50+ Disc Golf Tournament Extra Considerations

If you are running a Masters+ Disc Golf tournament, and you may want to make this an exceptional event, here are some things to consider. 

Over the years, senior pro players have often been shorted out with their payouts. Many tournaments pay out masters and senior divisions the PDGA minimum requirement and direct any additional funds to the Open divisions to attract more Open players. With Master+ tournaments, that should no longer happen. All moneys should be equitably divided among all divisions. This will benefit and attract more Masters+ players knowing they will not be supplementing the Open players.

Most senior amateur players have been playing years and years. They have collected more plastic than they will ever be able to throw. And often they get a tournament disc in a players pack that is not senior appropriate and they will never throw it. Consider other player pack options besides plastic. You don’t need to provide canes or Tylenol, but think outside the box a little and get creative. 

If you are running a larger event like one of the majors or an A-Tier event that will have a lot of out-of-town players, consider some social events. Most older players know enough not to stay out late tying one on but if there is something organized that they could do to meet other players outside of disc golf, that would improve their experience. It would grow their disc golf network on a greater level. It should be something that could include their significant other that might be traveling with them. 

Consider organizing something for the player’s significant others. If a spouse comes along for a long weekend or entire week, it can be pretty boring for them waiting for their partner to finish their round while they are in a strange town where they don’t know people. Organize a bus to pick them up at the host hotel to visit a museum, a movie, a wine tasting, a city tour, a church service, or some other special event that that location has to offer. Not only does it make their time there more enjoyable but “happy wife means happy life”.

Disc golfers have been spoiled with what they expect from a disc golf event. There are the players packs, sponsor bonus swag, payouts to almost half the field, and the occasional extras like lunch and player party discounts. In the National Senior Games (Olympics), players pay $125+ to enter and typically get a tee shirt and the payout is 3 medals per division. (And spoiler alert, the medals are not real gold and silver.) Yet the NSG maxes out their fields with waiting lists of senior who just want the chance to compete.