As disc golf is introduced and takes flight in more countries, the PDGA is expanding its efforts to support and promote the individuals, local clubs and national associations on the ground making it happen. To this end our International Program is pleased to announce the following portion-time hires and accompanying social media page launches:

Israel Muwanguzi

Israel Muwanguzi #258835 is now the East Africa Coordinator for both the PDGA and its regional programming partner, the Paul McBeth Foundation (PMF). Based at Ndejje University and through his leadership of Disc Golf Uganda, Israel has already brought disc golf to 33 districts in his home country, developing a sustainable model for growth that combines school programs, local leadership training, course and basket construction, and tournament organization. Recently he helped lead the PMF and the Tanzania Disc Golf Federation’s course installation at the University of Dar es Salaam, and also served as TD for the course christening inaugural PDGA Tour event in Tanzania. Now he is adding Administrator of our just launched PDGA Africa Facebook page to his growing responsibilities.

Aaron Herman

Luisa Bartolome

Southeast and East Asia is a large and diverse disc golf sphere, encompassing long established countries such as Japan and Chinese Taipei, emerging hotbeds including Thailand, Philippines and mainland China, growing communities in Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and South Korea, together with new to the sport nations Mongolia and Vietnam. To increase our activities in and engagement with this wide region PDGA has created 2 new positions. Aaron Herman #97295 , transplanted expat, TD of the Chiang Mai Open in northern Thailand, and multilinguist, will serve as Asia Coordinator, while Luisa Bartolome #124255 , Philippines Country Coordinator and 2023 PDGA Volunteer of the Year, has been appointed Asia Ambassador. This dual hire reflects their different yet complementary skill sets and the broad scope of issues and opportunities they will be involved with.  Together they will also manage the now active PDGA Asia Facebook page.

Cara Hovius

In turn, our efforts to champion the game in the Great White North are expanding with the introduction of a PDGA Canada Facebook page, spearheaded by Cara Hovius #123037. Cara is already well-known as a feature writer for DiscGolfer magazine and as a co-founder with her partner Jeff MacKeigan of ChainLink Disc Golf, the ecosystem and conservation aware organization that has been designing and installing courses across southern Ontario and beyond.

Each of these new PDGA social media assets will be engaging with players and stakeholders through the sharing of information about leading events, sponsorship opportunities, cool local programs and happenings and much more in their respective corners of the disc golf world. In doing so, they will also complement PDGA Europe’s extensive on-line presence and the PDGA Latinoamérica Facebook page.  

These are the latest steps along the path to the PDGA becoming a truly world-wide operation reflecting its role as governing body and its mission “to develop disc golf into a globally recognized competitive sport and recreational activity.”

In closing, we encourage our members, especially those based in Africa, Asia and Canada, to welcome our new staff and to check out, follow and contribute to these new social media initiatives. Thanks for all your support and enjoy!