Mark your calendar for the 2011 USDGC qualifier nearest you because you don’t want to miss your chance at attending one of disc golf’s most hallowed events.

By utilizing the Disc Golf United performance-based scoring system, the 2011 US Championship is more accessible than ever. So shake that snow off that backyard practice basket and get to work. This might be your year to play between the golden ropes.

Beginning March 12, the qualifying for the new season gets underway at the Pot of Gold tournament in New Orleans. But if you can’t make the trip to the Big Easy in time don’t worry, there’s probably a tourney in your area.

Like in past USDGC qualifying, each part of the country is represented by eight regions. The New Orleans tourney covers Region 2, which includes Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Ten players from each region will receive an invite.

Qualifiers for the seven other regions are as follows:

Region 1, April 16-17. Atlanta Open, Atlanta, Ga.
Region 6, April 16-17. Dynamic Discs Glass Blown Open, Emporia, Kansas.
Region 8, May 14-15. The Peoples’ Championship, Lehigh Valley, Penn.
Region 7, May 21-22. Greater Milwaukee Open, Milwaukee, Wisc.
Region 5, June 11-12. Zoo Town Open, Missoula, Mont.
Region 3, June 18-19. High Plains Challenge, Fort Morgan, Colo.
Region 4, July 29-31. Santa Maria Open, Santa Maria, Calif.

PDGA Region 1 – Florida, Georgia, North & South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
PDGA Region 2 – Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas
PDGA Region 3 – New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah
PDGA Region 4 – California, Nevada, Hawaii
PDGA Region 5 – Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska
PDGA Region 6 – North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota
PDGA Region 7 – Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio
PDGA Region 8 – Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont

In addition, players can gain USDGC invites at the PDGA Amateur World Championships in Rochester, N.Y., July 26-30, the Pro World Championships in Santa Cruz, Calif., August 8-13, and the PDGA Global Tournament Aug. 19-21.

Ten players have already made their way in after impressive efforts at the Piney Woods Pro-Am in Tyler, Texas in December. The tournament, which acted as the USDGC’s Wildcard Qualifier, produced a group of disc golfers with varying skills and showed that just about anyone can earn a USDGC invite by playing their best personal disc golf.

During a qualifier, the DGU performance-based scoring system, which is conducted separately from the tournament standings, will assign each player a projected score for each round based on player rating and course layouts.

In similar fashion to earning PDGA points during a season, each player will earn points based on the number of people they beat when projected score and actual score are compared for each round.

Players hoping to qualify must have a PDGA Player Rating of 850 or higher, and must play the same layout as the pro division.

Oklahoman Charles Chung, an 886-rated advanced grandmaster, stole the show in Tyler when he beat his projected score for all four rounds of the tourney, becoming the tournament’s top qualifier. Nine others including the tourney’s Open winner are also headed to Rock Hill, S.C. in October.

Highly skilled pro’s shouldn’t be put off by the new format. Anyone who exhibits their best disc golf is assured a spot. Although the 2011 USDGC is set up to host a more diverse skill set, at the end of Championship Week the trophy will still say United States Disc Golf Champion.

“There is more to the DGU performance-based system than meets the eye,” says Event Director Jonathan Poole. “Everyone’s PDGA rating is as fair as it can be. That is the basis for this new format. Everyone will have their own (fair) projected score. It shouldn’t be any harder for Nikko Locastro to beat his projected score than for you or me to beat ours.”

Once players qualify they have 30 days to submit their application and $100 entry fee to the USDGC headquarters or risk losing their invitation altogether. Players cannot re-qualify at subsequent qualifiers.

However, anyone (with an 850 rating or higher) will be able to earn an invite at the Last Chance Qualifier on the Monday leading up to The Championship.

Winthrop University’s Gold Course in October is a magical place. You’ve heard the stories of past USDGC’s – from the legendary battle between Climo and Schultz in 2003 to Schusterick’s surprising win last year. Now it’s your turn to create a few of your own.

Visit USDGC.com for more information on qualifying.