How Ford Broncos Became the Ultimate Golf Carts in the Desert

New Generation Golf

Golf has long been considered a sport for the very privileged (and old) few; however, in recent years, the sport has grown in popularity and is now played by the younger generation. It has even sparked an explosion of YouTube Golfers and other golfing content creators who rival the popularity of the most famous tour pros. This has led to a new group of golf enthusiasts from all walks of life who play it the way they want.

Some enthusiasts are enjoying the game in different ways, seeking a twist on golf. Formula Drifting legend Von Gittin Jr. and his friends turned a crazy idea into a golfing reality.

Bronco Invitational

Usually, golf is played on the manicured grass and fairways of private or public courses. Sand is reserved for the bunkers or sand traps, which players avoid at all times. Yet, Von Gittin Jr.'s Bronco Invitational takes place in the desert, a place where sand is 99% of the surface. The chosen venue is the barren lands of the Johnson Valley Desert in California.

Jarod DeDanda, a close friend of Von Gittin Jr. and a member of this ragtag group, was the one who posed the question to the drifter: "I just was like, dude, what if we created something like off-roading meets golf,” Gittin said. “Who wouldn't love to come out and drive badass off-road vehicles and then play golf?"

They then got a bunch of their friends with the help of the world's most capable off-roaders in the form of the Ford Bronco and created a course in the desert. It was so enjoyable that the group decided to hold the event annually, and just finished up the 2nd Bronco Golf Invitational and Scramble.

Bigger and Better

For the 2026 edition of the invitational, they went bigger and invited 20 participants who were a mix of golf pros, social media personalities, and motorsport athletes. A new challenge was also introduced. Before each of the three holes on the Invitational’s final day, there would be an off-road racing challenge. The winner will have one shot subtracted from their team's score at the end of that hole, the second placer will remain the same, and coming in third gives the team an additional stroke.

Each team consisted of a pro golfer, a racer, and an influencer, playing in a best-ball format. There were also fans during this event who followed the action in a fleet of Ford Broncos. According to the organizers, the Bronco was the natural choice as the official golf cart for everyone.

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