Rev. Jan 1, 2023
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] or by calling 762-253-2200.
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 early registration to the paid 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 early 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 early 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 Weather Suspension & Cancellation Guidelines Policy)
Sudden-death play shall begin, wherever possible, on the same course as the previous round on hole number one unless a different course, hole, or series of holes is designated by the Tournament Director prior to the start of the tournament. Team Play must use the same format as the previous round.
The specific order in which players tee off for sudden-death play shall be determined by random draw (e.g., numbered playing cards, selecting tee positions from a hat, etc.).
In the case of a tied hole during sudden-death play, the teeing order for the next hole will rotate from the order used on the just completed hole.
A tie for first place at a flex start event where a tied competitor has already left the event.
A tie for first place caused by the necessity of calling an event due to dangerous conditions where there is no time left on the regularly scheduled final day of competition to complete the event or break a tie for first place. Under no circumstances should players be expected, or asked, to return on a day following the last day of the regularly scheduled rounds to finish the event (see PDGA Mid-Event Weather Suspension & Cancellation Guidelines Policy).
If a sudden-death playoff cannot be held during the last day of regularly scheduled rounds for the competition, the tie for first place will stand with the players declared co-champions and the cash and prizes for the ranked places split between the players if two players are tied for first place, they split the first and second place cash or prizes).
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), including the PDGA Junior World Championships.
Such public display or use is also prohibited at all other PDGA Majors and Elite Series events, as well as those events held concurrently with those Major and Elite Series events, from the two-minute signal until their scorecard is submitted.
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: