2021 Elite Series Season Update: LVC, All Star Weekend & COVID-19 Policy 

As the 2021 Elite Series season approaches, we are pleased to provide several updates regarding the start of the Tour. Currently, the Disc Golf Pro Tour can confirm that the season is planned to start on schedule with the Las Vegas Challenge presented by Innova from Feb. 25 - Feb. 28, 2021.  The PDGA National Tour is also expected to begin on schedule at the Texas State Disc Golf Championship Presented by Latitude 64, in Tyler, Texas, on March 26 - 28. 

The DGPT and PDGA have been monitoring the pandemic and its effect on each early season venue closely. While the DGPT successfully navigated tour operations during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it’s now clear that the season will begin with higher COVID-19 rates of transmission across the country than when the tour operated in 2020. In response, the DGPT has been re-assessing its COVID-19 Policies & Best Practices document and is now working with the PDGA in an attempt to align the document with the National Tour. 

An alignment of policies between tours will give all competitors standard guidelines to follow and standard discipline when policies are not followed. The DGPT will continue to administer and manage the COVID-19 policies and best practices program for both NT and DGPT events in 2021, bringing continuity and standardization to the process. While the process of updating the COVID-19 Policies & Best Practices document continues, competitors and fans should expect an additional update in the coming weeks that will communicate a comprehensive 2021 plan regarding the pandemic.

Similar to 2020, event confirmations remain on a six-week and two-week planning and communication schedule. Six weeks out from an event, the program administrators will assess with the local organizing committee whether or not an event will proceed given the current COVID-19 levels on-site. If the administrators and event teams are confident, they will proceed into the final planning and execution phase of the event. Two weeks out from an event, the administrators will determine in which phase the event will operate. 

At this time, the Disc Golf Pro Tour expects the LVC to be under a Phase One designation. No caddies or spectators will be allowed at the event, though the final Phase designation will be made and communicated two weeks out in alignment with the policy. 

Additionally, due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the Disc Golf Pro Tour All-Star Weekend has been moved to the weekend of Feb. 20. The event will take place at Fountain Hills Disc Golf Course in partnership with the Fountain Hills Disc Golf Club through coordination with Club President Marty Coplea. The final event format will be announced in the coming weeks. It will be a Phase One event due to local restrictions that will remain in place through the event; caddies and spectators will not be allowed. Final broadcast details will be made available in the coming weeks. The All-Star Weekend will be available live on the Disc Golf Network.