Back in the mid 80's, I cashed in a couple of tourny's. Can I play the am's now? I've played once in the last 10 yrs. (until they built a course in town less than a year ago, playing weekly once again these days) I don't think there was PDGA sponsorship in those days.....I've never joined the PDGA.....I don't have a rating (I'd probably be about a 940 or so based on the ratings I see for the guys I know)....anyhow, I don't feel like donating cash in pro open and masters (I'm 43), but I might play a tourny if I could be an am or rec. What's the ruling? Is more info. needed to make a decision? Thanks in advance for any clarification provided.

Should not be a problem for you to at least play advanced am (not sure about int and come on you don't really want to play rec do you) as under current rules, pros, even those that have cashed at a pdga event with a rating lower than 955 may play advanced am.

I'm just curious what division(s) I'm legally eligible to play in. I doubt I'll play in many tournys, but have been considering it. If I do that though, I've got to know the rules, and right now, I'm not sure. All I know for sure is that I can play in the pro open and masters. I've seen that rule about pro's under a certain rating being able to play in adv. am., but since I'm not a registered player, nor do I have an official rating, wasn't sure if I could even do that. I consider myself strictly a recreational player, although I know that rec's in the PDGA are generally going by ratings, not whether they view themselves as a pro type of a player or a rec type of player. I can beat some of the guys in the men's open, but then some of the guys in rec. beat me (so to speak). Again, I'm just curious what I can legally play in. I was wrongly assuming when I started back up last year that if you've ever cashed in a tourny, you're a pro forever. As I researched this topic, I realized that pro's under a certain rating are eligible for the top am division, so I was wondering what division(s) an old "pro" on hiatus can play in.

Since you have not been a PDGA member, you are neither Am nor Pro in an official capacity. Essentially, you may play in whatever division(s) the TD allows you to enter. My suggestion would be to start in the Advanced Master division if it's available or regular Advanced. If you don't join the PDGA, you won't get a rating but everyone will be able to see your current skill level from the posted event scores. Once the local TDs get an idea how well you play, they may require you to enter a higher division if you're mopping up in whatever division you typically play. Consider joining the PDGA. Get a rating. Then you'll know for sure.

The ratings guy.