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

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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.

 

GOLF CHANNEL ADDS MATT FARRELL AS GENERAL MANAGER OF ALTERNATIVE GOLF AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION

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Farrell’s New Role Follows Past Decade Spent as CMO of USA Swimming

ORLANDO, Fla., (Oct. 23, 2018) – Matt Farrell, CMO of USA Swimming, has joined Golf Channel as General Manager of Alternative Golf and Executive Director for the World Long Drive Association. Farrell is a 20-year veteran of sports and entertainment marketing spanning roles with USA Swimming, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Warner Brothers. The announcement was made today by Tom Knapp, Golf Channel executive vice president, partnerships and programming.

“Golf Channel is committed to the growth of the game by engaging new and different fans in our coverage of all aspects of the game,” said Knapp. “Alternative competitions like World Long Drive expand golf’s reach, and Matt’s proven track record of elevating sports, both through grassroots efforts, digital extensions and high-profile media opportunities will further fuel our efforts. Matt has a terrific reputation within the Olympic community, where he is known as an effective and strategic partner amongst colleagues across sport governing bodies and sponsors.”

“From the first time I experienced a WLD event, I immediately saw the progressive vision and promising future of long drive as a sport and unique avenue for golf to connect with younger, athletic-minded sports fans,” Farrell said. “And thanks to the investments of NBC Sports, the competitors, sponsors, and event hosts the past few years, we have an incredible foundation to expand upon with a global, long-term strategic plan. For me personally, I look forward to combining my background in commercial development, organizational leadership and digital content at USA Swimming and the U.S. Olympic Committee with Golf Channel’s entrepreneurial enthusiasm to grow the sport of golf in non-traditional ways.”

In the newly created role, Farrell will lead all domestic and international business elements for Golf Channel’s owned and operated alternative golf franchises, led by the World Long Drive Association, which has aired on Golf Channel since 2013. For these franchises, Farrell will oversee event sponsorships, marketing, communications, operations, player relations and TV/digital media extensions. Farrell will lead teams focused on further development of additional alternative golf competitions, events and franchises. Farrell will report to Knapp and his official start date is December 3.

Since making a commitment to add World Long Drive to its business portfolio in 2015, Golf Channel has elevated the sport to feature five televised live competitions in 2018, culminating in the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in primetime, and adding the women’s division to televised events for the past two years. Previously, World Long Drive’s exposure was limited to a single, tape-delayed presentation of the men’s world championship on ESPN2. Despite a history as a sport dating back to 1976, Golf Channel’s support drove World Long Drive to be named a 2018 finalist for a “Breakthrough Sports League of the Year” by the annual Cynopsis Sports industry awards. 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 WLD atmosphere is “on the upswing, gaining traction;” and Golf.com claiming it is “an eye-opening experience”.

Matt Farrell Professional Background:

  • USA Swimming, Chief Marketing Officer since 2008, previously Managing Director of Business Development since 2005.
    • USA Swimming is a National Governing Body with 400,000 members and the No. 1 Olympic swimming country in the world.
    • Under his leadership, delivered highest corporate partner revenue in organization’s history, including corporate partners such as BMW, Marriott, MilkPEP, Arena, TYR, Blue Diamond and Chobani, in addition to long-term partnership renewals with Speedo and Phillips 66.
    • Farrell developed partnerships with Disney and Discovery Education, as well as a diversity and inclusion partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho, an African-American sorority.
    • Signature programs created by Farrell include USA Swimming Productions digital video department, SwimToday youth participation campaign, USA Swimming House VIP hospitality experience, and annual SwimBiz conference focused on elevating the swimming industry’s business potential, sponsorship opportunities and social media influence.
  • Previous professional experience includes serving as Associate Director, Internet Marketing at the U.S. Olympic Committee from 2000-2005, and Director of Internet Marketing, Warner Home Video for Warner Bros. from 1999-2000. Additionally, Farrell served previously at the U.S. Olympic Committee as Manager of Online Projects from 1997-1999 and Communications Coordinator at USA Swimming 1993-1997, after starting his career in the Purdue University’s Sports Information Office from 1992-1993.
  • Farrell additionally has served on the boards for Adaptive Adventures (2013-16) and USA Ultimate (2010-12).
  • Farrell graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Broadcast Journalism.
  • Farrell, a life-long golfer, will be relocating to Golf Channel’s World Headquarters in Orlando, Fla.
  • Farrell is married to Michelle Dusserre, 1984 Olympic silver medalist in gymnastics, who currently works in international sports consulting. They have two daughters – Abby and Zoe. Abby is currently at the University of Illinois and competes on the wheelchair basketball team; while Zoe competes in soccer, swimming and playing in the marching band.

 

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available to nearly 500 million viewers in more than 80 countries and nine languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Digital and the NBC Sports App, powered by Playmaker Media. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; Revolution Golf, the largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf ; GolfAdvisor.com, the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour; and as the Official Media Partner of St. Andrews Links, the Home of Golf.

 

-NBC Sports Group-