Yucca Valley, Calif. (Qualifier) Yucca Valley, Calif.
March 29-30 Memphis, Tenn. (Qualifier) Memphis, Tenn.
April 12-16 Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun (*Golf Channel*, Tour Event/Qualifier) Maricopa, Ariz.
May 2-3 Columbia, S.C. (Qualifier) Columbia, S.C.
May 5-7 Celebrating Service: Fort Jackson (*Golf Channel*, Tour Event) Fort Jackson, S.C.
May 16-17 Mesquite, Nev. (Qualifier) Mesquite, Nev.
May 30-31 Marine Park, N.J. (Qualifier) Marine Park, N.J.
June 3-5 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash (*Golf Channel*, Tour Event) Atlantic City, N.J.
June 20-21 Texas/Oklahoma Border (WinStar, Qualifier) Thackerville, OK
July 6-7 Port Rowan, Ont., Canada (Qualifier) Port Rowan, Ont., Canada
July 19-24 TBA Event (*Golf Channel*, Tour Event/Qualifier) TBA
August 10-12 Tennessee Big Shots benefiting Niswonger Children’s Hospital (*Golf Channel*, Tour Event) Kingsport, Tenn.
Aug. 30- Sept. 4 Volvik World Long Drive Championship (*Golf Channel*, Tour Event) Thackerville, Okla.

 

ABOUT WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION

Originating in 1976, the World Long Drive Association is an organization that brings together golf’s longest hitters from around the globe. Emerging as one of golf’s most popular grass roots competitions, World Long Drive was named a finalist at the 2018 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards in the League of the Year for a Breakthrough Sport and Live Coverage of a Breakthrough Sport categories. The broader sports industry also has taken notice, including ESPN proclaiming that long drive has “recently started to enter the mainstream of golf;” Men’s Journal noting “with the sport’s ascendant profile and ever-growing prestige,” fans should “buckle up for more high-octane action;” Golf Digest saying the World Long Drive is “on the upswing, gaining traction;” and Golf.com claiming it as “an eye-opening experience”. Sanctioned WLD events are open to amateur and professional golfers. The 2019 WLDA season consists of events across the United States and around the world, culminating with the Volvik World Long Drive Championship, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, from WinStar World Casino and Resort on the Texas / Oklahoma border, where competitors will convene under the lights for the world title on Golf Channel. In 2018, 8.3 million unique viewers watched at least some portion of World Long Drive events (live and replay), +23% year-over-year, and the most-viewed season of World Long Drive on-record according to data released by The Nielsen Company.