Dear Pro Worlds Competitor,

It’s my great honor to officially welcome you to the 2023 PDGA Pro World Championships presented by L.L. Bean at Smugglers’ Notch Resort! This letter serves as official event confirmation for registered players and provides you with more details about the event, the resort, and the surrounding area for planning and reference during your visit to Vermont.

The event team is made up of Smugglers’ Notch Resort and PDGA staff and includes support from the Disc Golf Pro Tour, Disc Golf Vermont, and the State of Vermont. This team, along with a host of hundreds of volunteers from around the New England region have been working hard to prepare, and will be on site for over two weeks, to execute the greatest disc golf event that we’re able to muster. Without the sustained efforts of this group of dedicated folks, the event would not be possible. Our entire event team has my sincere thanks, especially the assistant Tournament Directors of this event, Shawn Mercy and Sean Jack, along with the fantastic team of people at Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center, led by Nick Hover.

It has again been both a long and short journey to this event. It was only 5 years ago that we hosted our first PDGA Pro World Championship at this iconic venue. The Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center is now one of the rare venues that will have hosted a second Pro Worlds and third PDGA Major Championship (2019 Pro Masters Worlds), along with six DGPT events. This has all happened in the span of the 12 seasons since inception, when we broke ground on the Brewster Ridge Disc Golf Course in 2012. Ever since that summer, it’s been a wild ride as the course has become well loved, the Green Mountain Championship well established, a second course (Fox Run) was installed, the event grew to include three Majors, and we watched as Brewster and Fox because the #4 and #7 ranked courses in the World (UDisc).

As time has passed, we’ve all stayed connected to the sport of disc golf as our central, driving passion. In this case, our team here at Smugglers’ is rooted in presenting elite competitive disc golf through the lens of the Green Mountain State. This means progression to evolve the courses to keep up with the best throwers in the sport, but also to challenge all aspects of the consummate pro’s game; accuracy through woods, placement at distance, control of the disc through end of flight, ground play, and shot shaping. And of course, one of our key principles is highlighting the natural beauty of the area that we’re playing disc golf in and through.

In addition to on-the-course goals, we are motivated by the spirit of disc golf and look to integrate it into the fabric of this event. We embrace its core values of camaraderie, community, health, well-being, and a connection to nature. Those benefits interlock with the values of our Vermont community and we are very proud to be a part of a sport that integrates a care and love for all those who share the sport with a love for the environment that we play it in.

World’s Week, August 26 through September 3, is going to be truly special! We are very excited to offer the event entirely onsite at Smugglers’ Notch Resort (except for field events, which is 5 minutes away). As a competitor, all you need to do is get here and we can help take care of the rest. With both courses on resort property, everything within walking distance, and an on-demand shuttle system you can park your car and leave it there for the week! This includes our premier off-course event, Fiddlehead’s FallFest, which is two nights of live music, craft libations, and local food on the Village Green of Smugglers’ Notch Resort.

Please read through this welcome letter and confirmation packet closely, as there are many event details that we would like everyone to be tuned into! Thank you tremendously for joining the PDGA and all of us here at Smugglers’ for a wonderful week in the Green Mountains!

Updates from Smuggs: Course Changes & Lots of Rain!

We’re proud to share some upgrades and changes to the courses since last year’s iteration of our DGPT event, the Green Mountain Championship. This year FPO will play all blue tees on both courses and MPO will play all Gold tees. On many holes tee boxes are separated. On some holes tee boxes are shared. In the past, FPO has played a mix of Gold and Blue on Brewster, but we’ve updated the tournament layout for simplicity. The Caddy Books for both courses are now published and available for your review, attached to this email.

Brewster Ridge will see its first significant update in five years! We’ve made notable changes to the following 5 holes:

Hole 3: New Gold Tee

Hole 8: New MPO Tee, green extended, now Par 5

Hole 14: New tee for both divisions, split FPO / MPO basket locations

Hole 18: New extended green and basket placement

Fox Run will also see some changes:

Hole 1: New tee placement

Hole 7: New OB lines to accommodate property boundary buffer.

Hole 8: Par 3 instead of a Par 4. New FPO Tee.

Hole 12: Par 5 with new tees for FPO & MPO.

Hole 13: Slightly lengthened green.

Flooding & Fundraising to Help with Flood Relief

Please note that the State of Vermont has seen record rains this summer, including a devastating flood that impacted hundreds of thousands residents. We’re raising money to make a charitable donation to the Cambridge Area Rotary Club who is managing flood relief funds for the local area.

Additionally, and as a result of all this rain, the courses have been VERY wet. The ground throughout the State of Vermont is simply saturated, meaning continued rains have created very challenging ground conditions.The Smugglers’ and DGPT crews have been working non-stop to prepare the course, and many people have worked very hard to make all paths and holes as fortified as possible. That said, please understand the immense challenge of this task and be aware that it is very likely that there will be wet areas on the course and pathways. Please proceed with caution and know that we’ve dedicated all available resources to prepare both courses.

Practice Rounds Tee Time Sign Ups & Credentials

As of 8/21, both Brewster Ridge and Fox Run are currently set up in their final event layouts (sans raised baskets on Fox which go in Wednesday 8/23)! Practice rounds in the run up to worlds are as follows:

• Monday, 8/21 - Friday, 8/25: Competitor Practice is reserved on one of the two courses each day during this time period.
  • Players will be responsible for paying their greens fees. Please make a tee time by calling the Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Pro Shop or checking in there.
  • You’re welcome to make a tee time on either course. However, please note that general play will be happening on one of the two courses, and the other is reserved for Worlds Practice. Here’s the reservation schedule for players:
    • Monday: Fox Run
    • Tuesday: Brewster Ridge
    • Wednesday: Fox Run
    • Thursday Brewster Ridge
    • Friday: Fox Run
• Saturday, 8/26 - Tuesday, 8/29: Free Competitor Practice is reserved on both courses for the 4 days leading up to Round 1. Players must reserve tee times here:
  • 2023 Pro Worlds Practice Round Tee Time Sign Up Sheet
  • Please follow the directions in the sheet when signing up for your tee time and playing your practice round.

Caddie Books

The official caddie books for the event have been released with this information as well! Please review all pertinent information and let us know if you have any questions.

Competition & Event Schedules

Attached to this packet you will also find the official competition schedule as well as the general event schedule. Smugglers’ Notch Resort has rolled out the red carpet for the competitors in order to provide a truly exceptional and unique experience both on and off the course. Please review the events that we have lined up for you during the week, join us for them, and spread the word to friends and family that are also in attendance!

Smuggs FallFest

The most notable event off the course is the two-night FallFest celebration. Running over both Friday and Saturday nights, FallFest features four acts of live music, a slate of Fiddleheads finest craft beers, some of Vermont’s best cider, and delicious local food. Ticketed at $40/night or $59/both, this event is only $20 for both nights for competitors! Please note that friends and family do have to purchase tickets to get in and we encourage you to spread the word on how fun these nights will be! Many disc golf fans from around the country are booking lodging and tickets to the event in order to pair it with a fun spectating weekend, so don’t wait as FallFest may sell out! Also, please consider sharing this with your networks! We hope you join us, not only for FallFest, but for the array of events we have lined up for competitors throughout the week.

Parking & Transportation

Parking for players will work as it has in recent years with players, with player parking at Bootlegger’s Basin, where the warm-up facility is located. There are golf cart shuttles from player parking to Tournament Central. Please allow 15 minutes of transportation time from player parking/warm-up area to Tournament Central. Before the event begins, players may park at Tournament Central (AKA Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf & Outdoor Center). Here’s the schedule:

Player Parking Schedule:

Before Tuesday, August 29th: Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center

Tuesday August, 29 - Sunday, September 3: Bootlegger’s Basin

Tournament Central won’t have any car parking this year at all starting on Tuesday, August 29th when the vendor set up will take up all the parking on site. August 4th - Sunday, September 3rd. Parking at the Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center outside of those dates is free. We have set up a free shuttle system to get players to and from the competition venue from Bootlegger’s Basin This shuttle system will run from 7am-7pm daily from the following places:

Shuttle From the Resort Village:

Players staying and parking in the resort Village will have on demand access to shuttles that will run from individual condos and the Welcome Sign at the end of the main parking lot directly to Tournament Central. 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Daily. Free. Please allow 20 minutes of travel time to and from the venue.

RV & Van Parking

We do have a limited number of RV & Van parking spots at Bootleggers Basin (at the Fox Run Course) that competitors can register for! Players that choose to buy passes will receive their overnight parking passes at the Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center. They will give you access to your own spot all week. These will cost $10 for a night or $50 for a week and include shower access, a bathroom trailer, and more. For all details and to purchase overnight parking please visit the ticket site:

RV & Van Overnight Parking Registration

Sponsors & Partners

Lastly, we want to thank lead sponsors and partners for joining us in making this event as great as it can be for all involved!

Partners

• Presenting Partner: L.L. Bean - This is a wonderful moment for the sport thanks to the belief and support that L.L. Bean has showed for disc golf!
• Premier Course Partner: Discraft - The annual presenting partner of the GMC has stepped up to provide the same target on both courses and a high level sponsorship of the event as a whole
• Smugglers’ Notch Resort - The resort and their support of the sport of disc golf can be regarded as second to none! The leadership of Bill Stritzler, owner of Smugglers’, has allowed for these courses to flourish into a world wide destination and one of the best competition locations that we can offer for Pro competitions
• Brinster Design - Steve Brinster’s design has helped shape the courses and tournaments at the Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center for the past 10 years. Many Thanks!

Lastly, this event is also about celebrating Vermont, particularly this beautiful corner of it called Smugglers’ Notch. Surrounded by the mountains of the Sterling Range and Mt. Mansfield (Vermont’s tallest peak) the town of Jeffersonville serves as home to many different businesses, artists, farmers, recreational activities and, of course, Smugglers’ Notch Resort. There are so many wonderful facets to this area that work together to create a unique community designed to delight visitors, entertain and welcome families, and provide a sense of connection with the land that seems increasingly rare. Many of the people and businesses in, not only Jeffersonville, but the entire Vermont and New England area have come together to contribute to this event. We all hope you enjoy your time in our home and get a full chance to take in all the activities that are offered this weekend and in the surrounding area.

Once again, thank you for attending the 2023 PDGA Pro Disc Golf World Championships at Smugglers’ Notch Resort! We hope you truly enjoy your stay. Please be on the lookout for updates as we approach the event and travel safely! We’ll see you soon.

Best,

Jeff Spring
Tournament Director
2023 PDGA Pro Worlds
Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vermont
[email protected]
802-730-6397