Arizona Long Drive (AZLD) has entered its second season this month at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, AZ. What started as a grassroots concept has quickly become one of Arizona’s most exciting new golf leagues, blending long drives, community-driven competition, and live entertainment.
AZLD represents a new era of golf competition, blending performance, digital storytelling, and community culture. For Arizona golf enthusiasts of all ages, it’s a competition where many can showcase their talent on the golf course.
While traditional tours and tournaments dominate headlines, AZLD represents golf’s culture shift: with a format that is fast, exciting, and content-driven, It’s not country clubs and 5-hour rounds, it’s short-format competition, high energy, and a product that travels as well online as it does in person.
Format
3BALL™: In 3Ball™, your best three out of five drives will be combined for your total score—the longest total yardage wins your age division.
Longball: In LongBall, your longest single drive counts toward your score—the longest drive wins in your age division. LongBall is all about power, while 3Ball™ challenges you to combine power with accuracy.
1,000 Yard Club: The 1,000 Yard Club is the ultimate benchmark of excellence, recognizing competitors who achieve an extraordinary feat in our 3Ball™ competition: hitting three out of five balls in a single round totaling 1,000 yards or more for men; 800 yards or more for women.
FedEx Cup/3M Cup (AZLD Edition): The FedEx Cup and 3M Cup are season-long competitions that track each player’s total yardage in our Long Ball and 3Ball™ events. The competitor with the highest cumulative Long Ball yardage at season’s end claims the FedEx Cup, while the player with the highest 3Ball™ yardage earns the 3M Cup.
Interview with Founder and President, James Palmer
What inspired the creation of the Arizona Long Drive and how did it come about?
JP: Arizona Long Drive was born out of a lifetime love and obsession with golf. Golf has always been my first love—I’ve played my entire life, coached at the university level, competed professionally, and even participated in long drive competitions back when the sport was still small. Back in the persimmon and balata ball days, no one could outdrive me.
When giving lessons, I’d often meet players who hit it long but never realized they could compete. My business partner, Jim Robinson, is one of those people. He’s newer to golf but has incredible natural power. The first time we competed, Jim dominated his age group and won easily. That gave him the confidence to know he was “long,” and it made us both ask: Why isn’t there a long drive league in Arizona—the golf mecca of the U.S.? The answer was simple: no one had taken the step to create one.
So, we picked up the phone, put our heads together, and started building it. The driver is the centerpiece of golf—for players and manufacturers alike. Golfers are distance-minded, and every golfer, from pros to weekend warriors, loves testing the newest driver. We saw the opportunity to create a league that not only celebrated the longest shot in golf but also redefined how the sport is presented to athletes, fans, and sponsors. With our sports and entertainment backgrounds, we knew we could deliver something fresh, exciting, and truly inclusive.
How does the Arizona Long Drive differ from other competitions around the country?
JP: We separate ourselves in three major ways: inclusivity, strategy, and true sports entertainment.
1. Inclusivity
Traditional long drive often feels exclusive—like you need to hit it 400+ yards to belong. That leaves out 99% of golfers. We flipped the model by introducing the 3BallTM format, where competitors hit five balls and their best three in the grid count toward their score. It rewards both power and accuracy, mirroring the real strategy of golf. This format opens the door for weekend golfers while still challenging the biggest hitters.
On top of that, we developed the Long Drive IndexTM (LDITM)—a ranking system similar to a golf handicap but based solely on driving ability. This way, golfers compete against others with similar skill levels, not just against the few elite who bomb it 420 yards. It levels the playing field and creates a real pathway for growth.
2. Strategy & Drama
Long drive in its old form is one-dimensional: hit it as far as possible and hope one ball finds the grid. We added a layer of strategy, suspense, and gamesmanship. Competitors now have to think—when to go big, when to play it safe, when to put pressure on an opponent. This creates the same emotions fans crave in any great sport: tension, risk, and reward.
3. Sports Entertainment
We designed our events for live action and broadcast. Traditional long drive events drag on for hours with little engagement. Our shows last two hours start to finish, including the awards ceremony. They’re fast, action-packed, and organized with innovations like a shot clock, warm-up bays, and nonstop flow. It’s perfect for fans in person, on TV, or on social media.
The result? A true sports entertainment product that athletes love competing in, fans love watching, and sponsors see it as a goldmine.
What has the response been like from local golfers and fans since the league started?
JP: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve built a community around the driver, uniting golfers through their shared love of hitting it long. Each event grows, with players competing hard while still supporting one another.
On social media, we’ve already reached over 3 million views globally, and companies are reaching out to bring the league to their regions. Sponsors love the direct connection to such an enthusiastic, engaged community. Locally, fans tell us that our events feel like something brand new in golf—high energy, competitive, and entertaining. This isn’t just a league—it’s becoming a movement.
How do you see the league helping to grow the sport and develop new talent?
JP: We’re taking Long Drive out of its niche and making it a global, action-packed, participatory sport.
For golfers, it’s a new way to compete. For athletes, it’s a platform to build their brand. AZ Long Drive shines a spotlight on athletes’ personalities and stories. In traditional golf, most in front of fans and cameras, testing not just their swings but also their mental toughness. It’s the storybook of sports: put in the work, step into the arena, and prove yourself.
For new talent, this is a gateway. Weekend golfers can step into competition, improve through our LDI system, and rise into higher flights. The league creates pathways for stars to emerge, and the golf world is already noticing.
Where do you see Arizona Long Drive in five years?
JP: We see Arizona Long Drive as a global sports entertainment property—on TV, streaming platforms, and social media worldwide. Golf is already the largest participatory sport, crossing cultural and social boundaries. We want AZ Long Drive to reflect that universality.
Future plans include: Team formats (city vs. city rivalries, like the NFL or NBA) Franchises and hometown heroes who inspire local pride, run youth clinics, and give back to communities
A signature AZ Long Drive golf ball (in partnership with NJF Golf), engineered for distance and sold in unique 5-ball sleeves—the same number players get in competition. Our goal is to take long drive from niche to mainstream and become the most visible, exciting sports entertainment product in golf.
To view the full schedule for season two, click here.