PDGA Major Events are the premier national and international competitions for the sport of disc golf each year, featuring the world’s best disc golfers competing for World and National Titles in multiple skill, age, and gender-based divisions. These PDGA marquee events offer any city or town the chance to host an international sporting event in their community, drawing interest and attention to the location, and generating a significant economic impact for local businesses.

Hosting a PDGA Major is no easy task. Interest was shown from several involved local organizing committees (LOC), meaning selection of these events was difficult as so many excellent bid packages were submitted. After much deliberation from the PDGA staff and the PDGA Board of Directors, the Professional Disc Golf Association is pleased to announce the following 2017 PDGA Major Events. Drumroll please!

2017 PDGA United States Women’s Disc Golf Championship

The USWDGC will be held in Johnson City, Tennessee.  The Lakefront Disc Golf Club and local Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will be hosting the event and has plenty of large event experience, as they prepare to host the 30th annual Lakefront Open, a PDGA B Tier in May. The featured course and site of the finals will be Winged Deer Park. Although it is a relatively short track, it rewards accuracy over distance, which is a great characteristic for a USWDGC course. It is a well maintained park with several other amenities. The satellite course will be a temporary track at Buffalo Valley Golf Course, designed by proposed TD Tim Barr #10512 and is located just 10 miles to the southeast in the beautiful Tennessee mountains. Look for fall foliage to be in peak season near the Smoky Mountains in September.

This is the second submission from the folks in Johnson City. In a bid to host in 2016, they were advised to tweak just a few small things to improve their chances of being awarded the event, and they more than adequately addressed those sticking points. This displays their commitment to host a PDGA Major event, and their desire to make it a memorable experience for all involved. We are thrilled to visit Johnson City next September.

2017 PDGA Tim Selinske United States Masters Championships

The 2017 Tim Selinske US Masters Championships will be held in Des Moines, IA and will be directed by Iowa State Coordinator Justin McLuen #12468 with vast support from the Des Moines Disc Golf Club and CVB. Des Moines is well-known as the host of one of the most successful Worlds events in recent history, after the 2004 Combined World Championships were executed to near perfection by late HOF member Becky Zallek #9388 and team.

If you have been to Des Moines, you know that the area is rich in disc golf and has some of the most well-maintained and scenic park systems in the country. The courses to be used in the event are Ewing Park, Big Creek State Park, Walnut Ridge and Grandview Park. The competition will take place in early September, 2017. We have no doubt that Becky herself will be smiling down on the players as another Major PDGA competition returns to her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa.

2017 PDGA Amateur and Junior Disc Golf World Championships

The Am and Junior World Championships will be held in Quad Cities and will be Directed by Chase Roberts #20460 of Iron Lion Disc Golf Supply with the support of the Quad Cities CVB. Quad Cities is a region of four counties in northwest Illinois and Southeastern Iowa. Chase and his team have a history of putting on great events such as The Rumble (a PDGA A-Tier), just as Quad Cities has a reputation for being one of the premier disc golf outlets across the country. Host of the 2009 USWDGC and home to notable courses such as West Lake Park and Camden II, it's clear that Quad Cities is of a top-level disc golf pedigree. The 2017 Am Worlds will be held in mid-July of next year.

2017 PDGA Masters World Championships

The first ever Masters World Championships will be contested in Grand Rapids, Michigan and will be hosted by proposed TD John Norkowski #36436 and the Grand Rapids Dogs of Disc organization. In addition to the LOC, the West Michigan Sports Commission, Grand Rapids City of Special Events, City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, Plainfield Township, and Kent County Parks and Recreation Department, will all play a hands on role in ensuring the championship is a success. The LOC will operate under the name of River City Disc Golf LLC for the championships, and with consultation from Larry LaBond #6903, John Norkowski and Rick Marrit Jr #51283., they have vast experience in hosting PDGA Major events.

Riverside Park will be the featured course, while other courses to be used in the event include Fallasburg Park, a new track at Grand Rapids Rotary Park North, two courses at Earl Brewer Park and Johnson Park. Home of the 1997 PDGA Amateur World Championships, Grand Rapids is an area flooded with disc golf, and the LOC has selected the best of what Grand Rapids has to offer for the first ever Masters World Championships. The event will take place in mid-August.

2017 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships

The PDGA Staff and Board of Directors are still in the process of identifying and selecting the Host of the Professional Disc Golf World Championships. An announcement will be made upon selection of the Host and Venue.

Congratulations!

Please join with us in offering our congratulations and support to the host communities of these PDGA Major Events, as well as the other PDGA Majors that are held at the same locations each year, e.g. the United States Disc Golf Championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship in North Augusta, South Carolina and the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship in Milford, Michigan.

We look forward to another exciting year in 2017!