Exceptions

Some exceptions to first-come, first-served are appropriate to reward local clubs and volunteers for their grassroots work and service, to give the Tournament Director (TD) a useful tool to raise money for a tournament that benefits all of the event’s players, and to allow TDs to prioritize growing specific demographics of the sport in their area as they find appropriate.

1. None of these exceptions apply to PDGA Majors or PDGA Elite Series events, as those events already have established registration criteria through their event agreements with the PDGA. A-Tiers that are held concurrently with an Elite Series event may utilize these exceptions.
2. In all cases, any use of Exceptions must be completely transparent and publicly posted at least 48 hours prior to the opening of registration in order to provide the opportunity for any player to meet the requirements to be included within the specific Exception(s).
3. The below-listed permitted exceptions (2, 3, & 4) classed as Unlimited, Limited, and PDGA Affiliate Club, are the ONLY exceptions allowed for PDGA-sanctioned events beyond a complete 100% first-come, first-served registration.

Unlimited Permitted Exceptions

These Unlimited Permitted Exceptions are not limited by percentage of event spots, but the specific early registration tiers for the Unlimited Permitted Exception must be first-come, first-served to any player who meets the specific requirements of that registration tier. TDs may offer tiered registration based on:

1. PDGA Player Ratings to give higher-rated players priority (Examples: Elite Series events, USADGC).
2. qualification through PDGA-sanctioned qualifier events that were publicly available to all players. (Example: PDGA Worlds, USDGC, USADGC, or a Points Series Finale).
3. specific divisions that are otherwise underserved. These are limited to female-only divisions, junior divisions, or senior (age 50 and older) age-based divisions.
4. current PDGA membership.

Limited Permitted Exceptions

Usage Requirements:

1. TDs may use one or more of the three below-listed Limited Permitted Exceptions, but at no time may they allocate more than one-third (33%) of an event’s player spots in total to any combination of the Limited Permitted Exceptions used. Two-thirds (67%) of the event spots must remain for first-come, first-served registrations.
2. If the event has assigned Pro/Am class caps for registration, no more than one-third (33%) of the Pro spots and one-third (33%) of the Amateur spots may be allocated in total to any combination of the Limited Permitted Exceptions used. Two-thirds (67%) of the event spots must remain for first-come, first-served registrations for both Pro and Amateur.
3. If the event has divisional registration caps, no more than one-half (50%) of the spots in any division may be allocated to any combination of the Limited Permitted Exceptions used. One-half (50%) of the event spots must remain for first-come, first-served registrations within any offered division.
4. The Limited Permitted Exceptions are as follows:
   

   1. Affiliate Club Membership Exception

      TDs may offer tiered registration to the registered members of local disc golf clubs who are hosting, running, or otherwise facilitating the event’s success and who are registered as PDGA Affiliate Clubs. Club membership must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Affiliate Club Membership Exception if they so choose.

   2. Event Sponsorship Exception

      TDs may offer tiered registration to players who agree to sponsor the event (or an event sponsor’s designated player) at a level determined by the Tournament Director. The sponsorship opportunity must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Event Sponsorship Exception if they so choose.

   3. Volunteers Exception

      TDs may offer tiered registration to volunteers for their work in prepping the course etc., for the event at a level determined by the TD. That volunteer opportunity must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Volunteer Exception if they so choose.

PDGA Affiliate Club Permitted Exception – “Club Members Only” Events

1. PDGA Affiliate Clubs with large numbers of members may run a PDGA-sanctioned event where registration is open only to the registered members of the PDGA Affiliate Club. See the International Program Guide for what constitutes an Affiliate Club outside the United States and Canada.
2. Club membership must not be exclusive and must be publicly posted so anyone can meet the requirements to be part of the Affiliate Club if they so choose.
3. Registration must be first-come, first-served to all the Affiliate Club members.
4. Since they are not open to the general public, such events will be designated as an “X” Tier (XC, XB, XA, etc.), and the event name must include the phrase “ – Club Members Only Event” (example: “Shooting the Breeze with the Augusta DGC – Club Members Only Event”).