The PDGA Innovation Grant Program was created in 2008 to increase and promote the awareness of the sport of disc golf and the Professional Disc Golf Association. Applicants are encouraged to think outside of the box to develop innovative and unique programs which will promote the sport and increase participation.
The deadline for submission of applications for the first round of 2014 Innovation Grants is June 1, 2014.
This "player" shows up to "play" with you every round. It's a course, of course. And yet, other than a directory listing, many courses don't get promoted as well as possible, even those with top ratings. For many courses, especially pay-for-play, attracting more players is worthwhile. Even if not to produce more income, more play keeps reminding the Park Dept. and community that your course is an important recreational resource to support.
On Saturday, November 9th, 86 players converged on the Ironworks Hills disc golf course in Winchester, KY for the 6th Annual Kentucky Rec, Novice and Junior Disc Golf Championships. Of the 86, an astounding 47 juniors (more than half of the field!) competed in the event, proving that Kentucky is a hot spot for junior participation. A modified version of the Ironworks course was used for the event; nine permanent holes, plus 11 more temporary holes were set up to create a challenging but fun 20-hole layout for the participants to enjoy. Although the wind was present all day (gusts up to 20 mph), it w
This year’s Hawk Hollow Open in Spotsylvania County, VA was attended by 49 pro players. The field was made up of 21 Open, 4 pro women, 14 masters and 10 grandmasters. Both days, the course played the original 18 hole, par 63 Hawk Hollow layout which is spread out on a working cow farm and extends for 8,089 feet. A creek meanders throughout the course, which gives players ample opportunity for additions to their score card for either throwing their disc out of bounds into the creek or having it ricochet in the creek. In order to score well, you have to keep your disc dry. Also, the fence lines along some of the holes and behind some of the baskets also require you to have ex
“Thank you” is a phrase that most tournament directors don’t hear too often. Being a TD of a PDGA sanctioned event is a thankless task that is more often than not a volunteer position. Our sport thrives on volunteers who donate their time, effort, and sanity for months at a time. Well, the PDGA recognizes how difficult this job can be, and last weekend, it was our chance to say “thanks” to all those hard-working individuals who consistently make an effort to promote the sport and host an event in their area.
The Marco Polo Program was conceived and approved by the PDGA Board of Directors in 2011, with an official start date of January 1, 2012. The goals of this program are to support the introduction of Disc Golf into new countries and to strengthen its development in other countries around the world. The program provides funding for innovative international projects that promote the growth of Disc Golf, and that create links between PDGA, the countries, and the local Disc Golf communities.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Prodigy Disc is proud to partner with the PDGA in a fundraising effort to help fight this dreaded disease that affects the lives of so many.
In 2013, there were approximately 232,000 new cases of breast cancer and almost 40,000 deaths. The chance of a woman having breast cancer in her life is about one in eight. Breast cancer is treatable when detected early. The best method of detection is through self-exams. Awareness through education and promotions is the key to more women learning how and why to do self-exams.
The Bucks County Disc Golf Alliance was proud to host and present the 21st Annual Eric C. Yetter Champions’ Cup. The event was granted some exceptional and beautiful end of summer weather, breaking the streak of rain in years past. The event featured Tyler State Park’s longest layout of C pins, with long tees for all of it’s 27 holes, and the addition of the famous temporary 9 field holes. As usual, the field holes created a lot of challenge for the players, including a 1,070ft and a 1,200ft hole, but not to be outdone by the 436ft island green of hole 36.
Playing in very damp and rainy conditions, 115 women disc golfers from 14 different states showed up in rain-soaked Denver for the 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Women’s Disc Golf Championships on September 14 and 15. The tournament was played at both the Colorado Heights University Disc Golf Course and a special temp course at Ruby Hill Park. The ladies were able to throw their discs into 18 powder-coated in pink DGA Mach-III baskets on the temp course at Ruby Hill. The Open Women’s division had 13 ladies competing for the champion trophy. 3-time World Champion Valarie Jenkins collected the first place prize money of $2,225.00.
After cleaning up the mess of 200 fallen trees, and on the last day of summer, the Ceramic City Flyers and FLEX DG will be hosting the Thompson Park Iron Man in East Liverpool, OH. Although this is the debut of the event, no expense was spared in making it a day to remember. This 54-hole day starts at 5:30am with a hot breakfast around the campfire, and ends with musical entertainment from local musician Dave Morgan and that refreshing four-letter word we all know and love (if you need a clue it starts with a B and ends with R).
September 7th and 8th saw Toronto Island host the 6th Toronto Island Maple Leaf. This edition of the TIML paid tribute to the 40th Anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd’s seminal opus from 1973 that hinted at man’s madness. Saturday’s weather had more than one golfer shaking their heads about the lunacy of golfing in the extreme wet conditions.
The 3rd annual Ledgestone Insurance Open presented by ABC Discs in Peoria, Illinois had a tough act to follow after last year’s event. The 2012 edition featured $10,000 of added cash to the pro purse, a huge player’s pack for amateur players (including three discs) and an awesome player’s party. Throw in perfect 75 degree sunny weather with no wind on two of the top six courses in Illinois and you had an awesome tournament.
The first annual Green Mountain Championship in Vermont is drawing in names that are usually reserved for well-established events with long track records. But that’s no surprise to Tournament Director Jeff Spring. With $4,000 added cash and one of the highest rated courses in the country, after debuting the course last July, the team at Brewster Ridge is focused on delivering an all-around fantastic PDGA sanctioned B Tier event for players, spectators, and volunteers alike.
Sunday morning was bitter sweet, as the players arrived to the course at Maple Hill Farm for not only the final round of the Vibram Open, but also the last leg of the 2013 National Tour Elite Series presented by our host, Vibram Disc Golf. Another beautiful day, with temperatures in the mid 70’s with low humidity and plenty of sunshine; there were no distractions for the players who made the cut and prepared themselves to tackle the difficult Gold course one last time. The top 10 female competitors and 72 men with the lowest totals in the field made the cut, and all were promised to get paid, so everything that took place on Sunday
The Vibram Open closed today with a flurry of great disc golf. Congratulations to our champions, Valarie Jenkins and Paul McBeth for coming out on top. With the close of the National Tour Elite Series presented by Vibram comes the NT Points Series awards as well, and our top finishers were as follows:
Another beautiful day greeted the players as they arrived at Maple Hill Farm in Leicester, Massachusetts today, readying themselves for round three of the Vibram Open. Today was a big day for all the competitors, as some were focused on making the cut, while others were trying to separate themselves from the pack. Both the men’s and the women’s divisions were tight at the top, and with so many others within striking distance, it truly was moving day. Today was the day we would see players taking more risks as they fought for position going into the final round. If those risks paid off, perhaps they would make the cut or take the lead, but if not, it would be a long ride home.
A crisp, cool breeze started to build above the dew as the sun rose this morning at Maple Hill, the site of the 2013 Vibram Open. Another gorgeous day awaited the players as they prepared for the test in front of them. Shoot well, and position yourself to “make the cut and get paid”, a mantra heard over and over here at one of the most demanding and laborious courses on the National Tour Elite Series presented by the host, Vibram. Typically, after two rounds of highly competitive disc golf on the tour, our leader would be sitting somewhere close to 20 under par, but not here. Shooting par at the Maple Hill course is
With the 2013 National Tour Elite Series presented by Vibram coming to a close, there is no better place to crown our final champions of the year than at the illustrious Maple Hill course in Leicester, Massachusetts. The Vibram Open has always been a player favorite since it was introduced to the National Tour in 2008. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the course at Maple Hill Farm is one of the game’s most challenging, fair, and well-manicured tracks around the country. Or maybe it has to do with the countless side events that are prepared by Steve Dodge
The finale of the Beaver State Fling was yesterday at Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, OR, just outside of Portland. Mother Nature was cooperative all weekend, as the rain that crushed the area weeks prior ceased just in time to finish over 200 hours of mowing, turning the overgrown jungle of the east and west Riverbend disc golf courses into a pristine venue, more than suitable for a weekend of National Tour golf. Co-tournament directors Jeff Mittl and Jeff Hagerty and their amazing team of volunteers and staff once again treated the players to one of the most exciting and well-run events of the 2013 National Tour Elite Series
As summer draws near it is time to prepare for the annual PDGA elections and the call for candidates. This year the elections will take place from July 1 to July 31, with the elected candidates assuming office as of September 1, 2013. The 2013 PDGA Election will be held on-line, with members casting their ballots at an independent election service website.
The PDGA Innovation Grant Program was created to increase and promote the awareness of the sport of disc golf and the Professional Disc Golf Association. Applicants are encouraged to think outside of the box to develop innovative and unique programs which will promote the sport and increase participation. Several applications were received by the PDGA office prior to the June 3rd deadline for consideration for the first five of these $500 grants to be awarded in 2013.
The recipients of the five PDGA Innovation Grants and the names of the projects to be funded are:
It has been a few weeks since the PDGA National Tour was in action. After Ricky Wysocki’s win at the Hall of Fame Classic, many of the top pros traveled overseas for a trip around Europe, and after hitting the EuroTour, they return home for the 2013 Discraft Great Lakes Open. A huge field of the world’s greatest players will converge on the world-famous Toboggan course in Milford, Michigan to test their skills and compete in the tournament, earning points in the National Tour Elite Series Drive to the Championship.
The locations of two Major events for the 2015 calendar for the PDGA were up for bid throughout the off season. The 2015 Tim Selinske US Masters Championship and the 2015 Amateur World Championships were looking for a home. Bids poured in over the winter break and several cities proposed to host these prestigious disc golf events. Although many intriguing bids were submitted, only two cities would be able to call themselves a host of a PDGA major in 2015.
The 2013 National Tour Elite Series sponsored by Vibram Disc Golf features the top players in the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions as they compete in the fifth annual Drive for the Championship. This points based series consists of the first seven National Tour events plus the series finale, the Vibram Open. Points are awarded based on the competitor’s order of finish in an individual event. Series points from a player’s top five National Tour finishes from the first seven events plus the points from the final stop on the tour, the Vibram Open, will determine the 2013 PDGA Tour Series Champion.
What if you could buy a new disc, or set of new discs, near the first tee of your local course? Would you do it?
It’s no longer a rhetorical question. In March, Omaha-based TeeBoxx installed its first automated retail center, or “pro shop in a Boxx” at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park in southwest Miami. Stocked with new discs from leading manufacturers, players, and those interested in trying the sport, are now able to stock up on the company’s “fly gear,” before hitting one of the park’s two 18-hole courses.
The players filled the courses at the Hippodrome complex Saturday with excitement and anticipation for individual competition. Team play is not only about how they can function as a unit, but also the individual pieces of the puzzle. Now, instead of all playing together, the teams were split up and spread out over the two courses. Singles play leaves the door wide open for the leaders to slip, and the chasers to become the chased.
