1)       HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Three-step Process

The World Long Drive Championship is open to everyone- pros and amateurs alike and involves a two-step qualifying process.  Step one is Stage 1 (Local) qualifying.  Step two is Stage 2 (Regional) qualifying and Step 3 is the World Championship.

 

Stage 1 (Local) Qualifying

The Open Division road to the World Championship begins with a Stage 1 (Local) qualification event where you show up ready to “give it your best shot”.  Time and space permitting you may enter multiple times.

The total number of entries (tries) at a Stage 1 (Local) qualifying event determines how many competitors advance to the Stage 2 (Regional) qualifying event.  For every 7 paid tries (per qualifying event), one Stage 2 (Regional) Qualification spot will be awarded.  Ex. 7+ entries = 1 Regional; 14+ entries = 2 Regionals; etc.  Based on total entries, as many as 7 hitters will advance to Stage 2 (Regional Championship).

To increase your chances to qualify for the World Championship, enter as many local qualifiers as you like and compete in more than one Stage 2 Event (Regional Championship).

Entry Fees: The first try purchased is $75 and includes a community membership.  All subsequent tries purchased are $50.00 for six balls.

 

Stage 2 (Regional) Qualifying

You are now one step away from qualifying for the World Championship and a chance at claiming the title “Golf’s Biggest Hitter”.  Winners from the local competition will advance to the Stage 2 (Regional) Championship

Competitors must pre-register for the event online at worldlongdrive.com prior to the competition.  Five competitors qualify for the World Championship from each Stage 2 (Regional) Event.  All competitors are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

Entry fees: $250.00 (Competitors must have a WLD Amateur or Pro Membership)

 

The World Finals

Congratulations on advancing to the “most exciting spectacle in golf”.  Top finishers at Stage 2 (Regional) Events advance to the World Championship.  There is no entry fee at the World Championship for those competitors that qualified through Stage 2.

 

2. WHO IS EXEMPT INTO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Click here to view the full list of World Championship exempt competitors.

 

Open Division

Past 5 WLDC Champions

Top 16 from 2022 WLDC

Top 30 (+ties) on WLD World Rankings as of January 1, 2023

 

Senior Division

Top 8 from 2022 WLDC

 

Women’s Division

 Top 8 from 2022 WLDC

 

3. HOW DO I ENTER A WLD TOUR EVENT

 

 Players in the Top 40 + ties in the WLD World Rankings (Open Division) as of a specified cut-off date for the rankings are eligible to register for the “WLD Tour Event” beginning on a specific registration date as advertised by the WLD through 12PM on a specific deadline date as published by the WLDA.  Registration will begin 40 – 45 days prior to the event in order to give players ample time to make travel arrangements.  These players will receive a “unique link” for registering into a Tour Event in which they will have a 48 hour window to register for the Tour Event.

After 12pm on the deadline date, the WLD Tour Event will be open to all other players to fill remaining spots.

 

4. DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN WLD EVENTS

YES.  The WLD offers 3 memberships (Memberships are valid for one calendar year)

 

Community Membership ($25) – Players that participate in a Local Stage 1 Qualifier must be a Community Member

 

Amateur Membership ($150) – Players can participate in a Local, Regional, or Tour event (in a Tour event, you will compete as
an Amateur and abide by the USGA Rules of Amateur Status)

 

Pro Membership ($300) – Players that participate in a Regional Stage 2 Qualifier, WLD Tour Event, or the WLD World
Championship must be a Pro Member

 

5. HOW MANY DIVISIONS FOR WORLD LONG DRIVE

The WLD will have 4 divisions: Open / Women / Seniors (45+) / Amateur

 

6. ARE THERE LOCAL QUALIFIERS DURING THE TOUR EVENTS

The 8 non-televised events are scheduled to have a long drive weekend that kicks off with 4 local qualifiers and a regional championship on day 1.  On days 2 and 3, The WLD tour events for open, senior, and women’s divisions will take place.  (Schedules are subject to change based on location)

 

7. IS THERE SENIOR DIVISION OR WOMEN’S DIVISION QUALIIFIERS

No.  These divisions do not have local or regional qualifying for the World Championship.  These are buy in divisions, where competitors simply register and pay their entry fee to participate in the World Championship.  A one-time entry fee of $1,000 in the Women’s Division and $1,200 in the Senior Division gives competitors in those respective divisions a one-way ticket to the World Championship.

 

8. WHAT IS THE AMATEUR DIVISION AND HOW DO I REGISTER

Each of the 8 non-televised events will have an Amateur Division that will take place on Day 2 or Day 3 of that events Long Drive Weekend.  Amateurs will compete in a Double Elimination format.  Winners of the event will earn a maximum of $750.  Registration for the event can be found on worldlongdrive.com.

 

9. IS THERE A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE 8 NON TELEVISED EVENTS

The schedule is subject to change and is based on the size of each field and facility requirements.  Although, we anticipate the majority of the events to have a “Long Drive Weekend” kick off with 4 local qualifiers and a regional championship on day 1.  The Local Qualifiers will take place in the morning followed by the Regional Championship after lunch.  On day 2, the Open Division Tour Event preliminary Rounds will begin in the morning followed by the Amateur Division in the afternoon.  On day 3, the Open Division Final rounds will take place in the morning and conclude after lunch, followed by the Senior and Women’s division championships.

 

10. WHAT ARE ENTRY FEES FOR WLD NON-TELEVISED TOUR EVENTS

 

Open Division – $600

Women’s Division – $400

Senior Division – $400

Amateur Division – $200

 

11. WHAT ARE THE FIELDS FOR NON-TELEVISED EVENTS

 

Open Division – 48

Women’s Division – 16

Senior Division – 16

Amateur Division – 24

 

12. WHAT ARE THE FIELDS FOR NON-TELEVISED EVENT

 

How are players seeded for the preliminary pairings in World Long Drive Events?Players are seeded based on their current World Rankings. If there is a tie in World Rankings points, the following are used to determine seedings:
1) Total Points Earned in the Current Year
2) Total Points Earned in the Previous Year
3) Total Points Earned 2 Years Ago from the Current Year
4) Points Earned at the Previous World Championship
5) Chronological order of event registration

 

13. World Ranking Points

Click here to view the World Ranking Points FAQ.