Why are you forced to be a PDGA member to compete in the biggest tournaments? I personally wouldn't have joined the PDGA the last two years if I wasn't forced to in order to play in the VO, WVO and USDGC. If an Open player can't find enough value in being a member, then why is he forced to be? I'm not trying to troll here, I truly would like to hear some reasons.

I think the opposite question is relevant here. Why shouldn't a player have to be a member to play in ALL PDGA sanctioned events? Many other sports that have been discussed on this D-Board require membership to play any of their sanctioned events. If anything, our current policy that only requires membership for our top tier events is more liberal than many sports.

I think the opposite question is relevant here. Why shouldn't a player have to be a member to play in ALL PDGA sanctioned events? Many other sports that have been discussed on this D-Board require membership to play any of their sanctioned events. If anything, our current policy that only requires membership for our top tier events is more liberal than many sports.



Well said Chuck.

I personally feel that current membership should be required for B Tiers and higher.

I wouldn't make it necesary for C's and D's simply b/c they are more for promotion of the sport it seems.

As a side note, requiring membership for B-tiers has been attempted and quickly repealed in the past. It still comes up for discussion among the Competition Committee each year. However, purely from an economic standpoint, the PDGA fares pretty well by getting the $5 nonmember fee at B & C tiers. So it's hard to say whether requiring membership would actually be a net benefit overall for boosting both growth in competitive players and the PDGA. Since the PDGA has strong and weak regions in terms of PDGA membership, the current policy, including D-tiers, provides appropriate options for a location based on their development and potential draw of PDGA members.

I think the PDGA has it right on this. It seems like a great blend of inclusivity (welcoming to newcomers) and exclusivity ("ownership" for members).

Regarding making B-Tiers members-only, I personally do not see any real value of offering B-Tiers in this part of the world. C-Tiers are well attended and I think the incremental increase in prestige of B-Tiers is offset by the increased costs. The only real difference is PDGA points earned......and I hear no real buzzz about that among players.

That said, I think TD's in these parts would sanction their current B-Tiers as C's if the PDGA forced membership for B's. That would be a negative for the PDGA and for the handful of players that do care about earning PDGA points.

Why are you forced to be a PDGA member to compete in the biggest tournaments? I personally wouldn't have joined the PDGA the last two years if I wasn't forced to in order to play in the VO, WVO and USDGC.

I think you answered the question in the sentence immediately following the question. Most sports organizations require you to join to participate in their sanctioned events at ALL levels. The PDGA allows $5 day-of memberships for B and C-tiers which is a little more liberal than most.

Anyone who does not see the value in a PDGA membership is not likely to join. Part of the value is that it is necessary to join to play the M/NT/As.

Thanks for the responses. Keep them coming!

t's not "forced membership."

No one forced you to join. You always had a choice.

It's "members get to play," because it's their club.

If you believe in this sport, you owe it to yourself and the sport to be a member, regardless of events.
Just imagine all the people who belong to the NRA who don't shot in competition. Look at all the USGA members who don't compete. The American Motorcycle Assoc. has thousands of members who don't race. On the other hand there are millions of pot smokers who don't belong to NORML.
The point is, if you play , you should support it. Without the PDGA, disc golf would not be where it is today. Check the history. It's like supporting your grandparents.

No one forced you to join. You always had a choice.





Not true in every case.

Yeah. I heard in North Korea the Great Leader is forcing people to join the PDGA unwillingly. And then there's the Phi Upsilon Kappa (Upsilon Pi Sigma chapter] fraternity where joining the PDGA is part of their hazing process. But I have a friend who went through AKAK hell week and at the end of the week when they told him he was now a member he told them to stick it up their you-know-what, so even there strong willed individuals retain their ability to choose.

No one forced you to join. You always had a choice.





Not true in every case.



greatest hawkgammon post ever :D

I have not really seen any reasons supporting forced membership here except the "blind unconditional support" argument by drdisc.

You must be a PDGA member to participate in a PDGA sanctioned event (C-Tier and above). The same as most other sports.




The real question is why are non-members allowed to purchase temp memberships in order to compete in B and C tier events. :cool:

At least the integrity of our organization is being questioned at such a young age...

No one forced you to join. You always had a choice.





Not true in every case.



when you learned of your renewal, did you request the PDGA office return the money to the respective parties and not make your membership current? :confused: there might still be time :eek:

You must be a PDGA member to participate in a PDGA sanctioned event (C-Tier and above). The same as most other sports.

The real question is why are non-members allowed to purchase temp memberships in order to compete in B and C tier events. :cool:

You wind up with a chicken and egg problem otherwise, as Brian graham pointed out. Why would large numbers of players join the PDGA if there were no PDGA tournaments? And why would a TD run a members only tournament if there were no PDGA members? Allowing day-of memberships allows the camel to get his nose under the tent, where I guess all the chickens and eggs are hiding, but maybe camels are vegetarians...

Not true in every case.



How could it NOT be true? Nobody has to play in a tournament. That is your "other" option, while it might not be one that you would like to choose, it is still a choice.

You must be a PDGA member to participate in a PDGA sanctioned event (C-Tier and above). The same as most other sports.

The real question is why are non-members allowed to purchase temp memberships in order to compete in B and C tier events. :cool:

You wind up with a chicken and egg problem otherwise, as Brian graham pointed out. Why would large numbers of players join the PDGA if there were no PDGA tournaments? And why would a TD run a members only tournament if there were no PDGA members? Allowing day-of memberships allows the camel to get his nose under the tent, where I guess all the chickens and eggs are hiding, but maybe camels are vegetarians...



Guess we need to attract some foxes.

The fact is........No one is forcing you to play PDGA tournaments!!! No one is forcing you to be a PDGA member............The bottom line is no one is forcing you to do anything!!! It cost money for the PDGA to do things and support sanctioned events and if you like playing in them you pay if you dont then dont!!! But if you people really want to make a statement stop paying your PDGA dues stop posting on here and go somewhere else!!! Continuing to pay and post on this board is not doing you any good!!!

And oh wait.........Even if you stop paying and stop posting there are others who will pay and keep posting so in all reality it really doesnt matter what you do because the PDGA is going to survive without or with your money and with or without your constant complaining!!!

So either stop paying and stop posting or stop talking about how unfair and exspensive it is!!!

I second that,it costs money to keep up with ratings,nice user friendly website (try going to the PGA's website),etc..

I have not really seen any reasons supporting forced membership here except the "blind unconditional support" argument by drdisc.


Hey Vince - seems like a little stirring of the pot to me buddy :) Make of what you will - call it blind unconditional support if you want. That concept is not totally without merit after all. But you seem to discount the whole notion of the PDGA acting as a sanctioning body - being a legitimate reason to have fees associated with their sanctioned events. I think that is the root of it. Many folks find some form of value in sanctioned events, so TD's offer sanctioning - other folks find value elsewhere and forego sanctioning. It's the individuals choice as to where they choose to play.

There is also that little thing we all like called competition.
If you want to play with/against the best, then you have to play where they play.