Last year, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) embarked on one of the most significant efforts of its 33-year history by partnering with the renowned charitable organization St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Through St. Jude’s peer-to-peer fundraising platform, approximately 200 disc golfers raised more than $230,000 for the kids of St. Jude! This amazing feat was culminated at the inaugural St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational where some of the 200 competed in the event and others, including clubs from around the country, joined together to help in this philan-throw-pic effort.  

This year, we are challenging ALL disc golfers to step up and reach out to show the world the true spirit of disc golf. Whether you raise $10 or $10,000, you will make a lasting impact on the lives of kids and families of St. Jude.  The disc golf industry has committed to this event and now all we need is YOU.

As PDGA Executive Director, Brian Graham #5861 can attest, "Our member driven organization is forming a partnership with a very powerful, national charity organization. This partnership will be pivotal in helping to propel disc golf to the forefront of professional sports while bringing about the notoriety we have all dreamed of and know disc golf deserves."

We are excited to announce that the PDGA is gearing up once again to raise awareness and funds for the kids of St. Jude. The 2nd Annual St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, 2016, on two of the most amazing courses ever constructed for disc golf at Bayonet Golf Course in Seaside California. Overlooking Monterey Bay, players will be treated with absolutely stunning views, rolling terrain, huge trees, and abundant white-sand bunkers on two epic courses that will be constructed for this 2nd annual event.

The tournament has been given tremendous support by a number of key sponsors including Disc Golf Association (DGA), Gateway Disc Sports, Innova Disc Golf, Legacy Discs, Prodigy Disc, Vibram Disc Golf as well as industry partners including DiscGolfPark, Discraft, DUDE Clothing, Dynamic Discs, Kinetic Disc Golf, Latitude 64, and Whirld Sports.

Charity = Growth

To help explain why this is so monumental for the sport of disc golf, it's important to understand the history of professional ball golf. We need a quick review of some Professional Golf Association (PGA) history.

As we look at professional golf, most of us may not realize that back in 1974 the PGA's total yearly purse was only about $8,000,000. To put that in perspective, the PDGA's total purse in 2015 year was just over $2,900,000.

In the 20 years from 1974 to 1994, the PGA's total purse skyrocketed from $8 million dollars to well over $100 million; and it's now approaching the $300 million mark. In that same time span, the golf industry grew from being in the millions of dollars to now being in the billions!

One of the primary changes that lead to this spectacular growth was the PGA's decision, under the leadership of Deane Beman, to turn all its major tournaments into charity events. Other program changes were, of course, implemented, like building stadium courses and naming events for the main sponsors. However, those familiar with PGA history have long recognized that it was the implementation of charity events that became one of the primary catalysts that launched their organization to the “next level.”

Now it’s our turn!  The main focus of our event is to raise money for the kids of St. Jude. This is our chance to “pay it forward.”  We need to direct our energy, spirit, and passion for disc golf toward raising money for this amazing cause. What this effort and association with St. Jude could mean for professional disc golf is hard to measure but as many can attest, it raises the stakes dramatically.  

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

The primary way we’ll be raising money will be through an online peer-to-peer effort. It’s easy to set up an account and we encourage you to approach family, friends, and co-workers with an opportunity to sponsor you in support of this cause.  Once people know that the money is going to such a remarkable institution, they will be happy to contribute. All the donations are tax deductible and go directly to St. Jude. We also encourage asking your employers to consider matching any donations that you raise.

Our goal is to get the entire disc golf community participating in this peer-to-peer effort. Playing in the event will certainly be awesome but it’s what we do off the field that matters most.  There are still spots available to play in both the Pro and Am divisions, so get signed up if you can make it.  Otherwise please sign up and begin to participate as a fundraiser.  It’s very easy to do and the tools provided make it simple to reach out to friends, family, and coworkers.  Look at what just 200 people were able to raise last year!

Several Player Ambassadors have stepped up to the tee to support this fundraising effort including:

• Catrina Allen #44184
• Jonathan Baldwin #18114
• Steve Brinster #10628
• Nate Doss #11794
• David Feldberg #12626
• Sarah Hokom #34563
• Avery Jenkins #7495
• Valarie Jenkins #17495
• Paul McBeth #27523
• Paige Pierce #29190
• Steve Rico #4666
• Will Schusterick #29064
• Nate Sexton #18824
• Paul Ulibarri #27171
• Dana Vicich #26228
• Ricky Wysocki #38008

Every little bit you can do will go to this great cause.  Visit www.stjude.org/discgolf right now to start fundraising. There you’ll find information about the event and if you click the “Become a Fundraiser” button, it will take you through the simple steps to begin raising money for the kids.  Please note that there will be incentives along the way.  It won’t just be the best scores awarded at this event; it will also be the best fundraisers!

The Unity Disc

6 companies. 1 great cause. The Unity Disc.

This year, we're excited to announce that the push to raise money for St. Jude now includes a new initiative, The Unity Disc. For the first time in recent history, manufacturers have agreed to put their competitors’ names on their own discs, uniting their efforts to bring in as much money as possible for this amazing organization. 

DGA, Gateway Disc Sports, Innova Disc Golf, Legacy Discs, Prodigy Disc, and Vibram Disc Golf have all teamed up to produce rare runs on premium plastics, available online for $20 each.

Each manufacturer will be producing a limited number of these St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational discs. Purchasers can select their brand of choice for individual purchases or choose to purchase all six at once, meaning you will receive one from of the each manufacturers. For every disc sold, $16 will be donated directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Disc golf is not just about throwing discs into baskets using power and finesse; it’s also about courtesy, honor, respect, and sportsmanship.  We have an amazing story to tell. This is our chance to shine a light on it to the world!

In the end, this partnership will not only do great things for the children of St. Jude and to the treatment of life-threatening childhood diseases, it will do amazing things for our beloved sport; that has everything to gain by giving back. 

Join us as we “Throw for Life”.

Also, join the St. Jude Disc Golf family on Facebook where you’ll be kept current on all the exciting news that is quickly unfolding!