Update December 31, 2018 — After listening to member feedback, the PDGA Board of Directors has drafted and approved language changes to Rule 803.01.B.1, CM 3.03.B.5, CM 3.03.C.3, and CM 3.03.C.4.  

These changes clarify the intent and application of these sections and better conform with the intent of the Board in approving the changes.  The changes include clarification of when a player may move casual obstacles; replacing "possession or use" with "public display or use"; referring to "illegal or prohibited" substances under "any applicable law"; and grouping marijuana at all Tier levels with alcohol at B-Tier and above.  These changes also make it clear that 3.03.B.5, 3.03.C.3, and 3.03.C.4 are concerned with things that occur between the two-minute warning and the submission of a player's scorecard.

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Revisions are periodically required to update our rules and competition standards to keep up with the constantly evolving nature of disc golf equipment, courses, tournament management, technology, etc. These updates and edits can range from nearly unnoticeable verbiage alterations to complete rewrites of an entire section. Fortunately, the changes approved by the board of directors for the 2019 revision of the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf and the PDGA Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events contains mostly the former.   

These revisions come about via a process that appears fairly simple on paper but requires dozens of hours of work behind the scenes by the many volunteers involved. The process is as follows:

1. The Rules Committee and Competition Committee receive and review feedback throughout the year.
2. The committees deliberate internally and decide which items to recommend for board approval.
3. The committees' initial recommendations are sent to the board of directors for review and feedback.
4. The board reviews the recommendations and then sends their questions and comments back to the committees.
5. The committees make their final revisions and submit them to the board for approval.
6. The board votes to approve or deny each of the submissions. 

The items listed below were approved by the board of directors and will take effect on January 1, 2019. They will NOT appear in the online versions of the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf or the PDGA Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events until the day they take effect. 

Rule Book Changes

802.05.C Throwing - Lie

Remove:

A drop zone is marked and played in a manner similar to the marking and playing of a teeing area.

Replace With:

A drop zone may either be marked and played in the same manner as a teeing area, or in the same manner as a marked lie.

803.01.B.1 Obstacles and Relief - Moving Obstacles

Remove:

A player may move casual obstacles that are on or behind the lie.

Replace With:

A player may move casual obstacles that are partially or completely on the lie or in the stance area, regardless of whether they extend in front of or behind the lie.

804.02.B Regulated Routes - Prohibited Routes

Remove:

A throw has missed a mandatory if, from the direction of the tee, it completely crosses a mandatory line and comes to rest without coming back across the line (a throw or sequence of throws that crosses the line in both directions is considered not to have crossed the line).

Replace With:

A throw has missed a mandatory if, from the direction of the previous lie, it completely crosses a mandatory line and comes to rest without coming back across the line (a throw or sequence of throws that crosses the line in both directions is considered not to have crossed the line).

809.01.A Other Throws - Abandoned Throw

Remove:

A player may choose to abandon a throw by declaring their intention to the group.

Replace With:

A player may choose to abandon their most recent throw by declaring their intention to the group.

809.03.A Other Throws - Practice Throw

Remove:

A practice throw is any throw that is not made as a competitive attempt to change the lie, except for a throw that is made either to set aside an unused disc or to return a disc to a player and that travels less than five meters in the air. Practice throws are disregarded.

Replace With:

A practice throw is any throw that is not made as a competitive attempt to change the lie, except for a throw that is made either to set aside an unused disc or to return a disc to a player and that travels less than five meters in the air.  A drop is not a practice throw. Practice throws are disregarded.

809.03.B | Other Throws - Practice Throw

Remove:

A player receives one penalty throw for making a practice throw.

Replace With:

A player receives one penalty throw for making a practice throw; the throw itself is disregarded.

Competition Manual Changes

1.06.B.4 Grouping and Sectioning

Remove:

C-Tier events have the option to randomly mix divisions for groupings (first round ONLY) with the exception that Junior II – Junior VI divisional players should only be mixed with other players from those same divisions. 

Replace With:

C-Tier events have the option to randomly mix divisions for groupings (first round ONLY) with the exception that Junior ≤15, Junior ≤12, Junior ≤10, Junior ≤08, Junior ≤06 divisional players should only be mixed with other players from those same divisions. 

1.06.J Grouping and Sectioning

Remove:

First round “Super Groups” for media purposes are NOT allowed unless for live coverage and previously approved by each player within the group and by the PDGA Tour Manager.

Replace With:

First round “Super Groups” for media purposes are NOT allowed unless for video coverage and previously approved by each player within the group and by the PDGA Tour Manager.

1.10.C Distribution of Prizes (new addition) 

Insert:

The required Added Cash for a tier level must be allocated across all Pro divisions based on the percentage of entry fees brought into the overall Pro portion of the event by each division. Added cash above the minimum may be allocated at the TD’s discretion.

1.08.E Reduction of Field Size

Remove 1.08.E from Reduction of Field Size

Events with more than two rounds must post payout (including all added cash) prior to the start of the last round.

Insert As 1.10.D in Distribution of Prizes 

Events with more than two rounds must post payout (including all added cash) prior to the start of the last round.

Subsequent 1.10 Re-lettering Changes:

• Original 1.10.C - “Any prizes (money or . . .“ is re-lettered to 1.10.E
• Original 1.10.D - “The usage of . . .“ is re-lettered to 1.10.F
• Original 1.10.E – “Any prizes that a player . . .” is re-lettered to 1.10.G

1.13 Youth Safety

Remove:

Players in the MJ3, FJ3, MJ4, FJ4, MJ5, FJ5, MJ6, and FJ6 divisions must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during tournament rounds.  Additionally, any player younger than 13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian regardless of the division they play in.  A single parent or guardian may be responsible for multiple junior players in the same group if agreed upon by all of the parents/guardians prior to the start of the round.  Players in the MJ1, FJ1, MJ2, and FJ2 divisions may be accompanied by a parent or guardian during tournament rounds.

Replace With:

Players in the Junior ≤12, Junior ≤10, Junior ≤08, Junior ≤06 divisions must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during tournament rounds. Additionally, any player younger than 13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian regardless of the division they play in.  A single parent or guardian may be responsible for multiple junior players in the same group if agreed upon by all of the parents/guardians prior to the start of the round.  Players in the Junior ≤18 and Junior ≤15 divisions may be accompanied by a parent or guardian during tournament rounds.

Insert (as final paragraph):

The PDGA highly recommends that Tournament Directors create their tournament schedules to ensure that all players in the two youngest age groups (Junior 08 and Junior 06) be scheduled to play no more than 18 holes in one day. Additionally, TDs should use their discretion to possibly limit the amount of daily play concerning the Junior ≤10 divisions (age 10 and younger) depending on the length and strenuousness of their course.

3.03 Player Misconduct

Of all the changes for this revision, section 3.03 of the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events, Player Misconduct, is getting the most significant overhaul. The updated verbiage utilizes more specific and clear language that focuses on the expectations of the player and the broad strokes of the potential consequences (which are further clarified as the section proceeds).  It also incorporates section 812 (Courtesy) of the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf by explicit reference and clarifies that the structures of the Rules and the Competition Manual exist in tandem, not in mutual exclusivity.

The prior language in B was repetitious (A just indicated that players are expected to behave in accordance with policies set out in this section), and the progression from A to B was not a narrowing of scope. Some language was swapped between the two sections, gendered language was removed (“sports ethics” instead of “sportsmanship”), and it is now clearer which violations may receive a warning and which do not. It also clarifies that where the Tournament Director chooses to issue a warning, a subsequent violation means automatic disqualification.

With these changes, A now indicates that players must adhere to a standard and lists the three non-mutually- exclusive ways in which punishment can be levied (by players under the Rules, by TDs under the Rules or the Competition Manual, and by the PDGA after the fact). B now outlines penalties for violation of the new standard with some examples. C now outlines four offenses that result in immediate disqualification, without a warning.

Remove:

A.  The PDGA adopts a strict policy of appropriate behavior during events, as well as appropriate comments to the media. Any conduct deemed to be unprofessional is subject to a tournament warning or immediate disqualification by the Tournament Director, and may also be subject to further disciplinary actions from the PDGA.

B.  Players are expected to behave in a professional and sportsmanlike manner while participating in a PDGA-sanctioned event. Actions that are in violation of this conduct include but are not limited to:

1. Repeated and overt use of abusive or profane language
2. Throwing items in anger (other than discs in play)
3. Overt rudeness to anyone present
4. Willful and overt destruction, abuse or vandalism of property, including animal and plant life
5. Cheating: a willful attempt to circumvent the rules of play
6. Physical attacks or threatening behavior to anyone present
7. Activities which are in violation of federal, state or local laws or ordinances, park regulations or disc golf course rules. Tournament Directors are granted the discretion to disqualify a player based on the severity of the offending conduct. An official tournament warning prior to disqualification may be issued by a Tournament Director where appropriate.
8. The possession of illegal substances in violation of federal, state or local laws. The use of marijuana is not permitted at PDGA events, regardless of federal, state or local laws, or the possession of a medical marijuana card.
9. Excessive use of alcohol or public intoxication at the tournament site.
10. Possession of alcohol from the start of play until the player’s scorecard is submitted is not allowed. Such possession shall result in immediate disqualification at PDGA events sanctioned at B-Tier or higher. The Tournament Director may, at his sole discretion, elect to issue a warning to the offending player in lieu of disqualification solely at PDGA events sanctioned at C-tier and below. If a player has been previously issued a warning for alcohol possession at the same event, all subsequent violations shall result in immediate disqualification.
11. Overt failure or refusal to enforce the rules of disc golf during competition.
12. Failure or refusal to cooperate with, or obstruction of any investigation by an official into the competitor’s conduct or the conduct of another competitor.
13. Deliberately seeking to manipulate one’s player rating through intentional misplay or withdrawal

C.  Players are required to report any player misconduct to a Tournament Official when available or to the Tournament Director directly at the completion of the round.

D.  Tournament Directors are required to report any disqualifications and player misconduct to the PDGA as quickly as possible.

E.  Disqualified players shall forfeit any prize money or merchandise and shall not receive a refund of entry fees.

Replace With:

A. All players must adhere to a professional standard of sporting ethics, courtesy, and integrity while participating in a PDGA-sanctioned event and when commenting to the media. Conduct that violates this standard is subject to courtesy violations called by players (see Rule 812, Courtesy), penalties issued by the Tournament Director, and any further disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the PDGA.

B. If a player violates the above standard, the Tournament Director may opt, in their sole discretion, to issue a tournament warning for a first offense (except as specified in subsection C, below). Otherwise, the Tournament Director will immediately disqualify the player. Actions that violate this standard include, but are not limited to:

1. Repeated and overt use of abusive or profane language.
2. Throwing items in anger (other than discs in play).
3. Overt rudeness or threatening behavior to anyone present.
4. Willful and overt destruction, abuse, or vandalism of property, including animal and plant life (see also Rule 803.03, Damaging the Course).
5. Public display or use of alcohol, even where otherwise lawful or permitted, from the two-minute warning until the player’s scorecard is submitted at an event sanctioned at C-Tier level or below (see 3.03.C.4 for penalties at events sanctioned at B-Tier or above).  This rule does not apply to L-Tier events, where, if event venue rules permit it, players of legal age may consume alcohol during the round.
6. Overt failure or refusal to enforce the rules of disc golf during competition (see also Rule 802.02.B, Enforcement).
7. Obstruction of, or failure or refusal to cooperate with, any investigation by an official into the player’s conduct or the conduct of another player.
8. Deliberately seeking to manipulate one’s player rating through intentional misplay or withdrawal (see also Rule 811.E, Misplay).
9. Activities not listed in this subsection or in subsection C, below, which are in violation of federal, state or local laws or ordinances, park regulations or disc golf course rules.

C. The following actions also violate the above standard. Players who commit one or more of these violations will not receive a warning, and will be immediately disqualified by the Tournament Director:

1. Cheating: a willful attempt to circumvent the rules of play.
2. Physical attacks upon anyone present.
3. Public display or use of illegal or prohibited substances in violation of any applicable law (national/federal, state/provincial, local/city/county, et al) from the two-minute warning to the time the player's scorecard is submitted.
4. Public display or use of alcohol at PDGA events sanctioned at B-Tier or higher, or of marijuana at PDGA events sanctioned at any Tier level, even where otherwise lawful or permitted, from the two-minute warning to the time the player's scorecard is submitted.

D.  Players are required to report any player misconduct to a Tournament Official when available or to the Tournament Director directly at the completion of the round.

E.  Tournament Directors are required to report any disqualifications and player misconduct to the PDGA as quickly as possible.

F.  Disqualified players shall forfeit any prize money or merchandise and shall not receive a refund of entry fees.

3.05.B Carts, Caddies and Groups

Remove:

Players will have the option to bring a caddie or carrying device during their round of play. Although a player’s caddie is subject to all items within the PDGA Rules of Play and the PDGA Competition Manual including the dress code. A caddie need not meet membership or certified official requirements.

Replace With:

A caddie is a person who carries a player's equipment or provides other assistance during the round. Players may designate one caddie at a time during their round. A caddie must comply with the same PDGA Rules of Play and PDGA Competition Manual their player must follow, including the dress code, although a caddie need not be a PDGA member nor Certified Official.

3.05.C Carts, Caddies and Groups

Remove:

Players choosing to use a caddie will be solely responsible for their caddie’s conduct from the two minute warning until the player’s card is turned in. Misconduct by a caddie may subject both the player and caddie to disqualification and/or suspension.

Replace With:

Players choosing to use a caddie will be solely responsible for their caddie’s conduct from the two-minute warning until the player’s card is turned in. Any penalties for misconduct by a caddie (as defined in this section and in CM 3.03, Player Misconduct) will be applied to both player and caddie.

3.08.H Tournament Director Rights and Responsibilities

Remove:

In the occurrence of an event not following the responsibilities set forth in the Sanctioning Agreement, Tour Standards, and Competition Manual, the PDGA reserves the right to demote the event in the future, or to suspend the Tournament Director from running future events.

Replace With:

In the occurrence of an event not following the responsibilities set forth in the Sanctioning Agreement, Tour Standards, PDGA Privacy Policy, and Competition Manual, the PDGA reserves the right to demote the event in the future, or to suspend the Tournament Director from running future events.