The PDGA is pleased to announce these three countries, on three different continents, as its latest national partners, bringing the total of affiliated countries to 52 — 54 when USA and Canada are included.

Mongolia

Course opening ceremony. Photos: Disc Golf Mongolia

In Mongolia, local dynamo Sukhbold Gombojav #269858 began by building a 9-hole portable basket course in 2023 on a tree farm amidst rolling grasslands just outside of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. By mid-2024, the facility had been upgraded to a permanent 18-hole layout, with basket donations from the PDGA's Marco Polo Program and the Paul McBeth Foundation (PMF). In late June, a visiting PMF team helped finalize the design and trained Subo as a TD while running the 1st ever sanctioned event in country, the Mongolia Open. Now Subo is organizing a monthly series, while using the nine portables to give demonstrations at schools and to local officials across the capital region. In his own words, “school children are proud to see professional athletes and learn from their role models, I dream that Mongolians will one day compete internationally.” The portable targets will also serve well during the long and brutal Mongolian winter by facilitating indoor play. For lots more info, photos and videos, see Disc Golf Mongolia’s Facebook page here.

Puerto Rico

While there has long been a small Puerto Rican disc golf community, it wasn’t until last September that the island’s first permanent track – Playa Lucia — was installed near the beach in the south-eastern municipality of Yabucoa with baskets donated by Dynamic Discs. The local team is spearheaded by Patrick O’Neill #197347 and Brittany Hertle #273090, who moved to the island in 2022 and founded Traveling Chains PR. They organized the inaugural PDGA event in late 2023 and in early 2024, registered the non-profit Federación Puertorriquena de Disc Golf. This coming December the Playa Lucia Open will upgrade to the Caribbean region’s first-ever B-Tier. Given its proximity to “mainland” USA, it will not come as a surprise if the Isla del Encanto quickly becomes a popular winter holiday disc golf destination. Visit Traveling Chains PR to start planning your PR “putting in paradise” vacation.

Uganda

The PMF has also, together with UPlay, and funding support from PDGA, played a huge role in the introduction and rapid growth of the game in the East African nation of Uganda. Their charitable projects there began in late 2022 with the installation of a small 9 hole course on the grounds of a school and orphanage in the humble Lake Victoria side village of Katosi. But their primary effort is centered on Ndejje University, close to the capital, Kampala. Ndejje is the region’s leading sports oriented academic institution, and the host of every second edition of the East Africa University Games. PMFs Project Driver is Israel Muwanguzi #258835. His efforts to date include developing a local basket making cottage industry and applying for the fledgling national association, Disc Golf Uganda, to be recognized by the National Council of Sports. In June, Israel led a team of local trainers who organized clinics at 15 schools in 9 northern districts and two cities. Most recently, he directed the first Uganda Junior Championships which drew a remarkable 148 competitors, the largest PDGA event to date on the African continent. All we can say is WOW! You can find lots more insights into the development of our beautiful game in the “Pearl of Africa” here.

Details how your country can become PDGA affiliated can be found in our International Program Guide. Learn more about PDGA International and the Marco Polo program here.