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Where do my membership fees go?

The PDGA is a nonprofit organization run by a volunteer Board of Directors, and hundreds – if not thousands – of volunteer hours to create all the programs managed by still more volunteers and 41 PDGA staff members. The PDGA uses the membership fees to:

  • Organize and manage 10,000+ competitive events worldwide, and the PDGA supports each event with electronic resources;
  • Manage player points, statistics, and rating system for 130,000+ active members;
  • Produce four full-color glossy publications of DiscGolfer Magazine annually;
  • Support the annual PDGA Professional, Amateur, Masters, and Junior World Championships;
  • Provide outstanding achievement awards to the PDGA player of the year, the TD of the year, the volunteer of the year, and touring players;
  • Produce an online disc golf course directory with over 10,500+ entries;
  • Keep track of annual demographics that we supply to journalists, PR promoters, and other interested parties;
  • Fund the Marco Polo Program, which supports the introduction of disc golf into new countries by providing support and guidance as infrastructure is developed;
  • Design and maintain the PDGA website where members can track their personal statistics in sanctioned events and get up-to-date information on tournament results, disc golf related news, event coverage, and important announcements;
  • Support development and maintenance of tournament and league organization and registration at DiscGolfScene.com;
  • Facilitate live event coverage of premier disc golf tournaments, including video coverage, hole-by-hole scoring, and more;
  • Send out hard-copy and e-notices, membership info, ballots, the weekly E-newsletter, and other mass mailings;
  • Publish the Official Rules of Disc Golf and manage periodic revisions and updates;
  • Manage the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events, a companion to the rules of play;
  • Produce an Information Kit available to PDGA members and non-members alike.
  • Print a glossy promo brochure "Get to Know Disc Golf?" – that is available to anyone;
  • Organize and subsidize an insurance policy that is available to Tournament Directors for PDGA sanctioned events in the USA and Canada;
  • Develop and maintain rules official certification process;
  • Provide Course Marshals at the PDGA Pro, Master, Amateur, and Junior World Championships;
  • Provide sponsorship to Major, Elite Series which may include the form of a financial contribution, banners, flags, Marshals, and event registration/management assistance;
  • Host monthly teleconferences and two annual PDGA Board of Directors Summit;
  • Test and approve discs and baskets for sanctioned play;
  • Examine other important aspects of disc golf from the environment to sustainability;
  • Provide new members with a "welcome" membership package;
  • Gratefully acknowledge 10, 20, and 30-year PDGA members with an exclusive bag tag;
  • Continue to fund initiatives that work towards broadcasting disc golf via traditional television;
  • Open the International Disc Golf Center in Columbia County, Georgia in April of 2007, providing offices for the PDGA staff, the Disc Golf Hall of Fame, and The Ed Headrick Museum. This facility has three championship courses open to all disc golfers;
  • Create and enforce standards for PDGA sanctioned events;

All these PDGA activities and programs build credibility for disc golf and contribute to the formalization and growth of the sport. In short, as a PDGA member, you enjoy all the direct benefits of membership as listed above while also supporting and promoting the development of disc golf. The PDGA supports disc golf around the world and allows multiple opportunities for PDGA members to be active and engaged community members that help with the continuous growth of the sport of disc golf. Impact your local and international disc golf community by joining the Professional Association for all disc golfers.