Rev. Jan 1, 2024
The PDGA Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events outlines procedures and guidelines for PDGA events and is to be used in conjunction with the Official Rules of Disc Golf and the Tour Standards document. These procedures and guidelines are required for all PDGA-sanctioned events unless specified otherwise. This includes limited exceptions for events in countries outside the United States and Canada which are noted in the International Program Guide. All references in the Competition Manual or Tour Standards to a "Tournament Director" or "TD" mean the person in charge of the event under 801.02.G. If a Tournament Director finds any provision in any of these documents unacceptable, they may request a waiver by contacting the PDGA Director of Event Support at [email protected].
Disc golf is typically played without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the player to show sportsmanship, integrity, consideration for other players, and to abide by the Official Rules of Disc Golf. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be.
Make the call. Accept the call. It’s not personal; it’s the rules. That is the spirit of the game of disc golf.
NEVER throw into a blind area or when players, spectators, pedestrians or other facility users are within range. Use a spotter.
Observe all posted rules. No littering, graffiti, or abuse of equipment or flora.
Be positive and responsible. Teach others.
Some exceptions to first-come, first-served are appropriate to reward local clubs and volunteers for their grassroots work and service, to give the Tournament Director (TD) a useful tool to raise money for a tournament that benefits all of the event’s players, and to allow TDs to prioritize growing specific demographics of the sport in their area as they find appropriate.
These Unlimited Permitted Exceptions are not limited by percentage of event spots, but the specific early registration tiers for the Unlimited Permitted Exception must be first-come, first-served to any player who meets the specific requirements of that registration tier. TDs may offer tiered registration based on:
TDs may offer tiered registration to the registered members of local disc golf clubs who are hosting, running, or otherwise facilitating the event’s success and who are registered as PDGA Affiliate Clubs. Club membership must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Affiliate Club Membership Exception if they so choose.
TDs may offer tiered registration to players who agree to sponsor the event (or an event sponsor’s designated player) at a level determined by the Tournament Director. The sponsorship opportunity must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Event Sponsorship Exception if they so choose.
TDs may offer tiered registration to volunteers for their work in prepping the course etc., for the event at a level determined by the TD. That volunteer opportunity must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Volunteer Exception if they so choose.
Note: It is highly recommended that high-capacity events do not include personalized items within their player packs due to the complexity that creates for withdrawals and refunds. Personalized items should only be offered as merchandise for purchase during registration for a separate non-refundable fee that is not part of the tournament entry fee.
The safety of everyone at PDGA-sanctioned events is of paramount importance. TDs are highly encouraged to make use of all available resources such as lightning detectors and online weather maps (that display storms and lightning strikes moving into the area) in order to suspend play before conditions become dangerous to the players, staff, and spectators. (see PDGA Mid-Event Suspension & Cancellation Policy)
True Amateur is the designation used by the PDGA in reference to those amateur events, or the amateur portion of an event, which promote the true spirit of amateur athletics by presenting only trophies to the top finishers of the tournament rather than a payout in merchandise. Instead, all players in the event receive equal value through their tournament experience due to the tournament amenities that are provided (see the True Amateur Guidelines).
The public display or use of tobacco products by event staff, players, and by extension their caddies, is prohibited at all times at PDGA events of any Tier that solely offer Junior divisions (i.e., divisions beginning with MJ and/or FJ prefixes).
Such public display or use is also prohibited at events held concurrently with PDGA Major and Elite Series events. For policies at PDGA Major and Elite Series events, see 4.04.A.
may act as a caddie for that event.
The PDGA recognizes that the strength of the organization and the sustainability of tournament disc golf are reliant on the partnership between the PDGA and the Tournament Director. In order to help the Tournament Director to better perform their job, the PDGA has endowed them with certain rights. The Tournament Director also has responsibilities to the PDGA and its players, including but not limited to the following:
and may be accompanied by:
No other people may be with the playing group. All others (including players who have already finished their round) are considered spectators and must remain in designated spectator areas away from the playing group.
Note: This document applies to PDGA Tour events beginning January 1, 2025. You can find the 2024 version here.
Failure to obtain a waiver may result in the hole being thrown out when computing scores and/or ratings. See the Use of Non-Standard Rules at PDGA-Sanctioned Events document for more details.
Worlds | Other Majors | Elite Series | A-Tier | B Tier | C Tier | League | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sanctioning Fee | Waived | Waived | Waived | $100 | $75 | $50 | $25 |
Sanctioning agreement submission deadline | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | December 1st (of prior year) | 45 days prior | Recommended 30 days prior | Recommended 30 days prior |
Per player fee (post-event) | $0 | $0 | $5 | $5 | $4 | $3 | $0.50 per player for each round they played during the league |
Membership requirements | Current PDGA Member; Certified Official; See also 4.02 Eligibility | Current PDGA Member; Certified Official; See also 4.02 Eligibility | Current PDGA Member; Certified Official; See also 4.02 Eligibility | Current PDGA Membership | Current PDGA Membership | $15 Temporary Membership Fee (except Junior Divisions) | No Membership Requirement |
Length of event | 4 to 5 days | 4 to 5 days | 3 to 4 days | 2 or 3 days | 1 or 2 days | 1 or 2 days | 6-10 consecutive weeks played the same day each week |
Minimum number of holes | 72 | 72 | 54 | 54 | 36 | 18 (36 Preferred) | 18 holes per week on the same layout for all players |
Course must be in tournament format for practice | 4 Days Prior | 3 Days Prior | 3 Days Prior | 1 Day Prior | No Requirement | No Requirement | No Requirement |
Start Type | Staggered or shotgun start | Staggered or shotgun start | Staggered or shotgun start | Staggered or shotgun start | Staggered or shotgun start | Staggered or shotgun start; flex start is available for one-round events only. | Staggered, shotgun, or flex start |
Certificate of Insurance | Complimentary | Complimentary | Complimentary | Complimentary | $50 (non-refundable) | $50 (non-refundable) | $50 (non-refundable) |
Required Minimum Added Cash to Pro Purse | 25% of Net | 25% of Net | $30,000 | $3,000 | $750 | None | None |
Pro Purse % (Cash Purse Only) of Net Entry | 125+% of Net | 125+% of Net | 100+% of Net Entry Fees | 100+% of Net Entry Fees | 100+% of Net Entry Fees | 85+% of Net Entry Fees | Variable - pre-set by League |
Amateur Payout % (Prize Purse + Player Packs) | True Amateur | True Amateur | Not applicable | 110+% of Net Entry Fees | 100+% of Net Entry Fees | 85+% of Net Entry Fees | Variable - pre-set by League |
Minimum retail value of Amateur Player Pack | 125+% of Net | 125+% of Net | Not applicable | $25 retail value to each player in Amateur divisions | $10 retail value to each player in Amateur divisions | None Required | None Required |
Upload Scores via PDGA Tournament Manager (TM) | After each round | After each round | After each round | After each round | After each day | Within 24 hours of completion of the event | Within 24 hours of completion of each round |
Must submit TD Report online via PDGA TM | 24 hours from end | 24 hours from end | 24 hours from end | 48 hours from end | 72 hours from end | 1 week from end | 1 week from end |
Payment of event post-event fees within | Not applicable | Not applicable | 30 days from end | 30 days from end | 30 days from end | 30 days from end | 30 days from end |
Certified official requirements | TD & ATD of record may not play. 1 non- playing official on site per course. | TD & ATD of record may not play. 1 non- playing official on site per course. | TD & ATD of record may not play. 1 non-playing official on site per course. | TD & ATD of record may not play. 1 non-playing official on site per course. | Must have either non-playing TD or ATD of record. One official on site per course. | One official on site per course. | One official per week. |
Required Minimum Distances Between PDGA Events. See 6.03.J.2 for events outside the United States and Canada.
The following table shows the minimum distance required between sanctioned tour events in order to avoid a scheduling conflict. The PDGA gives priority of dates to Majors, Elite Series, and A-Tiers, and handles the scheduling of these events directly. State Coordinators are responsible for the scheduling of B and C Tier events and should give preference to reliable events with a successful history, and then to smaller or new events where there is no scheduling conflict.
Major | Elite | A | B | C | League | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Major | n/a | n/a | 750 | 200 | 150 | 0 |
Elite | n/a | n/a | 500 | 175 | 100 | 0 |
A | 750 | 500 | 200 | 100 | 50 | 0 |
B | 200 | 175 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 0 |
C | 150 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
must be listed as “Did Not Finish” (DNF) with a 999 code.