Three-year partnership brings elite athletes from more than 30 countries to Wildcreek Golf Course, driving international visitation and investing in the future of golf
RENO, Nev. – The world’s longest hitters have found a new home in Reno Tahoe.
The Pinnacle World Long Drive Tour (WLD) announced the World Long Drive Championships will take place at Wildcreek Golf Course Oct. 14–17, launching a new three-year partnership between World Long Drive, Caesars Entertainment, Wildcreek Golf Course, and Visit Reno Tahoe. The agreement establishes Reno Tahoe as the championship’s new location through 2028 and reflects a shared commitment to growing one of golf’s most exciting spectator events while showcasing Northern Nevada on an international stage.
Presented by Caesars Entertainment’s Reno Resorts, the 2026 World Long Drive Championship features a national broadcast by the Golf Channel on Dec. 1. Caesars’ partnership includes preferred room blocks for World Long Drive’s staff, athletes, and fans.
The WLD Championship will bring elite competitors from more than 30 countries to Northern Nevada, attracting spectators, media, and golf enthusiasts from around the world. The event is expected to welcome thousands of spectators, delivering economic impact for local hotels, restaurants, retailers, and tourism-related businesses.
“From world-class competition to youth development, this event represents everything we’re working to build in Reno Tahoe,” said Mike Larragueta, President and CEO of Visit Reno Tahoe. “The World Long Drive World Championship will bring athletes and spectators from around the globe while showcasing a destination where golf is accessible, thriving, and connected to our community. We’re proud to support an event that will generate visitation, elevate Reno Tahoe’s golf profile, and inspire the next generation of players through First Tee Northern Nevada.”
The partnership reflects Visit Reno Tahoe’s continued strategy of attracting marquee sporting events that generate overnight visitation while elevating the destination’s reputation on a national and international stage. The WLD Championships joins a growing portfolio of sporting events that continue to drive tourism and economic impact throughout the year.
Beyond its tourism impact, the championship represents a significant investment in Wildcreek Golf Course, a public course that has served the Reno community since 1978 and is now undergoing a transformative redevelopment led by First Tee Northern Nevada. The project includes a renovated par-3 course, a newly designed championship nine-hole course, future practice facilities, a multilevel driving range, and a reimagined clubhouse that will serve as a restaurant, learning center, and community gathering place.
The partnership also creates opportunities for local youth through First Tee Northern Nevada, whose mission is to build character and life skills through golf. During championship week, First Tee participants will have opportunities to engage with the event and compete in youth-focused World Long Drive activities.
“Reno Tahoe is an ideal location for offering ‘Golf at Full Throttle’ on its grandest stage,” said David Livingston, Chief Commercial Officer for World Long Drive. “The combination of elevation, climate, golf culture, and a community partner like Wildcreek Golf Course creates an incredible environment for our athletes and fans. Just as importantly, the work being done through First Tee Northern Nevada aligns with our commitment to growing the game and creating opportunities for young golfers to experience the thrilling sport of Long Drive. We’re excited to establish Reno Tahoe as the new home of the World Long Drive Championships for the next three years and beyond.”
Home to more than 50 golf courses within 90 minutes of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, more than 300 days of sunshine each year, and an elevation of more than 4,500 feet, Reno Tahoe offers an ideal setting for both recreational golfers and the sport’s biggest hitters, where thinner mountain air creates conditions for even longer drives.
The World Long Drive Championships also provide an opportunity for visitors to experience everything Reno Tahoe has to offer, from championship golf and outdoor adventure to vibrant entertainment, local dining, and nearby Lake Tahoe—while supporting businesses throughout the region during the fall season.
The WLD Championship will be open to the public on Oct. 14 – 17. Additional event details, parking rates and locations, and competition schedules will be announced in the coming months.
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About Visit Reno Tahoe
Reno Tahoe is a dynamic, four-season resort destination in a spectacular natural setting – where America’s largest alpine lake meets “The Biggest Little City in the World.” Here, genuine Western heritage and hospitality are served up alongside a region in the midst of an exciting transformation, offering travelers world-class attractions, outdoor adventure and an annual calendar of cultural, culinary and sporting events. Reno Tahoe is marketed by the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (Visit Reno Tahoe), an organization established in 1959 to promote convention and tourism business in Washoe County, which includes Reno, Sparks and North Lake Tahoe. For more information, go to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.
About First Tee Northern Nevada
First Tee is a nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through golf. Since its founding in 1998, First Tee Northern Nevada has expanded to reach thousands of young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at youth-serving locations throughout the region. For more information, visit firstteenorthernnevada.org.
About Pinnacle World Long Drive Tour
The Pinnacle World Long Drive Tour is the organized professional series where players compete to hit a golf ball the farthest. Established in 1974, the Tour holds Open, Women’s and Senior events domestically and internationally, culminating with the World Long Drive Championships in Reno, Nevada. Additionally, World Long Drive hosts televised exhibition events produced for ESPN2. World Long Drive is owned and operated by GF Sports & Entertainment.
