April 7, 2022

Dear PDGA Player,

Congratulations! You have been invited to enter the 2022 PDGA Junior World Championships in Peoria, IL during the week of July 9 to July 16, 2022, based on your excellent performance during the 2021 PDGA tour year. The PDGA and the local Worlds Team are looking forward to seeing you in Peoria later this year.

Host

Nate Heinold and his team are thrilled to host the 2022 PDGA Junior Worlds and are excited to have you spend some time in Peoria this summer. The Peoria area is a hotbed of disc golf with many great courses in the area. The Peoria Frisbee Club has been around since 1981 and helped host the Peoria Open, which started as a B Tier in the mid 1990’s. They later hosted the Greater Peoria Open and the USWDGC six straight years from 2002 through 2007. More recently, Nate Heinold has stepped up to run the Ledgestone Open, an annual event that started in 2011. The Ledgestone Open has grown from a small event to one of the largest events in the country. Nate and his team also successfully hosted the 2019 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships in Peoria, which was lauded as one of the most successful World Championships of all time.

Courses

Bradley Park: This course is in the heart of Peoria, IL and is the second oldest course in the area. Installed in 1984, Bradley Park went through a redesign in the last 10 years. The course has brand new Dynamic Discs Veteran targets and is an 18-hole, par 55 course with alternate pins. The distance can play anywhere from 4,888 feet to 5,823 feet. The course has signage at each hole indicating the hole number and distance. Bradley Park contains a very nice, centrally located pavilion, along with many open spaces that could be used for other events. There are multiple restroom facilities on site. Bradley Park was the home of the Greater Peoria Open for many years and was used in the USWDGC. This course has also been used in the Ledgestone Insurance Open for the past nine years. Situated in a busy part of town, the park offers access to various gas stations and restaurants within a five-minute drive. Downtown Peoria hotels can be reached in ten minutes and the Comfort Inn Hotel in Morton in fifteen minutes. Bradley Park is safe and has good wi-fi capabilities, with parking for over 200 cars.

Goodfield Park: Goodfield Park is a 9-hole course in the small town of Goodfield, IL, located just off Interstate 74. The course was designed by Kip Taufer (creator of Westwood, Kennel Lake, and Northwood Parks), but with more beginner- friendly play. Holes have DGA Mach V targets with two tee pads on most. The shorter layout measures around 2,200 feet. Goodfield Park is an open-air facility with a practice basket, a pavilion, and a single entrance which makes for better-than-average security. Limited parking allows for only 40 spots in the park. Additional grass and street parking in the residential neighborhood could be secured for the event. The town of Goodfield is centrally located between Morton (a 12-minute drive) and Eureka (an 8-minute drive).

Kennel Lake: Our newest course, Kennel Lake, began work in 2019. The original design was completed in 2015 for the Ledgestone Insurance Open as a temporary layout by Northwood Gold Architects Kip Taufer and Nate Heinold. Kennel Lake is a par 59 open-air course with some foliage that has a long pin distance of 6,900 feet. Four shorter alternate pin locations can make the course a par 56 playing approximately 6,000 feet. This course features brand new Discraft Chainstar Pro targets, turf tee pads, and full-color signs. Located three minutes from Northwood Park in a private, family-oriented sportsmen’s club, Kennel Lake offers a nice indoor clubhouse where club staff/members will be cooking and selling food during the event. The park is situated on 36 acres with a beautiful lake splitting the property. Primary restaurant and hotel options in Morton can be accessed within a few minutes’ drive. Given the private club nature of Kennel Lake, it is a very secure venue. We have parking for approximately 125 cars.

Maxwell Park: Maxwell Park in Normal, IL has recently undergone a massive renovation because most of the trees were destroyed by the ash bore disease. This course will be completely new as of the Spring of 2022 and was redesigned by Dana Vicich as a Disc Golf Park course. The course will feature brand new Disc Golf Park targets with full color signs, and multiple pin placements and tee pads for each hole. The course has adequate parking for several hundred cars, and the course can be stretched between 5,500 ft and 7,000 ft. Maxwell Park is located on the outskirts of Normal, IL, approximately 25 minutes from Morton and Eureka.

Roanoke Park: Roanoke Park is a well-established 9-hole course that underwent a full redesign in 2020. Initially built with $35,000 of fundraising by two local 15-year-old juniors, it makes an ideal venue for Junior Worlds. Roanoke has also seen incredible support from Dynamic Discs and features Dynamic Veteran targets with full color signs. The course is located in a small, open-air park in a friendly neighborhood. Each hole has two tees and two targets. An “A” loop on the course offers more beginner level holes, while the “B” loop provides more advanced holes, with the shortest layout running approximately 1,850 feet. The course earns high ratings from players. There is adequate parking for 150 cars on the grounds, as well as on-site restroom facilities, with the option for portable toilets if needed. Roanoke Park offers good security and safety and is only a few minutes from the downtown area.

Sunset Hills DGC: This is a permanent course located on a ball golf course in Pekin, IL, about ten minutes from McNaughton Park and about twenty minutes from Peoria, IL. An 18-hole course with Innova Discatcher targets, Sunset Hills was installed in 2014 and upgraded with all concrete tee pads in 2019. From the FPO tee pads the distance totals 7,539 feet, and from the longs it is 8,772 feet. Sunset Hills plays as a par 61 from the current FPO layout. We have used this course for the Ledgestone Insurance Open for the last several years and this course has also hosted the local Amateur A Tier, four B Tiers, and the 2019 PDGA Pro Worlds. The course features a complete clubhouse with a restaurant and restrooms. Sunset Hills offers parking for more than 300 cars, including street parking immediately next to the course. Wi-fi signals are strong here, allowing for live broadcast capabilities. This course is located within two minutes of four hotel options in Pekin, and within three minutes from many food and gas options.

Washington Park: This park has been around since 1998 and was redesigned by Greg Nettles in 2009. An open-air course, Washington Park has one set of concrete tees. The course does feature some long tees, but without concrete pads. An 18-hole course, Washington Park has newer Innova Discatcher targets and has a distance of 5,658 feet with a par of 56. We recently upgraded this park with brand new full-color signs. A nice pavilion sits near hole 1 and the park is in a residential neighborhood. Many sanctioned events have been hosted at this park over the years, including the Washington Good Neighbor Days Festival and the Ledgestone Insurance Open. Washington Park is approximately eighteen minutes from downtown Peoria. Food options can be found a few minutes’ drive away and Washington is home to two hotels. This park is very safe and secure, with multiple entrances and parking for approximately 200 cars in parking lots on site, along with a parking lot at Lincoln School (across from hole 17).

Wildlife Prairie Park DGC: This course took eight years to build and is perhaps the most epic course in the Central Illinois area. Wildlife is carved out of a prairie park and is a gorgeous piece of property that plays up and down wooded hills and around ponds. It is an 18-hole course located about 12 minutes from downtown Peoria, IL in the city of Hanna City, a suburb of Peoria. The course has brand new Discraft Chainstar targets, and the course officially opened in August 2016. After the 2016 Ledgestone Insurance Open, Nate Heinold worked with the lead designer of this property to make design changes that helped the flow and safety of the course. Those changes were finished in July 2017. A majority of the course is wooded including multiple water hazards. The short tees are 5,577 ft and the long tees are 8,828 ft. The course is a par 65 from the longs and a par 57 from the shorts. There are bathrooms on site and the course is located about 5 minutes from gas stations and restaurants. Full color signs were installed in the Spring of 2018. The property has room to park over 1,000 cars.

Semis and Finals

All divisions with at least eight (8) participants will play their semi-final round on Saturday morning via a shotgun start. All preliminary rounds will utilize tee times. The final 9 layout will be at Northwood Park and will vary based on the division. For instance, the younger junior divisions will play the easier Blue Track layout, while the older junior divisions will play the Black track layout.

Lodging

This year we will be using several options for hotels instead of just one option. This gives us the flexibility to offer different options with various price points. You will be required to sign up for an account but doing so will give you access to our negotiated lower rates. Please use this link for booking: PDGA 2022 Junior Worlds Lodging

Comfort Inn and Suites – Morton: With an ideal location just off I-74, this hotel positions you in the heart of one of Illinois’ friendliest and fastest-growing communities. From our hotel, you can reach General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA), Caterpillar Headquarters and Quail Meadows Golf Course in less than 20 minutes. After a business meeting or a round of golf, head back to your room or suite, each with amenities like Free Wireless High-speed Internet. If you're traveling with a furry companion, we offer pet-friendly rooms to accommodate your entire group.

Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center: The Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center is situated beautifully along the scenic banks of the Illinois River, just off I-74. Whether you are looking to take a stroll along the river, catch a sporting event, shoot a round of golf or shop while in town, the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center is just minutes from the many attractions Peoria has to offer.

Camping is available at Wildlife Prairie Park. Please call them directly for information: (309) 676-0998

Check-in and Player Meeting

Player check-in will be available on Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12 from 9am-5pm at Five Points in Washington each day. Note that every player MUST check-in in-person to both sign a waiver and to receive a player pack. Under no circumstance will someone be allowed to pickup a player pack for someone else. Any junior under the age of 18 will need their parent or guardian to sign the waiver.

The Player Meeting/Opening Ceremony will take place on Monday evening, July 11 at 7pm at Five Points in Washington.

Travel

Those flying to Junior Worlds will probably find their best option is to arrive at the Peoria International Airport (PIA) which is within 30 minutes of all tournament activities. The other option is to fly into Chicago O’Hare airport (ORD), which is about 2 hours and 45 minutes away. St Louis (STL) and Indianapolis (IND) also provide options, which are within a similar drive of about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Divisional Doubles

Divisional Doubles at Junior Worlds will be held with two rounds on Sunday at Northwood Park. The players meeting will be at Northwood at 9am. The format is modified best shot the first round and modified alternate shot the second round. Loosen up with a great game of doubles on a course all players will be throwing later in the week. You will be warming up your drives and putting anyway, so why not throw in a little competitive spirit with it? The field is limited to 36 teams.

Field Events

The field events will take place at Five Points/Washington High School. This is the location of the Players Dinner and Players Meeting and is 15 minutes down the road from Lake Eureka. Times for the field events will be from 9am to 3pm on Monday, July 11th. If you decide to test your skills at the EDGE and Mini events, the latest start time is 2pm.

Long Drive and Putting: Think your drive is long? Is your putting accurate? Put your throws where your mouth is and step up to the line to give it your best. Rules are simple, have the longest drive or make the most putts.

Skillshot: The SkillShot® program is presented by the EDGE program to test your throwing skills and proficiencies. Throws include backhand, sidearm/forehand, roller, upside-down, straddle, kneeling/seated, freestyle and obstructed will be scored by your accuracy to a certain target or area. You will have a great time challenging yourself to improve your disc golf skills. You will take many of these skills to the course. What a great way to warm up for those accurate shots. You will find that you are a better golfer and that your game will improve as a result of SkillShot®!

Mini Golf: Bring your minis and challenge the Mini Disc Golf Course!

Other Events

Other fun events during the week include Disc Golf Night at the Ballpark, Players Dinners, Fly Marts, Ice Cream night, Band performances, Disc Golf Night at the Pool, the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Ceremony and more!

Registration

The event capacity is 276 Junior players, and we expect it to fill very quickly, so registering as soon as possible when your registration tier opens is critical if you wish to play. Note that the international registration tier is now at 1pm Eastern on the date indicated while the Canadian and All Invitees registration tiers are now at 10:30pm Eastern on the dates indicated. Be sure to plan accordingly depending on the time zone you live in.

Be sure to check the invite list and registration schedule to determine when you can register.

It is also important to note that you must be a current 2022 PDGA Member and Certified Official with an expiration date after July 16, 2022, before you can register for the event!

Entry Fees

Junior Singles: $120 (includes $30 facilities Fee, $10 non-refundable reg fee, $5 Ace Pot)
Junior Divisional Doubles: $10 per player (both partners must register)
Field Events: $10 per event (Note that 50% of the entry fee for Skillshot is a donation to E.D.G.E.)

Other Optional Payment Items:

Disc Golf Night at the Ballpark Tickets: $10 each (you may buy a ticket for yourself and up to three (3) guests.)
Worlds Fundraiser (Z Swirl Tour Series Passion): $25 each (you may purchase up to four (4) discs.)
Hole Sponsorship - $100 each (you may purchase up to five (5) hole sponsorships.)

Sponsorship

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. For more information please contact Tournament Director Nate Heinold for sponsorship information at 309.657.2301 or [email protected]

The World’s Fly Mart will take place on Tuesday July 12th and Wednesday July 13th. The flymarts will be located at Five Points on Tuesday and Lake Eureka Park on Wednesday. Contact TD Nate Heinold for more information at [email protected]

Website

More detailed information about everything surrounding the event can be found on the PDGA Junior Worlds webpage. Be sure to check the page regularly as more information will be uploaded as it becomes available. The tournament will also be employing an app that will be available and Instructions for downloading the app will be sent to players via email closer to the event.

Sincerely, your 2022 PDGA Junior Worlds Team, Tournament Director – Nate Heinold

Please direct any invite, registration, or refund related inquiries to only PDGA HQ at: [email protected]. 

For all other inquires please contact TD Nate Heinold at [email protected]