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Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events

2.02 Qualifications

Last updated: Thursday, January 2, 2025 - 13:30
  1. Players are not allowed to enter a division for which they are ineligible due to their membership status, player class, gender, age, or player rating. Please see the Divisions, Ratings, and Point Factors table.
  2. A player is solely responsible for knowing what division(s) they are eligible to compete in. Entry into an ineligible division may result in disqualification from the event and/or suspension from PDGA events (see 2.03 for exceptions).
  3. After the close of registration, players may not request to change their division unless their division has three or fewer people. Players must request this prior to the start of competition. TDs may approve or deny this request in their sole discretion.
  4. If, after the start of an event, a Tournament Director discovers that a player is in a division they are not eligible for, they may move that player to the correct division for subsequent rounds, but ONLY if both of the divisions played the exact same layout. If not, the player must be removed from the event.
  5. Players may not compete more than once in a single event. Each entry on the PDGA calendar is considered a separate event. For Leagues, see 1.14.C.7.
  6. A player must properly identify themselves by name and PDGA number when competing in a PDGA-sanctioned event. Players who wish to remain anonymous or who assume a false identity will be disqualified from the event and face potential suspension from the PDGA tour.
  7. Professional players playing in a Professional division compete for money. Amateur players playing in a Professional division may only accept money by becoming a Professional, or they may decline money and accept only a trophy (if one is available) to retain their Amateur status (see 1.10.A and 1.10.B). However, Amateurs who accept cash at PDGA Leagues do not become a Professional or lose their Amateur status by doing so (see 1.14.C.3).
  8. Players playing in an Amateur division compete for trophies and/or prizes.
  9. Players who are eligible for gender-based divisions may compete in mixed divisions if they wish, but players who are only eligible for mixed divisions may not compete in gender-based divisions.
  10. An Amateur player may compete in any Professional division for which they are eligible based on age, gender, and event format.
  11. A PDGA Professional member may only compete in Amateur divisions in select cases (see 2.05).
  12. A Tournament Director may limit the divisions they wish to offer at their event by listing only the divisions they plan to offer on their registration form.
    1. If a division is offered and at least four eligible players register for that division, that division must be held.
    2. If a division is underserved as defined in 1.02.C.2.c, the division must be held if at least one player registers for the division. This does not apply to Majors.
    3. In all other cases, it is at the Tournament Director's discretion whether to hold the division or not (see 1.03.H for refund policy in that case).
  13. PDGA members, whether current or not, shall be allowed to play in any offered division for which they are eligible. All local rules that force a player to move up divisions based on previous performance are invalid and are not applicable to PDGA members at PDGA-sanctioned events.
  14. For players without a PDGA number, Tournament Directors may estimate their Player Rating based on direct knowledge of their demonstrated skill and ability.
    1. If the player signs up for a ratings-based division (see 2.01.B), the TD may use that estimated Player Rating to assign the player to a different ratings-based division or MA1 or FA1 as appropriate.
    2. If the player registers for an open division (see 2.01.A) or an age-based division (2.01.D) for which they qualify, the player is treated the same as PDGA members (see 2.02.M).
    3. A player who is assigned a division by the TD under 2.02.N.1 and who then purchases a PDGA membership prior to the start of play may move to and compete in any ratings-based division for which they qualify under 2.02.M.

Outline of Contents

Disc Golf Rules and Standards