Ultimate Long Drive, Inc. (ULD) is officially opening Xtreme Long Drive® (XLD) Team Licensing for the 2026 season—marking the next evolution of long drive competition and creating new opportunities for athletes, operators, venues, and destinations.
XLD represents a high-intensity, close-quarters, team-based version of long drive, designed specifically for indoor venues, simulator facilities, performance centers, and purpose-built competition spaces. While outdoor long drive remains the foundation of the sport, XLD was developed to meet the realities of modern facilities, year-round competition, and digital-first fan engagement.
The 2026 season will serve as a soft opening for the XLD series—allowing ULD to strategically align with the right partners while establishing operational standards, competitive formats, and destination pathways ahead of full expansion.
Why XLD? Why Now?
Over the past several seasons, ULD has witnessed explosive growth in:
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Indoor golf facilities and simulators
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Year-round competitive training environments
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Audience demand for faster-paced, team-driven sports formats
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Digital consumption of sports content over traditional broadcast windows
XLD was purpose-built to sit at the intersection of these trends.
Unlike traditional long drive, XLD:
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Operates in contained indoor spaces
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Emphasizes team competition
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Delivers fast-paced, high-impact match formats
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Is designed for spectators, streaming, and social amplification
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Creates repeatable, scalable event models for venues and destinations
This format allows long drive to thrive in markets where outdoor venues are seasonal, land-restricted, or weather-dependent—without sacrificing the explosive athleticism that defines the sport.
Team-Based Competition: A Strategic Shift
XLD introduces a team licensing model, aligning with proven dynamics seen in other emerging sports properties. Teams create:
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Stronger athlete identity and loyalty
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Built-in storytelling for media and fans
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New sponsorship and brand-activation opportunities
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Repeat engagement across a season rather than one-off events
Teams will compete in structured, high-energy formats that translate cleanly to live audiences and digital platforms—positioning XLD as both a competitive sport and a media asset.
2026: A Strategic Soft Opening
The 2026 XLD season is intentionally structured as a soft opening, not a mass rollout.
This approach allows ULD to:
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Partner with the right indoor venues and destinations
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Refine competitive formats in live environments
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Establish consistent production and event standards
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Collaborate with early partners on best practices
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Build sustainable demand ahead of broader expansion
Rather than rushing scale, ULD is prioritizing quality execution, operational consistency, and partner success.
First Rights for Existing ULD Licensed Tournament Directors
As part of ULD’s long-standing commitment to its licensing community:
Existing ULD USA Licensed Tournament Directors will receive first right of consideration for XLD Team Licenses within their territories. ULD International partners will be afforded the same first right of consideration.
This ensures:
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Protection of existing ULD operators
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Continuity of leadership within established markets
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A natural growth pathway for current licensees
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Alignment between outdoor and indoor long drive ecosystems
ULD believes the strongest expansion comes from empowering those who have already helped build the sport.
Destination & Venue Opportunities
XLD opens compelling new opportunities for:
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Indoor sports complexes
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Simulator venues
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Convention centers
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Adaptive reuse facilities
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Destination marketing organizations seeking shoulder-season or off-season events
Because XLD operates indoors and requires a smaller footprint than traditional long drive, it:
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Fits urban and resort markets
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Supports predictable scheduling
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Creates repeat visitation
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Delivers strong digital reach beyond event days
ULD is actively seeking destination and venue partnerships that align with XLD’s high-energy, spectator-friendly format.
Built for Media, Streaming, and Sponsorship
XLD was designed with media distribution in mind from day one.
The format:
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Produces compelling short-form and long-form content
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Translates seamlessly to OTT, social, and streaming platforms
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Supports integrated sponsorship and brand storytelling
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Extends sponsor value well beyond event day
With ULD’s existing digital distribution infrastructure, XLD teams and events become part of a year-round content engine, not a one-weekend exposure play.
Looking Ahead
XLD Xtreme Long Drive® is not a replacement for traditional long drive—it is a strategic expansion that strengthens the entire ecosystem.
By launching with intention in 2026, ULD is laying the groundwork for:
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Sustainable team growth
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Scalable destination partnerships
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Expanded athlete opportunity
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Stronger media and sponsorship value
Additional details on team licensing, venue requirements, and partnership structures will be released in phases as ULD works directly with early-stage partners.
Learn More
To inquire about:
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XLD Team Licensing
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Venue or destination partnerships
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Early participation opportunities
Click the License Process Inquiry button below.