Module 3: Disc Golf Scene
Disc Golf Scene
The Disc Golf Scene (www.discgolfscene.com) is the PDGA's tournament registration partner website, providing a seamless way for Tournament Directors to collect registration information and payments, and for disc golfers to find and register for both PDGA-sanctioned and unsanctioned tournaments. Tournament Directors can either create their event pages from scratch, clone a previously-used registration page for use with a new event, or create a new registration page by following a link provided in the "Scheduled Event Confirmation" email that they receive when they sanction a PDGA event.
The Scheduled Event Confirmation Email
A link to to set up your event's pre-registration with The Disc Golf Scene is included in your PDGA Scheduled Event Confirmation email. With The Disc Golf Scene, a majority of the pre-registration work can be automatically done for you. This link will create a DGS registration page that is connected to your event, with the name, date, Tier, and your name as Tournament Director/Admin for the event. This is easier and more efficient than building out the registration page first and then sanctioning the event. This is also the only way to set up Collected Payments without contacting PDGA's Event Support Team.
Basic Tournament Information and Registration Settings
If you're building a registration page from scratch, begin on the Disc Golf Scene home page and click on the "New Tournament" button. On this initial page you can edit the name and dates of the tournament. If it’s published, anyone can see it, so if you’re still editing it, don’t publish it.
Tournament Location and Host "Club"
The location pulls from all courses listed on Disc Golf Scene, and you can add multiple courses for your event if needed. All tournaments must be associated with a course in DGS’s database. This is distinct from the PDGA Course Directory. If you need to add a course, it can take 24 business hours to be approved and added to the database (meaning weekend days and holidays do not count). The next step is to select the host club for the tournament. All tournaments must be associated with a “club” in DGS’s database. Clubs can be traditional clubs, businesses, or even individuals. You can only add a club if you’re listed as staff for that club on Disc Golf Scene. Once again, if you need to add a new club, it can take 24 business hours to be approved (meaning weekend days and holidays do not count).
Playing Formats
There are multiple playing formats that you can choose from, as well as different restrictions on participants. Be sure to also choose the amount of added cash that matches your event’s tier.
Enabling Online Registration
If you’re looking to host registration on Disc Golf Scene, click the “enable online registration box”, which will create many more options for you to fill out.
Collecting Registration Fees
When setting up online registration, you can choose to have funds go to the club/organizer's PayPal account or Collected Payments. If you choose to use PayPal, you need to have a verified PayPal account to host registration on Disc Golf Scene. We highly recommend that this is a business account. Also, make sure it is a verified PayPal account linked to a bank account and take action to remove all transaction limits. Do not use a new PayPal account if you’re taking in a lot of money at once to start, as this may flag PayPal's internal security protocols and cause your account to be locked. Finally, make sure to turn on the guest payment option on your PayPal account. All of these aforementioned PayPal details are listed in the Disc Golf Scene FAQ page for PayPal. If you have not run a tournament on DGS with your PayPal account before, verification of your ability to run online registration may take up to 24 business hours (meaning weekend days and holidays do not count). If you need to change the tournament PayPal account, you need to request it through the “change account” link in Settings.
Collected Payments is an alternative method for receiving registration funds. This is a benefit only for PDGA-sanctioned events. The PDGA collects the money on your behalf, holds it in escrow, and issues checks via USPS as requested. Two checks are complimentary; further checks cost $1 to cover postage. A best practice for those who use Collected Payments is to request a check early on that covers things like permitting, porta john rental, player packs, and other expenses early in the event timeline. Issue the balance shortly before the event for expenses later in the timeline and payouts. Players may use PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and credit/debit card when signing up for an event using Collected Payments.
Generally, TDs should leave the checkboxes regarding validation and PDGA non-member fees alone. DGS is smart enough to ensure these are not applied outside the correct Tier of event. The only exceptions are CEP Developmental events and Women’s Global Event tournaments.
Registration Opening and Closing Dates
Choose a registration opening date that is when the earliest registrants will be able to sign up. It’s recommended that you have a registration start date at least a month before your tournament. Earlier is usually better, but too early can cause problems. Registration should close at least 2 days before the tournament, but again, too early can cause problems.
Select Playing Divisions
You can select as many or as few divisions as you’d like. Be sure to enter an entry fee for each division you’d like to offer. If you know you’d like to have a cap on those divisions, you can enter that cap in now.
Terms & Conditions
Once you've reached the "Terms & Conditions" box you are very close to having your registration page ready for submittal. Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions before continuing - you will be bound by these terms as far as what your relationship is to Disc Golf Scene, the PDGA and your players.
Register Your Tournament
Once you’ve filled everything out, click ‘register tournament’ and your tournament page will be created. This will also create many options for you to fill out, which we’ll go further into in future modules.