| Professional Disc Golf Association | |
| Abbrev: | PDGA |
| Sport: | Disc golf |
| Category: | Flying disc sports |
| Jurisdiction: | Global |
| Headquarters: | Appling, GA |
| Chairperson: | Nate Heinold, President of the Board |
| Chiefexec: | Doug Bjerkaas, Executive Director |
The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and sustainable growth of disc golf.[1] The PDGA is the global governing body of disc golf.[2] The organization promotes the sport through tournament development, course development, rules[3] and competitive standards,[4] media and sponsor relations, and public education and outreach.
As of September 1, 2023, the current PDGA Board of Directors consists of Board President Nate Heinold, Board Vice President Wilbur Wallis, David Schreff, Geoff Hungerford, Laura Nagtegaal, Leah Tsinajinnie, and Conrad Damon.[5]
The PDGA is a membership organization with Professional-class and Amateur-class members who pay yearly dues to belong to the organization.
Strategic planning and oversight is handled by the Board of Directors,[6] usually comprising seven Board members elected by the active PDGA membership from a pool of candidates who must themselves be PDGA members in good standing. Potential candidates submit materials to the Nominating Committee, who determine the candidates who will actually appear on the ballot.[7] Board members serve three-year terms, and elections are staggered such that only two or three members of the Board are elected each year. In 2023, Nate Heinold was re-elected to his third term on the Board and Geoff Hungerford was elected to his first full term after serving 30 months as an appointed replacement for Will Shusterick.[8] In 2022, Laura Nagtegaal was re-elected to her fourth term on the Board and Conrad Damon was elected for the first time since his prior service (1999-2002).[9] [10] In 2021, the members elected Leah Tsinajinnie, David Schreff, and Wilbur Wallis to their first terms on the Board.[11] Tsinajinnie, Schreff, and Wallis's spots will be up for election in 2024.
The Board votes to elect a presiding officer, the Board President, and a Vice President. The other three Board members are Directors with no specific role. Board decisions require a quorum of four members, and most decisions are made by majority vote.
The PDGA's corporate officers are the Executive Director, Doug Bjerkaas, and the Deputy Executive Director, Michael Downes. The corporate officers manage the staff and report to the Board.
The PDGA also has a professional staff[12] that handles tactical planning and day-to-day operations, led by the Executive Director. The staff perform the critical functions of the PDGA, including organizational operations, membership services, quality control and operations at large events, support for tournament directors and events of all sizes, marketing and media, and technological advancements and event administration tools.
Finally, the PDGA has a team of volunteers. The State Coordinators,[13] Province Coordinators,[14] and Country Representatives[15] manage the event calendars and serve as a front-line point of contact between the organization and the grassroots local clubs and Event Directors.
The PDGA's Committees are primarily volunteer-based, with most having a liaison from the staff and the Board. The current Committees are:
Legislative Committees
Policy Committees
Constituent-Based Committees
Majors are the highest level of disc golf competition. The current PDGA Majors held annually are: the Professional, Amateur, Masters, and Junior Disc Golf World Championships; the United States national championships (United States Disc Golf Championship, United States Women's Disc Golf Championship, United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship, Tim Selinske United States Masters Championships, and the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships); the European Open; and the PDGA Champions Cup.[16] The current FPO World Champion is Kristin Tattar, and the current MPO World Champion is Isaac Robinson.[17]
The Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) is the Official Pro Tour of the PDGA.[18] [19] [20] The DGPT is a private enterprise which partners with the PDGA (and in which the PDGA has a minority ownership interest). In addition to the 14 main medal play events and the DGPT Match Play Championship, the top touring pros can qualify for the DGPT Tour Championship, a seeded bracket of knockout golf performed at the end of every tour season. The 2022 DGPT Champions are Missy Gannon (FPO) and Ricky Wysocki (MPO).[21]
The PDGA International Disc Golf Center features a modern clubhouse with 2700square feet of amenities, art, and disc golf attractions. The clubhouse is home to the Ed Headrick Memorial Museum, which showcases many historical items from the early days of the sport including the first prototype Disc Pole Hole[22] and flying discs from the Frisbie Pie Company pie pan, to the Frisbee(c), to today's modern high tech golf discs.
The IDGC also features the World Disc Golf Hall of Fame.[23] Located in Wildwood Park Columbia County, Georgia on Clarks Hill Lake. It is 22 miles from Augusta, Georgia. This 975 acre park is home to PDGA Headquarters and holds three disc golf courses.
Courses at the IDGC
The "Steady" Ed Headrick Memorial Course,[24] [25] presented by DGA, features special edition Mach III baskets on rolling terrain along the shores of Clarks Hill Lake. The course was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famers, Chuck Kennedy and Tom Monroe. Multiple target locations and tee areas make it very adaptable for all levels of play.
The Jim Warner Memorial Course[26] [27] is the newest course at the International Disc Golf Center. It features Discraft Chainstar targets and was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famer, Jim Kenner,[28] [29] with assistance from Ron Russell and Pad Timmons. It is currently unavailable for play due to the effects of a Southern pine beetle infestation.
The WR Jackson Memorial Course[30] [31] is the longest and most challenging course at the IDGC. This course was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Famer, John Houck, and features Innova DISCatcher baskets set in a very challenging championship configuration. It is currently unavailable for play due to the effects of a Southern pine beetle infestation.