Photo of Dave West #752 on Hole 2 at White Birch in 1982.

The Midwest plays host to many of the top stops on the PDGA tour. With recent events like the Glass Blown Open and the Kansas City Wide Open attracting many of the world’s best players, it’s no surprise to find such a rich history of disc golf fellowship and tradition in the area. There’s no better example of this than the story of a course in the small town of Hazelwood, Missouri called White Birch, which, in its 36th year this summer, is celebrating its 100th league.

Designed by “Steady” Ed Hedrick’s brother and installed in 1979, White Birch was the only course in the St. Louis area until 1991, a now booming disc golf region that boasts over 30 courses. Short by modern standards, its technical nature still provides a good challenge to the locals, some of whom have been playing it since day one.

In the summer of 1981, league founder Bob Waidmann #2077 held the first gathering on a Thursday at 6:00pm. Bob, now the White Birch course pro, still runs the leagues to this day, in which two full rounds are played often finishing in or near the dark with glow discs. With the late finishes at White Birch, the city of Hazelwood allows the players to stay until 10pm. This is just one example of the excellent support provided by the city and its parks department coordinator, Daryl Miller. They’ve also provided league trophies, hole-in-one awards, and commemorative discs.

March 1999 – Bob Waidmann getting recognized by Hazelwood for 20 years of volunteer service.

Over the years the league formats have changed, and even the number of leagues held during the “season” have changed, but the basic traditions have been kept alive. The league starts each year on the first Thursday of April, ends in October, and brings in many of the same players that have been attending year after year for the last 35 years.

Nearly 4000 disc golfers have attended the league in Hazelwood since 1981. Bob Waidmann still plays regularly to this day with one of his original winning teammates from the very first league, current PDGA Board of Directors member Dave West #752. Dave McCormack #2873, founder of Gateway Disc Sports, joined up in 1983 and continues to make periodic appearances at White Birch, along with “Ironman” Dale Woltering #4951 who has never missed any of the now 100 leagues.

December 2010 – "Ironman" celebration for Dale Woltering at Hazelwood City Hall

The Importance of Leagues

The story of White Birch is one that many can relate to. Whether it’s a mega-league like the one run by the Motor City Chain Gang at Firefighters Park (Troy, MI) that squeezes in 100+ people every week on a small 18-hole course, or a small group of friends trying to keep a dying league alive. The names and cities may be different, but the story is the same.

Many would argue that leagues are the very lifeblood of the sport. Disc golfers start out by playing casually with friends, never expecting to get addicted to tossing discs around a park. If and when they do get hooked, leagues are generally the next step. Some may go a step further by playing in tournaments, but leagues are where the vast majority of the casual players enjoy their disc golf life at the competition level.

Camaraderie

Everything about a league comes with some level of nostalgia, and it’s often the aspects outside of the competition that become most important. An indescribable feeling comes well before you throw your first disc, seeing the parking lot lined with cars as you pull in and the faces of old friends stepping out of them. Trading hugs and handshakes to the background noise of dozens of putters slamming into chains – there’s just nothing better.

And of course there’s always those that stick around afterwards, trading stories about birdies, bogeys, chain-outs, ace-runs, and everything in between. These are your people, your disc golf brethren and sistren, even if it’s only for a few hours a week before returning to the real world.

History

The history kept alive by the longevity of key players dedicated to the league is a key factor to a successful long-running league. At White Birch in Hazelwood, there are still eight people still playing that have been doing so since the 1980’s. The leagues around the country fortunate to have that kind of dedication will continue to thrive for years to come.

Leagues with a long history are often complimented by an equally long history of stats and data. This holds true in Hazelwood, as their league’s history is honored by the storylines that have been created via the documentation of each event from the very beginning, weaving a rich fabric of tales that get re-told regularly.

October 1982 – White Burch league results kept by Dave West. Click to view full-size image.

Historical data can and often does lead the ability to show love and support for a leagues most notobale figures. Bob Waidmann’s 20 years of service to the White Birch league was honored in 1999, as was Dale Woltering’s record as the ‘Ironman’ in 2010.

Balance

The incentive that’s created by a balanced competition with different divisions is another key factor to league success, for both bringing in new players and making sure the regulars keep coming back. If you’re a new player that’s finally made the decision to play in a league for the first time, it’s comforting to know that you have the option of competing against other players at your skill level.

There are dozens of ways this can be done. Some keep it as simple as having an “A league” and a “B League”. Some use the gold, silver, and bronze divisions. Some follow the PDGA division names, e.g. Professional, Advanced, Intermediate, etc. And some leagues even offer age-protected divisions.

The terms are arbitrary, and whether or not you use them at all is optional. In many cases however, dividing the field into divisions has been a proven path to success.

PDGA Leagues

With many local clubs already offering leagues in their respective areas, the PDGA wants to give these clubs the opportunity to sanction their league similar to how many tournaments are currently sanctioned.  By sanctioning any new or existing leagues through the PDGA, there will be a plethora of added benefits and features for the players and clubs involved. 

Arguably, the most appealing benefit is the addition of PDGA Player Ratings to the equation.  While some leagues have formulated their own system of ratings and standings, by sanctioning your league, these ratings become uniform with the system utilized by the PDGA. League rounds will be calculated in conjunction with any tournament ratings one may receive to compile a comprehensive player rating.

Please review the PDGA League FAQs for more information and learn how league players are awarded points and ranked.

Congratulations to the White Birch crew on their 100th league and their 35 years of success!

If you have a new course in your town and want to enjoy it even more, be like Bob Waidmann. Recruit other disc golfers and start a league. Who knows…you may start something that gets to its 100th running!

Opening day group photo of the 100th league at White Birch.