What's Up at the PDGA?
What's Up at the PDGA?
Meet the Operations Team
This article series goes behind-the-scenes to highlight the structure and the people of the PDGA. Six department teams, each led by a director, make up the PDGA organizational structure: Operations, Technology, Marketing, Event Support, Membership & Growth, and Competition. All report to the executive director. Above pictured: Mike Downes, Director of Operations.
Operations Overview
In many organizations, “operations” occur behind-the-scenes, and entail the administrative and supportive tasks that allow the rest of the organization to function. In short, “operations” builds and maintains the structures – both organizational and physical – that are the framework for the PDGA.
The operations department manages the facility at the International Disc Golf Center in Appling, Ga., where the PDGA is headquartered. The IDGC crew performs upkeep and maintenance of the International Disc Golf Center, including the three championship courses on site, and the “Steady” Ed Museum. The operations team also manages the IDGC Pro Shop and runs multiple events at IDGC throughout the year.
Administration, human resources, insurance and accounting are all performed or assisted by the operations team, as well as other tasks in support of the executive director and the board of directors. These functions are performed wholly or in-part at the PDGA’s headquarters offices within the IDGC.
Finally, the operations department, led by Operations Director Mike Downes, oversees three committees that perform critical tasks for the PDGA: the Medical Committee, the Technical Standards Committee, and the Disciplinary Committee.
The Medical Committee meets monthly to discuss and create initiatives with the intent to help improve both the current and future health and wellness of the disc golf community. The committee also advises the PDGA Board of Directors, when requested, on matters of policy which have a medical element.
The PDGA Technical Standards Working Group is responsible for testing equipment submitted for PDGA approval. The tests are conducted either by an independent laboratory or by a working group member with the expertise and equipment necessary to measure the physical attributes.
The Disciplinary Committee investigates and makes recommendations to the PDGA Board of Directors in dealing with extraordinary disciplinary matters.
The Team
- Mike Downes, Director of Operations
- Ginny Sweeton, Office Manager/HR
- Nate Michalove, IDGC Manager
- Samuel Northrop, IDGC Assistant
- Nathaniel Samsel, IDGC Assistant
- Mark Wetherell, Senior Accountant
Committees:
Note: The PDGA Disciplinary Committee members are kept anonymous.
Operations – Current and Future Projects
The top current priorities for the operations team include final preparations and organization for the inaugural Champions Cup - a new professional disc golf major tournament that will take place next month at the Jackson course at IDGC in Appling, Ga. Similarly, preparations are ongoing for other 2022 and 2023 PDGA majors, with RFPs for 2024 majors coming soon.
Strategic partnerships are another ongoing focal point. Relationships are growing between the PDGA and a number of others including the Disc Golf Pro Tour, National Amateur Disc Golf Tour, World Flying Disc Federation and college disc golf entities. Future events under the oversight of the operations team include the Magnolia Open – a women’s event, The Southeast Junior Championships in July, and the first-ever IDGC Masters Championship in September.
Initiatives at the IDGC include celebrating 15 years in operation in 2022. Improvements are in-motion across the facility, from the expansion of the pro shop to adding features to the disc golf courses on the site.
Outreach in schools, communities, clubs and recreation programs remain important tasks for the operations team.
Meanwhile, the PDGA Medical Committee has sub-committees researching a variety of topics including gender, and prohibited substances. The Medical Committee also monitors and develops PDGA policies specific to player safety and well-being, including the Mid-Event Weather Suspension and Cancellations Guidelines Policy.
The Technical Standards Working Group is currently looking into the development and application of post-production modifications and how they may affect disc and flight characteristics. This group has also overseen a record number of disc and target approvals in 2021, with 131 discs and 16 targets, and this work continues.