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2004 PDGA Tour Player Classifications & Divisions
Overview
The PDGA Tour Player system is based on Professional, Amateur, and Junior Divisions for male and female players. Professionals compete for money, Amateurs and Juniors for trophies and prizes.
There are several changes to the PDGA Tour Player system for 2004, notably within the Amateur divisions. This document highlights those changes, with the aim of helping players and TDs to identify the correct division(s) in which a player or players should compete.
Professional and Amateur Divisions are based on gender and age. Players compete in five age groups or levels: Open, Master, Grandmaster, Senior Grandmaster, and Legend. Junior Divisions are based on the following four age groups for amateur boys and girls: <19, <16, <13, and <10.
PDGA guidelines stipulate that events must offer any division for which there are 4 or more registered competitors, unless advance notice is given. Exceptions are made in the interests of member-player satisfaction, notably in the Women’s and Junior divisions, where participants are often limited to 3 players or less.
The following divisions are typically offered at PDGA Tour Events, depending on whether events are sanctioned as Pro/Am, Pro only, or Amateur only: Pro Open, Pro Master, Pro Women, Advanced, Advanced Master, Advanced Women, and Intermediate. The following divisions are also found at many events: Pro Grandmaster, Advanced Grandmaster, Intermediate Women, Recreational, Junior Boys <19, Junior Boys <16. A limited number of events offer: Pro Senior Grandmaster, Pro Master Women, Recreational Women. Other divisions listed below, including Legends and Juniors <13, are usually not offered at regular tour events due to the low numbers of players in these age groups, however they are offered each year at the PDGA World Championships.
Joining the PDGA
Most players join the PDGA as Amateurs. When competing in their first PDGA Tour event, new members and TDs are encouraged to use the following descriptions of PDGA divisions, in order to determine the level at which that player will be most competitive. Once a player has competed in a PDGA Tour event, they will receive a player rating which compares a player’s skill against other players on the Tour. Once a player’s rating has been calculated, the rating is used to determine which level the player should compete in future tournaments. As players become more proficient at the different disc golf skills, including putting, driving, approaching, and learn other shots such as rollers, overhands, and forehands, their scores will improve. As their scores improve, their rating will increase, moving them up through the Amateur levels.
Here are some definitions for the principal PDGA divisions and some practical examples of the level of skill to be expected in each. This includes a range of scores on a typical 18 hole course at a PDGA Tour event. Such a course would require a variety of discs and shots, and may be described as being of medium difficulty or harder, and as having a World Class Par of 50, with holes ranging from 200-500 feet, significant elevation changes, obstacles and rough.
Amateur Divisions
Advanced - the top amateur division, available to all amateur players. Required division for amateur players born 1964 or later with ratings >= 915. Tournament experienced players who have played disc golf for 3 years or more, and developed consistency. Throw 300-450 feet, make 5-7/10 putts from 25-30 feet, have different shots in their arsenal. Score range: < 59.
Advanced Master - an age-protected amateur division, available to amateur players who will be 40 years or older during the current year (born 1964 or earlier). Seasoned tournament players who have competed for several years, and developed consistency. Throw 250-400 feet, make 5-7/10 putts from 25-30 feet, have different shots to choose from. Score range: <63.
Advanced Grandmaster - available to amateur players who will be 50 years or older during the current year (born 1954 or earlier). Veteran amateur players who throw 200-300 feet, make 4-6 putts from 20 feet. Score range: <68
Advanced Women - the top women’s amateur division, available to all female amateur players. Required division for female amateur players with ratings ? 800. Upcoming players who have played 2-3 years and are gaining consistency and experience. Throw 200-300 feet, make 4-6/10 putts from 25-30 feet, developing different shots. Score Range : <70.
Intermediate - available to amateur players of all ages with player ratings < 915. Developing players who have played 2-3 years and are gaining consistency and experience. Throw 250-350 feet, make 5-7/10 putts from 20 feet, learning different shots. Score range: <63.
Intermediate Women – available to female amateur players with ratings < 800. Players who have developed basic Frisbee® and disc golf skills and/or have tournament experience. Throw 125-200 feet, make 3-5/10 putts from 20 feet, can throw backhand with some accuracy. Score range: <75
Recreational - available to amateur players of all ages with player ratings < 875. For beginning and casual players who are learning basic Frisbee® and disc golf skills. Throw 175-300 feet, make 3-5/10 putts from 20 feet, can throw backhand with some accuracy. Score range: 63+
Recreational Women - available to female amateur players with player ratings < 750. For beginning and casual players who are learning basic Frisbee® and disc golf skills. Score range: 75+
Juniors - for male and female amateur players under the ages of 19, 16, 13 and 10 on the date the tournament ends.
Professional Divisions
Open - the top professional division, available to players of any age. A world class Open player has many years of disc golf and tournament experience, throws 350-500 feet or further, makes 7- 9/10 putts from 25-30 feet, rarely makes a mistake, and has a shot for every situation. Ratings Guideline: 1000+ Score range: <51 An average Open player has several years experience, throws 325-450 feet accurately, makes 6-8/10 putts from 25-30 feet, and has a variety of shots (rollers, forehands, etc) to draw from. Ratings Guideline: 950+ Score range: <56
Open Women - the top womens division, available to female players of any age. A top Open Women's player will have played at least 5 years, throws 300-375 feet accurately, make 6-8/10 putts from 25-30 feet, throws backhand and forehand. Ratings Guideline: 925+ Score range: <58 An average Open Women's player will have played several years, throws 250-325 feet, make 5-6/10 putts from 25-30 feet. Ratings Guideline: 900+ Score range: <61
Master - available to players who will be 40 years of age or older during the current year (born 1964 or earlier). Seasoned veterans who throw 300-400 feet consistently, make 6-8/10 putts from 25-30 feet, have good shot variety. Ratings Guideline: 925+ Score range: <58 Master Women - available to female players who will be 40 years of age or older during the current year (born 1964 or earlier). Ratings Guideline: 875+ Score range: <63
Grandmaster - available to players who will be 50 years of age or older during the current year (born 1954 or earlier). 10-15 years experience, throw 250-350 feet, make 5-8/10 putts from 25-30 feet, often rely on trick shots. Ratings Guideline: 900+ Score range: <61
Senior Grandmaster - available to players who will be 60 years of age or older during the current year (born 1944 or earlier).
Legend - available to players who will be 70 years of age or older during the current year (born 1934 or earlier).
Turning Pro
A player relinquishes Amateur status by registering in a Professional division with the PDGA, or by competing in a Professional division at a PDGA Tour event and accepting prize money based on place of finish.
Reclassification
A player may change classification from Amateur to Professional status upon request to the PDGA Office. A player may request reclassification from Professional to Amateur status by petitioning the PDGA Competition Director. If an Amateur reclassification is granted, the player may not compete in any Amateur division for 60 days. Players who have accepted cash as a Professional within the last 3 years are ineligible to compete in all PDGA Amateur Major Events (World and US Championship events), even if reclassification to Amateur is granted. Reclassification through the Amateur divisions is based on updated player ratings.