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Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events

1.12 Tournament Officials

Last updated: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 - 17:32

  1. Only the following are Tournament Officials (see 801.02.G) for a given event:
    1. the Tournament Director (see 801.02.F); and
    2. those Certified Officials (as defined in 1.11.A) that have been designated by the Tournament Director; and
    3. PDGA Marshals as designated by the PDGA Director of Competition.
  2. Only Tournament Officials may make rulings at PDGA-sanctioned events beyond those calls allowed by the rules to be made by the players or playing group themselves.
  3. Spectators are not Tournament Officials and may not make rulings. Players in the event who are not designated Tournament Officials and are not actively playing in the round (either have finished or have not yet started) are considered spectators.
  4. Each Tournament Official must carry copies of the tournament/course rules, the Official Rules of Disc Golf, and the PDGA Competition Manual at all times. These copies may be printed or digital.
  5. If any Tournament Official competes in the tournament, they may not officiate for any ruling within their own division other than as a member of a playing group as allowed by the rules.
  6. A Tournament Official’s ruling supersedes the ruling of the playing group, but an appeal may be made to the Chief Official who is the Tournament Director, or their appointed Chief Official.
  7. Generally, the ruling of a Tournament Spotter (see 801.02.H) does not supersede the ruling of the group. However, the Tournament Director may grant spotters who are Certified Officials limited authority to act as a Tournament Official for one or more specific types of ruling, such as determining where a disc was last in-bounds.
  8. Photo or video evidence may only be used by the Tournament Director or a Tournament Official to:
    1. Clarify the meaning of course markings that indicate teeing areas under 802.04.A, restricted routes under 804.01, regulated areas under 806, or drop zones. This includes clarifying that a marking on the course is not relevant to competition.
    2. Make rulings related to player misconduct (as defined in 3.03). This evidence may be provided by anyone present who witnessed the misconduct. Evidence of player misconduct may also be evaluated at any time by the PDGA Disciplinary Committee.