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Professional Disc Golf Association

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Professional Disc Golf Association
SportDisc golf
CategoryFlying disc sports
JurisdictionGlobal
AbbreviationPDGA
Founded1976 (1976)
HeadquartersAppling, GA
ChairpersonNate Heinold, President of the Board
CEODoug Bjerkaas, Executive Director
PDGA International Disc Golf Center during the September 2011 National Championship

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and sustainable growth of disc golf.[1] The PDGA is the global governing body of disc golf.[2] The organization promotes the sport through tournament development, course development, rules[3] and competitive standards,[4] media and sponsor relations, and public education and outreach.

As of September 1, 2024, the current PDGA Board of Directors consists of Board President Nate Heinold, Board Vice President Conrad Damon, Laura Nagtegaal, Geoff Hungerford, Wilbur Wallis, Terhi Kytö, and Theo Pozzy. [5]

Organizational structure

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The PDGA is a nonprofit corporation with Professional-class and Amateur-class members who pay yearly dues to belong to the organization.

Board of directors

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Strategic planning and oversight is handled by the Board of Directors,[6] usually comprising seven Board members elected by the active PDGA membership from a pool of candidates who must themselves be PDGA members in good standing. Potential candidates submit materials to the Nominating Committee, who determine the candidates who will actually appear on the ballot.[7] Board members serve three-year terms, and elections are staggered such that only two or three members of the Board are elected each year. In 2024, the members re-elected Wilbur Wallis to his second term on the Board and elected Theo Pozzy and Terhi Kytö to their first terms on the Board.[8] In 2023, Nate Heinold was re-elected to his third term on the Board and Geoff Hungerford was elected to his first full term after serving 30 months as an appointed replacement for Will Shusterick.[9] In 2022, Laura Nagtegaal was re-elected to her fourth term on the Board and Conrad Damon was elected for the first time since his prior service (1999-2002).[10][11] Nagtegaal and Conrad's spots will be up for election in 2025.

The Board votes to elect a presiding officer (the President of the Board) and a Vice President. The other Board members are Directors with no specific role. Board decisions require a quorum of four members, and most decisions are made by majority vote.

The PDGA's corporate officers are the Executive Director, Doug Bjerkaas, the Senior Director of Operations, Tim Messer, and the Director of Policy & Compliance, Mike Sullivan.

Staff

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The PDGA also has a professional staff[12] that handles tactical planning and day-to-day operations, led by the Executive Director. The staff perform the critical functions of the PDGA, including organizational operations, membership services, quality control and operations at large events, support for tournament directors and events of all sizes, marketing and media, and technological advancements and event administration tools.

Volunteers

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Finally, the PDGA has a team of volunteers. The State Coordinators,[13] Province Coordinators,[14] and Country Representatives[15] manage the event calendars and serve as a front-line point of contact between the organization and the grassroots local clubs and Event Directors.

Committees

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The PDGA's Committees are primarily volunteer-based, with most having a liaison from the staff and the Board. The current Committees are:

Policy Committees

  • Rules & Regulations Advisory Committee - engages in problem-solving and pursues improvements to the Official Rules of Disc Golf, the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events, or the PDGA Tour Standards.
  • Technical Standards Working Group - ensures all approved equipment meets a standard set of dimensions and safety regulations.
  • Environmental - examines the challenges and solutions for disc golf's ongoing environmental stewardship and sustainability.
  • Youth and Education Committee - focuses on expansion of disc golf in schools and in youth sports.
  • Medical Committee - examines potential harms to player safety and well-being.
  • Disciplinary Committee - creates, promulgates, and enforces standards of conduct and disciplinary action.

Constituent-Based Committees

  • Diversity & Outreach Task Force - create strategies to bring disc golf to underserved populations.
  • Pro Touring Players Committee - represents the interests of full-time touring professional players.
  • Women's Committee - advocates for women in the sport.
  • Senior Committee - ensures the needs of disc golfers aged 50 and over are made clear.

PDGA Majors

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Majors are the highest level of disc golf competition. The current PDGA Majors held annually are: the Professional, Amateur, Masters, and Junior Disc Golf World Championships; the United States national championships (United States Disc Golf Championship, United States Women's Disc Golf Championship, United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship, Tim Selinske United States Masters Championships, and the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships); the European Open; and the PDGA Champions Cup.[16] The current FPO World Champion is Eveliina Salonen of Finland, and the current MPO World Champion is Isaac Robinson of the United States of America.[17]

Disc Golf Pro Tour

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The Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) is the Official Pro Tour of the PDGA.[18][19][20] The DGPT is a private enterprise which partners with the PDGA (and in which the PDGA has a minority ownership interest). In addition to the 14 main medal play events and the DGPT Match Play Championship, the top touring pros can qualify for the DGPT Tour Championship, a seeded bracket of knockout golf performed at the end of every tour season. The 2022 DGPT Champions are Missy Gannon (FPO) and Ricky Wysocki (MPO).[21]

International Disc Golf Center

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The PDGA International Disc Golf Center features a modern clubhouse with 2,700 sq ft (250 m2) of amenities, art, and disc golf attractions. The clubhouse is home to the Ed Headrick Memorial Museum, which showcases many historical items from the early days of the sport including the first prototype Disc Pole Hole[22] and flying discs from the Frisbie Pie Company pie pan, to the Frisbee(c), to today's modern high tech golf discs.

PDGA Entrance

The IDGC also features the World Disc Golf Hall of Fame.[23] Located in Wildwood Park Columbia County, Georgia on Clarks Hill Lake. It is 22 miles from Augusta, Georgia. This 975 acre park is home to PDGA Headquarters and holds three disc golf courses.

Courses at the IDGC

The "Steady" Ed Headrick Memorial Course,[24][25] presented by DGA, features special edition Mach III baskets on rolling terrain along the shores of Clarks Hill Lake. The course was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famers, Chuck Kennedy and Tom Monroe. Multiple target locations and tee areas make it very adaptable for all levels of play.

The Jim Warner Memorial Course[26][27] is the newest course at the International Disc Golf Center. It features Discraft Chainstar targets and was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famer, Jim Kenner,[28][29] with assistance from Ron Russell and Pad Timmons. It is currently unavailable for play due to the effects of a Southern pine beetle infestation.

The WR Jackson Memorial Course[30][31] is the longest and most challenging course at the IDGC. This course was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famer, John Houck, and features Innova DISCatcher baskets set in a very challenging championship configuration. It is currently unavailable for play due to the effects of a Southern pine beetle infestation.

References

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  1. ^ "Articles of Incorporation". PDGA.com. 6 November 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) approved as Associate Member of WFDF, World Flying Disc Federation". World Flying Disc Federation. 24 August 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Official Rules of Disc Golf". PDGA.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events". PDGA.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Current Board of Directors". PDGA.com. 25 July 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Historical List of Board of Directors". PDGA.com. 6 November 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "Global Board Candidates Sought for 2023 PDGA Elections". PDGA.com. 3 April 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  8. ^ "2024 PDGA Board of Directors Election Results". PDGA.com. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  9. ^ "2023 PDGA Global and Europe Board of Directors, State/Provincial Coordinators Announced". PDGA.com. 1 August 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "2022 PDGA Global and Europe Board of Directors, State/Provincial Coordinators Announced". PDGA.com. 1 September 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Historical Board of Directors Members" (PDF). PDGA.com. 7 September 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "PDGA Staff". PDGA.com. 7 November 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "State Coordinators". PDGA.com. 17 October 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Province Coordinators". PDGA.com. 17 October 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "Country Representatives". PDGA.com. 17 October 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "2022 Major and Elite Series schedule". PDGA.com. 3 October 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  17. ^ "2024 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships". PDGA.com. 25 August 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  18. ^ "Announcing the Official Pro Tour of the PDGA". PDGA.com. 28 September 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "The DGPT to become the official Pro Tour of the PDGA". DGPT.com. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  20. ^ "DGPT Becomes Official Pro Tour of the PDGA". Ultiworld Disc Golf. 28 September 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  21. ^ "Ending on a High Note". PDGA.com. 16 October 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  22. ^ "Flying disc entrapment device".
  23. ^ "Disc Golf Hall of Fame". Official Website and Inductees. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  24. ^ ""Steady" Ed Headrick Memorial". Disc Golf Scene. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  25. ^ ""Steady" Ed Headrick Memorial". Disc Golf Course Review. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  26. ^ "Jim Warner Memorial". Disc Golf Scene. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  27. ^ "Jim Warner Memorial". Disc Golf Course Review. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  28. ^ "Disc Golf Hall of Fame". Jim Kenner. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  29. ^ "Discraft". Official Website. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  30. ^ "WR Jackson Memorial". Disc Golf Scene. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  31. ^ "WR Jackson Memorial". Disc Golf Course Review. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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