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PDGA Divisions, Ratings, & Points

Players compete in one of more than 30 possible PDGA divisions available to members based on their gender, age and skill level (rating) in both amateur and professional categories. Most members qualify to compete in more than one division and may have the option to choose their division at each event based on the options available.

Some events that require players to enter one of up to seven divisions based only their PDGA Player Rating. Men, women and youth of all ages who have ratings in a specific range fairly compete together in the same division.

Earning and improving your PDGA Player Rating is considered by many to be an important benefit of PDGA Membership. Your initial player rating is earned once you have competed in at least one PDGA sanctioned singles event and that tournament report is turned in and processed by PDGA HQ. This usually takes one to two months after you play your first event. You earn a rating for each round based on how well you played in comparison to the rating of the course which is determined dynamically each round based on the season and playing conditions. Your player rating is a moving average of your round ratings during the past 12 months and sometimes more. Your more recent rounds are double weighted. As mentioned above, once you have a rating it is sometimes used to determine which divisions are allowed to enter.

Players earn PDGA Points in almost every sanctioned event whether singles, doubles or other special formats. Points are earned based on the number of players you beat or tie, the tier of event entered and the division entered. All points you earn when entering amateur divisions are added together for the year and all points you earn when entering pro divisions are added together for the year. The only point total of those two that matters is based on your membership status at year end whether amateur or professional.

Your point total is currently used three ways. First, and the one available to all members, is bragging rights among your buddies and local or regional players you compete against regularly.

For how points are used in the other two ways, see: www.pdga.com/points