Between November 14 and 16, the First Latin American Disc Golf Championship was held, marking a historic moment for the development of disc golf in the region. Conceived as a regional-level competition, this championship represented the first formal effort to bring together players from across Latin America in a single event under a shared competitive framework.

The tournament took place at Monte María Disc Golf Course, located in Monte María, Guatemala, approximately 30 minutes from Antigua Guatemala. The venue provided a technical and natural setting well suited to host an event of this scale and to welcome players from multiple countries across the continent.

The championship featured 113 players, with representation from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Panama, Belize, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela, reflecting both the regional reach of the event and the diversity of active disc golf communities in Latin America.

Photos from the competition >>

From its inception, the championship was designed as a competition primarily focused on the Latin American community. To be eligible, players were required to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Hold Latin American nationality
• Have permanent legal residency in any Latin American country
• Have competed in at least six PDGA-sanctioned events within the past two years

This final criterion allowed for the inclusion of individuals who, while not meeting the first two requirements, have maintained consistent involvement in the development of disc golf in Latin America through competitive participation, logistical support, or collaboration with local communities.

Divisions, International Participation, and Professional Purse

The championship included a wide range of divisions, allowing players of different ages and competitive levels to participate: MPO, FPO, MP40, FP40, MA1, FA1, MA40, FA40, MA50, FA50, MA2, FA2, MJ18, FJ18, MJ12, and FJ12.

A significant portion of the competitors traveled internationally to attend the event, organizing regional travel and extended stays to take part in the championship. This level of commitment highlights the strong interest within the community in participating in a continental-level competition.

The event featured a professional purse of USD $2,435, awarded across the professional divisions.

Event Coverage and Media Availability

Final-round coverage of both the MPO and FPO divisions was produced as part of this championship. Each division’s final round was recorded in full, with commentary provided in both Spanish and English.

The MPO and FPO final round coverage will be released shortly on the official PDGA YouTube channel, expanding access to the event and supporting continued visibility for professional disc golf in Latin America across a multilingual audience.

Event Caddie Book >>

Complementary Activities and Host Location Experience

In addition to the competitive rounds, the championship included complementary activities aimed at increasing visibility for both the event and the sport in the region. These included a press conference with local media, interested in learning more about disc golf and the scope of the championship, as well as an opening ceremony held on the Thursday prior to the start of competition.

Earlier that same Thursday, three educational and organizational sessions took place, focused on regional coordination and long-term development. The first was a meeting of national coordinators from across Latin America, led by Luis Rodríguez, PDGA Latin America Coordinator. This session provided a space to review the role and responsibilities of national coordinators, recap recent efforts, and discuss future directions for the sport in the region.

The second session was a meeting of the Latin American Women’s Committee, convened and led by Ana Builes, Colombia’s coordinator. This meeting brought together women leaders from across Latin America to discuss the current state of women’s disc golf in the region, identify shared challenges, and explore future initiatives aimed at supporting growth and participation.

The third educational activity was a presentation on the PDGA Europe growth model and its potential applications in Latin America, delivered by Calixto García, PDGA Europe Marketing Director. García traveled from Spain with the objective of sharing European experience and insights, while also contributing to the event’s coverage and broader organizational support.

The proximity of the course to Antigua Guatemala, one of the country’s main tourist destinations, allowed players and accompanying guests to enjoy a positive travel experience, combining competition, community, and tourism.

Latin America as a Connected Region and Its Growth Potential

The First Latin American Disc Golf Championship took place at a pivotal moment for the region. Disc golf in Latin America is currently experiencing sustained growth, driven in part by a characteristic that distinguishes the region from others: a shared cultural foundation.

Similarities in language, cultural identity, and community organization make it possible for the sport’s development to occur not in isolation by country, but as a collective regional process, where knowledge, experience, and resources can be shared more organically across borders.

This potential is reflected in PDGA-sanctioned activity data. In 2020, Latin America recorded 12 PDGA-sanctioned tournaments. By the end of 2025, the region reached a historic total of 300 sanctioned tournaments, with 80 of those taking place in 2025 alone. This trend confirms consistent growth in competitive activity and the continued strengthening of local and regional calendars.

Growth is also evident in PDGA membership across the region. Over the past three years, membership numbers have progressed as follows: 206 members in 2023, 146 in 2024, and 163 in 2025, figures that align with the increase in events and reflect an active and developing player base.

Coordination and Organization

The First Latin American Disc Golf Championship was made possible through coordinated efforts across multiple PDGA areas and international collaborators.

Key contributors included:

• Brian Hoeniger (PDGA #4022), who served as PDGA Director of International Programs until his recent retirement, and whose work was instrumental in advancing international initiatives throughout the region.
• Luis Rodríguez (PDGA #228806), PDGA Latin America Coordinator.
• Fabián Oloarte (PDGA #165977), PDGA Latin America Marketing Director.
• Calixto García (PDGA #143262), PDGA Europe Marketing Director.
• Chris Gwinner (PDGA #213542), Tournament Director.

Additional support was provided by PDGA Europe through event coverage, as well as by local volunteers, whose contributions were essential to the operation and execution of the championship.

Outlook and Continuity

This championship established an important precedent for regional-level competition in Latin America. The event is currently being evaluated for future editions on a one-and-a-half to two-year cycle, as well as the possibility of opening host site applications across the region or maintaining a fixed location, based on the outcomes and lessons learned from this inaugural edition.

Acknowledgements

The Monte María Disc Golf Course was installed several years ago through the efforts of the Paul McBeth Foundation, with support from Discraft, making it possible to host a regional championship of this nature.

The First Latin American Disc Golf Championship represents a starting point for the consolidation of a regional competition within the PDGA calendar and reflects the collective growth potential of Latin America as a culturally connected region.