The best disc golfers in the world are coming to Charlotte July 14-21 for the 2012 Professional Disc Golf Association Pro/Am World Championships. The tentative course schedule released today shows 14 Mecklenburg County courses will be used by 20 divisions of professional and amateur players. It is anticipated there will be as many as 1,100 participants coming for five days of competition, plus field, skills and doubles events.

“We are excited to have the Pro/Am World Championships here this summer,” said 2012 Worlds Tournament Director Sam Nicholson. “It’s our chance to show people just how much this region has embraced the sport and how much work has been done in making Charlotte a stellar disc golf destination.”

The 2012 World Championships will put the spotlight on established, world-class courses like Hornet’s Nest and Renaissance, and give players the chance to experience newer courses such as Nevin, R.L. Smith and Bradford, which are bristling with challenges. All Pro divisions will play three courses. Amateur divisions except Juniors <13 and Legends will play five different courses. Link to chart: 2012 Worlds Course Assignments

“Most pros prefer three courses played twice, and amateurs tend to prefer a broader course experience,” said Bill Jacobson, 2012 Worlds Operations Director. “With these course assignments both groups will get to experience classic area courses as well as highly-rated new layouts.”

Jacobson emphasized this is still a tentative list. “We’ve already had to make a change that brought Reedy Creek into the mix,” he said. “I think we’re set now, but unforeseen circumstances could bring tweaks.”

Registration for invited, qualified players is to begin March 5. Non-invited players will be able to register beginning May 1. Amateur qualification rules: 2012 Charlotte Worlds Amateur Invitation Criteria

The host hotel for the tournament is The Blake Hotel, in downtown Charlotte at 555 S. McDowell Street. It is a full-service convention hotel located just a few blocks from the heart of Charlotte’s vibrant bar, restaurant and cultural district, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Metropolitan Center with its restaurants and shopping. Across the street from The Blake is Marshall Park, offering an expanse of green for relaxing, practice and catch discs.

A very favorable room rate of $89/night is being offered from July 13-22. Reservations are being accepted now and can be made using the promo code “Disc” online at The Blake Hotel Worlds Reservations. You may also book by phone at 1-888-664-6835 using the identifier “Combined World Disc Golf Championships.”

All tournament courses are within 30 minutes of The Blake, which is located adjacent to the city’s inner beltway and just a short distance from interstate highways I-77 and I-85.  All official functions of the World Championships will be located at The Blake: player registration, the Players Meeting and the Flymart/Expo. And a nice touch is the hotel will be providing $2 beer specials for tournament players and their guests in the hotel bar and during functions.

For more information go to the 2012 Worlds Facebook page 2012 Charlotte Worlds Facebook.

Press contact: Jim Banbury, Charlotte Disc Golf Club, [email protected].