Re-Introducing PDGA Clubs
Re-Introducing PDGA Clubs
Revamped program launches to build locally
The PDGA is excited to invite all local disc golf clubs in the United States and Canada to join the PDGA Club community.
Disc golf clubs create and make sustainable disc golf activity possible. For many of us, they are where our disc golf journey started. PDGA Clubs are local disc golf organizations that provide an opportunity for their community members to connect, contribute and compete.
A PDGA Club, with support and resources from PDGA, unifies, promotes, and provides programs and services to the players in its geographic area. While Clubs exist for generally the same purpose, each community is separate and distinct. The PDGA aims to help build sustainable disc golf communities by supporting the aspects that make them unique. Not only that, we want to incentivize and reward Clubs to continue the great work they are doing in the areas of volunteerism, charitable initiatives, course development, and providing competitive opportunities for their members.
Register Your PDGA Club Today »
The composition of a successful Club hasn’t changed much over time, but club members think very differently today than they did when the PDGA Affiliate Club program was introduced.
“When I started playing over 30 years ago, the sport was still young, and somewhat unknown. There was a feeling of excitement, like you were part of the “underground,” says Mike Downes, PDGA Program Director. “That sentiment has changed in recent years, however, as disc golf is now on TV and streamed to thousands of people every weekend. We went from being just happy to be a part of it, to feeling like small fish in a big pond, wondering how to even connect with other disc golfers in your own town.
"Although the PDGA has streamlined the administrative side of the sport with tools like Tournament Manager and Tournament Central and PDGA Live, the feeling of togetherness and community has somewhat been lost within the competitive ecosystem. That is what we are trying to bring back with a revamped Club Program — the sense and importance of community.”
PDGA Club Purpose
Mission: The PDGA Clubs Program mission is to provide programs, services, education and resources that will help local disc golf clubs become more sustainable, make a deeper impact on their community, and grow the sport of disc golf.
To specify, the PDGA Clubs program hopes to strengthen and grow disc golf by building an infrastructure that unites and supports organizations across U.S. and Canada (and eventually, the rest of the World), and reduces the "reinvention of the wheel" within each community.
- Strengthen local organizations so they can continue with healthy growth, prosperity and development.
- Assist organizers in developing safe, fun, high-quality programs in their communities.
- Grow disc golf, especially for underserved demographics.
- Provide resources and networking opportunities for continuous Club development and maturity.
Connect, Compete, Contribute!
The PDGA Board and Staff have committed to putting more resources and focus into a revamped PDGA Club program to help these communities grow and sustain. In the near future, be on the lookout for rewards and incentive programs exclusive to PDGA Clubs, as well as resources to assist in course/club/community development.
Join the PDGA Club Program today and offer club members discounted PDGA memberships. To provide a value commensurate with the size of each PDGA Club, we have implemented a sliding price scale. Registration in the program is $25 annually for Clubs with 1-50 members, $35 for Clubs 51-100 members, and $50 for Clubs with over 100 members. After you join, you’ll receive a discount code to share with your members.
Hundreds of clubs across US and Canada are part of the program, which enables new and renewing members to save $5 on PDGA membership. They also qualify for complimentary certificates of insurance for Club-only events.
Club members also have access to an early registration window for local events (see CM 1.02C), and also receive exclusive access to incentive and rewards programs based on Club activity.
Join today to connect your Club to the PDGA, to learn from other Clubs, to support and sustain competition, and to contribute to your community and the sport of disc golf.
Comments
Is there, or could there be
Is there, or could there be an online communication platform associated with this as an alternative to existing social media?
We will be introducing that
We will be introducing that tool very soon! All existing PDGA Clubs will receive an email with details in the coming days.
Is this coming to EU as well?
Is this coming to EU as well?
Due to the many cultural
Due to the many cultural differences from country to country, at this time, PDGA Club program is only available to Clubs in US and Canada. The PDGA is working to eventually support Clubs all around the world, however.
There are 358 registered non
There are 358 registered non profits in the US with "disc golf" in the name. I hope the PDGA continues to do better job to collaborate, empower, and unite these groups for the greater good of promoting disc golf.
Our club already paid for the
Our club already paid for the 2025 Club Affiliate Program. Can we put that toward this new Club Program?
We are simply renaming the
We are simply renaming the Club program from "Affiliate" to "PDGA Clubs." If your Club has already joined in 2025, you are good to go!
We are amongst the many
We are amongst the many European clubs, so not for us as it seems. Isn't pdga a global organisation ?
Due to the many cultural
Due to the many cultural differences from country to country, at this time, PDGA Club program is only available to Clubs in US and Canada. The PDGA is working to eventually support Clubs all around the world, however.
Why are cultural differences
Why are cultural differences a blocking point for helping clubs across Europe? Please explain this point since it feeds the feeling of a US-centric PDGA.
To be clear, this is the same
To be clear, this is the same program that has been offered in US and Canada for over 20 years. We are now aiming to improve and eventually, expand outside of North America. Sport is managed differently from country to country, however, so we need time to figure out how to best offer benefits to other regions. In the meantime, check out the awesome Club support tools from PDGA Europe.
Does the PDGA have resources
Does the PDGA have resources that can help a local club tap into to become a non-profit, 501.c.3.? I've found that when working with a municipal authority, they respond well to clubs who have that status and provide a little more investment to affiliated parks. Or am I out of the loop, and it doesn't really matter.
We are working on it! A
We are working on it! A couple things that are on the horizon that may help out:
1) we will be adding samples of tax-exempt status submissions to the Club Playbook that will serve as a resource for you as you perform your research.
2) we will be launching a communication tool for Club administrators, where you can ask this question to the 300+ other Club administrators in the PDGA Clubs network.