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Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events

2.01 Qualifications

Last updated: Monday, December 9, 2024 - 13:20
  1. Players are not allowed to enter a division for which they are ineligible due to their membership status, player class, gender, age, or player rating. Please see the Divisions, Ratings, and Point Factors table.
    1. Gender-based eligibility is governed by the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions.
    2. Age-based eligibility relies on the player's year of birth, not their actual birth date. For example, a player who turns 40 in a given year is considered to be 40 for eligibility purposes for that entire year.
  2. A player is solely responsible for knowing what division(s) they are eligible to compete in. Entry into an ineligible division may result in disqualification from the event and/or suspension from PDGA events (see 2.02 for exceptions).
  3. After the close of registration, players may not request to change their division unless their division has three or fewer people. Players must request this prior to the start of competition. TDs may approve or deny this request in their sole discretion.
  4. If, after the start of an event, a Tournament Director discovers that a player is in a division they are not eligible for, they may move that player to the correct division for subsequent rounds, but only if both of the divisions played the exact same layout. If not, the player must be removed from the event.
  5. Players may not compete more than once in a single event, unless that event:Players are allowed to compete in their scheduled round(s) once per event, unless the event:
    1. has different divisions competing on different days; and
    2. those days are listed as distinct entries in the PDGA calendar and;
    3. the player is competing no more than once per distinct entry on the PDGA calendar.
  6. A player must properly identify themselves by name and PDGA number when competing in a PDGA-sanctioned event. Players who wish to remain anonymous or who assume a false identity will be disqualified from the event and face potential suspension from the PDGA tour.
  7. Professional players playing in a Professional division compete for money. Amateur players playing in a Professional division may only accept money by becoming a Professional, or they may decline money and accept only a trophy (if one is available) to retain their Amateur status (see 1.10.A and 1.10.B). However, Amateurs who accept cash at PDGA Leagues do not become a Professional or lose their Amateur status by doing so (see 1.14.C.3).
  8. Players playing in an Amateur division compete for trophies and/or prizes.
  9. Players who are eligible for gender-based divisions may compete in mixed divisions if they wish, but players who are only eligible for mixed divisions may not compete in gender-based divisions.
  10. An Amateur player may compete in any Professional division for which they are eligible based on age, gender, and event format.
  11. A PDGA Professional member may only compete in Amateur divisions in select cases (see 2.04).
  12. A Tournament Director may limit the divisions they wish to offer at their event by listing only the divisions they plan to offer on their registration form.  If a division is offered and at least four eligible players register for that division, that division must be held.  If fewer than four eligible players register for an offered division or a division does not have four eligible players at the close of registration, it is at the Tournament Director's discretion whether to hold the division or not (see 1.03.H).  Tournament Directors are strongly encouraged to offer divisions which are otherwise underserved (see 1.02.C.2.c) and to hold such divisions even if fewer than four eligible players register.
  13. PDGA members shall be allowed to play in any division that they are eligible for, if that division is offered by the Tournament Director. All local rules which force a player to move up divisions based on previous performance are invalid and are not applicable at PDGA-sanctioned events.

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Disc Golf Rules and Standards