PDGA Official Guidelines of Disc Golf and Competitors Handbook Up to date for 2024

The Official Rules of Disc Golf (ORDG), the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events (CM), and the PDGA Tour Standards undergo some degree of revision annually. Proposed modifications are first vetted by Committees, workers, and the PDGA World Board of Administrators after which evaluated through a public comment period open to all PDGA members. Pursuant to that suggestions, edits and alterations are often made to some of the proposals. An inventory of all of the modifications for 2024 – first main, then minor, then a rundown of some clerical issues – is right here to your reference. They go into impact on January 1, 2024. 

Main Adjustments

Official Guidelines of Disc Golf

803.01 Transferring Obstacles

This vastly broadens the realm through which gamers could transfer informal obstacles. This modification responds to requests from gamers that the principles grant the power to clear informal obstacles from a bigger space to accommodate a run-up.

B. 1. A participant could transfer informal obstacles which are on the taking part in floor the place a supporting level could also be positioned when taking a stance farther from the goal than the entrance fringe of the lie.

808 Scoring

All gamers will now be required to maintain rating for the entire group. This ensures even distribution of scoring duties and maximizes scoring integrity. It additionally limits scoring penalties to the participant who submitted the inaccurate scorecard.

A. The participant listed first bears main duty for selecting up the group’s scorecard(s). Every participant should maintain an impartial scorecard recording scores after every gap for your entire group. A participant who refuses to maintain rating could also be topic to disqualification.

B. Gamers within the group maintain rating proportionally, except a participant or a scorekeeper volunteers to maintain rating extra and that’s acceptable to all gamers within the group. Gamers could delegate scorekeeping duties solely to their designated caddie.

C. After every gap has been accomplished, the scorekeeper data every participant data the rating for each participant within the group in a fashion that makes every rating clear to each participant within the group. Any warnings or penalty throws are to be famous together with the rating for the opening.

. . .

F. All gamers are accountable for reconciling and submitting their scorecards copy of the scorecard inside half-hour of when their group completed their spherical. A participant whose scorecard isn’t submitted who has not submitted their scorecard on time receives two penalty throws.

. . .

G.2. If a participant submits a scorecard the place their the whole rating or any gap rating is gap scores are incorrect, improperly recorded, or lacking, two penalty throws are added to the proper whole rating. These penalty throws should not added when the rating has been adjusted for different violations decided after the participant had submitted an in any other case appropriate scorecard.

G.3. A participant isn’t penalized if one other member of their group submits an incorrect scorecard.

Competitors Handbook for Disc Golf Occasions

1.05 Observe Rounds, Starting Play, Late Arrivals

This revision works alongside the revision to 808 within the ORDG. Scoring laws pertaining to gamers now are within the ORDG and people pertaining to TDs are within the CM. 

G. The Event Director should present no less than two scorecards to every group a scorecard to every participant within the group, to be saved independently of each other. These scorecards could also be digital or bodily, as long as they meet the necessities in  808, Scoring. of the identical medium or of various media.  Every member of the group ought to be given the chance to look at the scorecards and every member of the group should agree on an official scorecard and submit it by whichever technique the Event Director has designated because the official scoring technique for the event. Any participant who denies the chance to a different participant within the group to look at and confirm the official scorecard receives two penalty throws.

1.06 Grouping and Sectioning

This strikes the power to randomly combine divisions for the primary spherical of a C-Tier. Please word that this alteration will solely apply to america and Canada per the International Program Guide.

B.4. C-Tier occasions have the choice to randomly combine divisions for groupings (first spherical ONLY) with the exception that Junior ≤15, Junior ≤12, Junior ≤10, Junior ≤08, and Junior ≤06 divisional gamers ought to solely be combined with different gamers from those self same divisions.

1.09 Ties

This defines the time period “sudden-death play,” codifies correct procedures for sudden-death tiebreakers, and introduces the choice for TDs to make use of an mixture playoff.

B. Besides the place famous beneath in 1.09.D, remaining ties for first place in any division should be damaged by sudden-death play. Additionally, if If ties are being damaged for the discount of area dimension, they additionally should be damaged by sudden-death play. Not at all ought to another technique equivalent to scorching spherical, head-to-head scores, and many others. be used to interrupt a tie for first place. 

1. Sudden-death play is a format the place the participant or gamers with the bottom rating on a gap transfer on to the subsequent gap and all different gamers are eradicated. When just one participant has the bottom rating on a gap, that participant has received the tiebreaker and sudden-death play is over. The Official Guidelines of Disc Golf and the Competitors Handbook apply throughout sudden-death play, however the throws don’t accrue to the gamers’ scores.

2. An mixture playoff is a kind of sudden-death play the place the opponents play a set of 6 or fewer holes which have been introduced by the TD, the place the bottom rating on all holes wins the playoff. Gamers who’re tied after an mixture playoff proceed to plain sudden-death play on those self same holes, except a special set of holes has been introduced by the TD.

3. Sudden-death play, together with mixture playoffs, shall start, wherever potential, on the identical course and structure because the earlier spherical on gap primary except a special course, gap, or collection of holes is designated by the Event Director previous to the beginning of the event. 

4. Staff Play Sudden-death play should use the identical format because the earlier spherical (e.g., medal play, match play, crew play) except one other format is designated by the Event Director previous to the beginning of the event. In crew play, every crew is taken into account a participant for the needs of this part. Any sudden-death format that makes use of crew play to interrupt ties for an occasion carried out wholly as singles play, or that makes use of singles play to interrupt ties for an occasion carried out wholly as crew play, should accomplish that for a compelling aggressive cause and should be authorised previous to the beginning of the occasion by the Director of Occasion Assist.

5. The precise order through which gamers tee off for sudden-death play shall be decided by random draw (e.g., numbered taking part in playing cards, choosing tee positions from a hat, and many others.).

6. Within the case of a tied gap throughout sudden-death play, the teeing order for the subsequent gap will rotate from the order used on the simply accomplished gap, such that the participant who teed first on the earlier gap relative to the remaining gamers will now tee final, the participant who teed second will now tee first, and so forth.

7. Throughout an mixture playoff, the teeing order will as an alternative rotate within the method described by 802.02, Order of Play.

8. If the mixture playoff ends with two or extra gamers nonetheless tied, the teeing order will rotate:

a. within the method described by 802.02 to set the teeing order for the primary gap of sudden-death play; and

b. within the method described by 1.09.B.6 for the rest of sudden-death play.

9. Gamers could decline to take part in sudden-death play. Their rating and money or prizes can be decided as if that they had declined to take part in a semi-final or remaining among the many tied gamers (see 1.08.D).

3.02 Tempo of Play

This addition codifies the idea of placing a gaggle “on the clock,” defines what being “on the clock” means, and descriptions the related procedures. It additionally clarifies that tempo of play applies to teams in addition to people.

A. All opponents shall play with out undue delay and make each effort to maintain up with the group in entrance of them. Undue delay means delays in play, aside from as permitted by rule, that have an effect on the tempo of play of the group behind them.

B. Gamers and teams are anticipated to rapidly transfer directly from the completion of 1 gap to the teeing space of the subsequent gap. Any undue delay shouldn’t in order to not have an effect on the tempo of play inside of the group behind them. Additionally, whereas advancing down the golf green Throughout play on a gap, a participant or group shall not unduly delay play trigger undue delay by their actions or inaction.

C. A participant inflicting undue delays could also be issued an extreme time violation by settlement of the taking part in group or a Event Official (see 802.03, Excessive Time).

D. If a gaggle as an entire causes undue delay, every participant ought to be issued an extreme time violation by a Event Official (see 802.03, Excessive Time). Examples of this embody:

1. A bunch remaining by the goal of a accomplished gap to report scores.

2. A bunch that neglects to begin the clock or implement the time restrict when trying to find a misplaced disc (see 805.03, Lost Disc).

3. A bunch whose actions unrelated to play halt or gradual play.

E. If, within the sole discretion of the Event Director or a delegated Event Official, a gaggle is inflicting undue delay, that group could also be placed on the clock. 

1. On the clock signifies that a Event Official will accompany the group and actively time every participant to make sure their play conforms with 802.03, Excessive Time and with 3.02.A-D and can situation warnings and penalty throws accordingly.

2. The Event Official should notify the group that they’re on the clock in a fashion comprehensible to all gamers. 

3. When a gaggle is now not inflicting undue delay, they arrive off the clock. Off the clock means a Event Official is now not actively timing their play. 

4. When a gaggle comes off the clock, the Event Official should notify the group that they’re off the clock in a fashion comprehensible to all gamers.

5. A bunch that’s repeatedly placed on the clock could obtain penalties as described in 3.02.C. and 802.03, Excessive Time.

3.03 Participant Misconduct

This removes the TD’s discretion to situation a event warning for public show or use of alcohol at C-Tier degree and as an alternative requires disqualification. This modification additionally gives a extra particular definition for “event warning.”

B. If a participant violates the above normal, the Event Director could choose, of their sole discretion, to situation a event warning for a primary offense (besides as laid out in 3.03.C). A event warning is a kind of warning whose results persist by all rounds and sudden-death play. In any other case, the Event Director will instantly disqualify the participant. Actions that violate this normal embody, however should not restricted to: . . . 5.Public show or use of alcohol, even the place in any other case lawful or permitted, from the two-minute sign till the participant’s scorecard is submitted at an occasion sanctioned at C-Tier degree or beneath (see 3.03.C.4 for penalties at occasions sanctioned at B-Tier or above). This rule doesn’t apply to Leagues, the place, if native regulation and occasion venue guidelines allow it, gamers of authorized age to take action could devour alcohol through the spherical (see 1.14.C.4).

C. The next actions additionally violate the above normal. Gamers who commit a number of of those violations won’t obtain a warning. and can be instantly disqualified by the Event Director: . . . 4. Public show or use of alcohol at PDGA occasions sanctioned at B-Tier C-Tier or increased, or of marijuana hashish (aside from as permitted by the CBD Product Use Policy) at PDGA occasions sanctioned at any Tier degree, even the place in any other case lawful or permitted, from the two-minute sign to the time the participant’s scorecard is submitted. This rule doesn’t apply to Leagues, the place, if native regulation and occasion venue guidelines allow it, gamers of authorized age to take action could devour alcohol through the spherical (see 1.14.C.4).

Part 4: Majors and Elite Collection

This new part pulls collectively Majors and Elite Collection-specific laws that beforehand had been scattered throughout the CM and Tour Requirements, and provides some provisions concerning caddies, check-in, and scoring. Related clerical modifications are enumerated beneath.

4.01 Applicability

A. All components of the Official Rules of Disc Golf, sections 1-3 of the Competitors Handbook for Disc Golf Occasions, and the PDGA Tour Standards are in impact for all PDGA Majors and Elite Collection occasions except in any other case specified on this part. Occasions of different Tiers which are run as half of a bigger Elite Collection tour, equivalent to DGPT Silver occasions, are thought-about to be Elite Collection occasions for functions of this part.

B. Nothing on this part shall apply to another occasion, besides as in any other case specified within the Official Guidelines of Disc Golf, sections 1-3 of the Competitors Handbook for Disc Golf Occasions, or the PDGA Tour Requirements.

C. Provisions of this part could modify or prolong penalties detailed within the Official Guidelines of Disc Golf, Competitors Handbook for Disc Golf Occasions, or the PDGA Tour Requirements past the unique applicability of these penalties.

4.02 Eligibility

A. MPO gamers should have a minimal ranking of 935 and FPO gamers should have a minimal ranking of 825 on the time of registration to compete in a PDGA Main or Elite Collection occasion.

B. There isn’t any minimal ranking for eligibility to compete at PDGA Majors or Elite Collection occasions for another division.

C. All gamers should be Licensed Guidelines Officers with a certification expiring after the conclusion of the occasion to be able to register for and compete in any PDGA Main or Elite Collection occasion.

4.03 Caddies and Teams

A. A caddie is somebody who walks with a participant throughout play.

B. The taking part in group consists solely of:

1. the gamers themselves; and

2. every participant’s particular person caddie; 

and could also be accompanied by:

3.  chaperones, the place required (see 1.13.B); and

4. any lively event workers as decided by the TD; and 

5. any credentialed media. 

No different folks could also be with the taking part in group. All others (together with gamers who’ve already completed their spherical) are thought-about spectators and should stay in designated spectator areas away from the taking part in group. 

C. Caddies at occasions should all the time show a caddie credential if on the course throughout play or in a player-only space. If no credential is supplied or out there, the participant should determine their caddie to their group previous to the beginning of play.

D. A caddie can’t be positioned or directed to behave as a visible reference or information and is taken into account a directional support in any such occasion (see 813.02 B, Unlawful System).

E. All different violations of this part are courtesy violations (see 812.C, Courtesy) relevant to the participant the caddie is accompanying.

4.04 Participant Code of Conduct

A. The prohibition on the general public show or use of tobacco merchandise in 3.03.G applies to all PDGA Main and Elite Collection occasions within the following methods:

1. On the PDGA Junior World Championships, the general public show or use of tobacco merchandise by occasion workers, gamers, and by extension their caddies, is prohibited always.

2. In any respect different PDGA Majors and Elite Collection occasions, the general public show or use of tobacco merchandise by occasion workers, gamers, and by extension their caddies, is prohibited from the two-minute sign till the official scorecard is submitted.

B. All gamers in PDGA-sanctioned competitors and event workers shall gown appropriately and to take care of a clear and well-groomed look in any respect occasion websites and related capabilities.

1. All gamers shall put on an higher garment overlaying their higher chest space and decrease torso. A well-tailored shirt with a collar is suitable, with or with out sleeves. A well-tailored one-piece tennis gown or higher garment with minimal one-inch-wide shoulder straps can be acceptable. Tank tops should not allowed for any competitor.

2. T-shirts should not allowed as a participant’s outermost higher garment, apart from opponents in Junior and Novice divisions throughout preliminary rounds. Juniors and Amateurs shall not put on tee shirts throughout semifinal or remaining rounds. Crew neck or v-neck shirts made from high-performance or high-tech supplies (together with cotton/poly blends with wicking options) are allowed.

3. Shirts that grasp down decrease than the underside hemline on the participant’s shorts shall be tucked in.

4. No ripped shirts, shorts, or pants are allowed on the course. This contains unhemmed clothes, or clothes with torn or lower “vents” on the shirt collar.

5. No offensive, profane, or obscene slogans or logos are allowed on any clothes. Junior gamers could not put on slogans or logos referring to alcohol, tobacco, or medicine.

C. This gown code can be in impact from begin to end at every occasion, together with all event rounds.

D. Gamers who haven’t made a lower and who’re on website on the event are thought-about spectators and should not required to adapt to this gown code.

E. All violations of this part by any participant or caddie shall be thought-about a courtesy violation (see 812, Courtesy).

F. All gamers are requested to be out there to any and all media whereas on website besides throughout or inside half-hour of the beginning of a aggressive spherical.

4.05 Checking In and Starting Play

A. Pre-tournament check-in is required for all gamers at Majors and Elite Collection occasions.

B. Any participant who doesn’t examine in by the point specified by the Event Director shall forfeit their official place and entry charge.

C. At occasions utilizing a staggered begin with scheduled tee occasions, gamers should additionally examine in with the starter at least 5 minutes previous to their tee time and be current on the beginning gap for the 5 minutes previous their tee time every day. 

D. Gamers who don’t examine in with the starter by this time or who should not current on the beginning gap for the 5 minutes previous their tee time obtain two penalty throws.

E. If a participant is later deemed to be absent for the primary gap below 811.F.5, Misplay, then the penalty in 4.05.D doesn’t apply. The participant solely receives the penalty for being absent. 

4.06 Scoring

A. If the PDGA Digital Scorecard is the official scoring technique of a PDGA Main or Elite Collection occasion:

1. In MPO and FPO divisions, no less than one participant within the group should use the Digital Scorecard for scoring; and

2. All gamers should use both the Digital Scorecard or a paper scorecard for scoring.

B. In staggered begin play with scheduled tee occasions, all members of the group should proceed to the scoring space instantly after completion of the spherical. Completion of the spherical is when all gamers in a gaggle have holed out on the ultimate gap of the spherical. 

Tour Requirements

A-Tier Necessities: Observe Days and Required Divisions

These additions tighten up the necessities for the participant expertise at what can be, for a lot of opponents, the premier occasion Tier of their taking part in careers.

Official observe days: Course(s) should be set within the event format and out there for observe for at least 6 daylight on or earlier than every day for the prescribed variety of days for the corresponding Tier famous above. The occasion’s gamers should be knowledgeable of the precise observe availability hours for all official observe days previous to the beginning of the observe days. No sanctioned occasions or different tournament-related occasions that forestall or impede these observe hours could happen on the course(s) through the day instantly previous to the start of competitors.

Required divisions: Event Administrators at A-Tiers should provide, at a minimal, each the highest combined and girls’s divisions  primarily based on the category and/or age of the fields the occasion is meant for, except the occasion is just utilizing Rankings-Based mostly Divisions. For instance:

a. Professional-only A-Tiers should provide MPO and FPO.

b. Am-only A-Tiers should provide MA1 and FA1.

c. Professional-Am A-Tiers should provide MPO, FPO, MA1, and FA1.

d. Professional-only Masters-only A-Tiers should provide MP40 and FP40.

e. Am-only Masters-only A-Tiers should provide MA40 and FA40.

f. Masters-only Professional-Am A-Tiers should provide MP40, FP40, MA40, and FA40.

g. Professional-only gender-based A-Tiers should provide FPO.

h. Am-only gender-based A-Tiers should provide FA1.

i. Professional-Am gender-based A-Tiers should provide FPO and FA1.

j. Junior-only A-Tiers should provide MJ18 and FJ18.

Minor Adjustments

Official Guidelines of Disc Golf

802.05 Lie

This clarifies how the road of play behaves when a taking part in floor ends.

D. In all different circumstances, the lie is a rectangle that’s 20cm huge and 30cm deep, centered on the road of play behind the rear fringe of the marker disc. The road of play is the imaginary line on the taking part in floor extending from the middle of the goal by and past the middle of the marker disc. If that taking part in floor ends, the road of play continues on the closest taking part in floor following that line. The marker disc, or marker, is the disc used to mark the lie in keeping with 802.06.

803.02 Reduction from Obstacles

This modification permits aid from dangerous bugs or animals if they’re in entrance of the lie. Beforehand, a participant wouldn’t be entitled to aid if such dangerous bugs or animals had been instantly in entrance of the lie. Persons are additionally eliminated as obstacles; folks within the fairway must be handled by the Event Director.

A. A participant could get hold of aid from the next obstacles which are on or behind the lie: dangerous bugs or animals, folks, or any merchandise as designated by the Director. To acquire aid, the participant could mark a brand new lie that’s on the road of play, farther from the goal, on the nearest level that gives aid (except better aid is introduced by the Director).

806.05 Hazard

This clarifies the interplay between adjoining hazard and OB areas.

B. The road defining the perimeters of the hazard space is a part of the hazard space. If a line is shared between out-of-bounds and a hazard space, the road is taken into account a part of the out-of-bounds space. 

811 Misplay and QA-MIS

This eliminates what is actually a duplicative rule (given the overlap with 805.01.C and present 811.F.3) whereas giving interpretive steerage in a brand new Q&A.

2. Fallacious Goal. The participant has accomplished play on a goal that isn’t the proper goal for the opening being performed. If no subsequent throw has been made, play continues from the ensuing lie. If the goal is a basket goal, then the disc is above the taking part in floor and play proceeds in keeping with 805.01.C. If the participant has teed off on the subsequent gap, two penalty throws are added to the rating for the misplayed gap.

The rest of the subsections in 811.F will transfer up one quantity. Then a brand new QA-MIS-7 is added:

Q: My disc landed in a basket goal that isn’t the proper goal for the opening being performed. What do I do subsequent?

A: Deal with the goal like another impediment and mark your lie on the taking part in floor beneath the disc (see 805.01.C) and throw your subsequent throw. When you discover that you simply mistakenly have performed the subsequent gap (or completed the spherical) with out ending the opening appropriately, then you have got failed to finish a gap. See 811.F.2.

QA-LIE-1

This gives much-needed readability to a standard state of affairs: a bridge spanning an OB creek.

Q:
My throw landed on a bridge that spans an OB creek. Do I play from the bridge, or is my disc OB because it’s above the creek? What if I’m on the bridge however over land?

A:
A bridge is an instance the place one taking part in floor is vertically stacked above one other taking part in floor. Every taking part in floor is handled independently. The bridge is in-bounds except the TD has declared it to be OB, no matter whether or not a taking part in floor above or beneath it’s OB. If the two-meter rule is in use, it doesn’t apply as a result of your disc is on, not above, the taking part in floor. You mark your lie on the bridge, and there’s no penalty.

The TD might want to make clear their intentions on this state of affairs. If the course guidelines are unclear, use a provisional. Usually, if the perimeters of the water are the OB line, then if the disc is totally inside that space whatever the merchandise it’s resting on, then the disc is taken into account OB. The out-of-bounds line extends a vertical aircraft (806.02.F). If any a part of your disc is over the in bounds shore, then your disc is in bounds.

Competitors Handbook for Disc Golf Occasions

1.02 Event Registration

Defines “in a well timed vogue” for posting registration tiers and exceptions, mandates that registered participant lists be posted on the PDGA occasion web page, and makes varied clerical corrections. Moreover, this introduces a brand new registration tier for present PDGA members.

C.1.b. In all circumstances, any use of Exceptions should be fully clear and publicly posted in a well timed vogue and in a fashion that gives no less than 48 hours previous to the opening of registration to be able to present the chance for any participant to satisfy the necessities to be included inside the particular Exception(s).

. . .

2. Limitless Permitted Exceptions

These Limitless Permitted Exceptions should not restricted by proportion of occasion spots, however the particular early registration tiers for the Limitless Permitted Exception should be first-come, first-served to any participant who meets the precise necessities of that registration tier. TDs could provide tiered registration primarily based on:

a. TDs could provide early registration tiers primarily based on PDGA Participant Rankings to provide higher-rated gamers precedence (Examples: Elite Collection occasions, USADGC).

b. TDs could provide early registration tiers primarily based on qualification by PDGA-sanctioned qualifier occasions that had been publicly out there to all gamers. (Instance: PDGA Worlds, USDGC, USADGC, or a Factors Collection Finale).

c. TDs could provide early registration tiers primarily based on particular divisions which are in any other case underserved. These are restricted to female-only divisions, junior divisions, or senior (age 50 and older) age-based divisions.

d. present PDGA membership.

. . .

3.d. The Restricted Permitted Exceptions are as follows:

1. Affiliate Membership Membership Exception
TDs could provide early registration tiered registration to the paid registered members of native disc golf golf equipment who’re internet hosting, working, or in any other case facilitating the occasion’s success and who’re registered as PDGA Affiliate Golf equipment. Membership membership should not be unique and should be publicly posted so anybody can meet the necessities to be a part of the Affiliate Membership Membership Exception in the event that they so select.

2. Occasion Sponsorship Exception
TDs could provide early registration tiered registration to gamers who comply with sponsor the occasion (or an occasion sponsor’s designated participant) at a degree decided by the Event Director. The sponsorship alternative should not be unique and should be publicly posted so anybody can meet the necessities to be a part of the Occasion Sponsorship Exception in the event that they so select.

3. Volunteers Exception
TDs could provide early registration tiered registration to volunteers for his or her work in prepping the course and many others., for the occasion at a degree decided by the TD. That volunteer alternative should not be unique and should be publicly posted so anybody can meet the necessities to be a part of the Volunteer Exception in the event that they so select.

4. PDGA Affiliate Membership Permitted Exception – “Membership Members Solely” Occasions

a. PDGA Affiliate Golf equipment with giant numbers of members could run a PDGA-sanctioned occasion the place registration is open solely to the paid registered members of the PDGA Affiliate Membership.

. . .

G. Occasions should submit pre-registration lists on the PDGA occasion outcomes web page, submit and waitlists on the official registration web page, pdga.com and/or the official event registration website, and replace these lists no less than weekly.

1.03 Withdrawals and Refunds

This simplifies the language for the deadline for withdrawal requests.

F. Gamers who do NOT formally request to withdraw from a registered spot taking part in within the occasion previous to the printed closure of registration and waitlist replacements and don’t play (aka a no-show), forfeit their entry charge and do NOT obtain a refund or participant’s pack. This does NOT apply to a waitlist participant; 1.03.B. Gamers who request withdrawal inside 48 hours of the beginning of play, or who request withdrawal after the printed shut of registration and the printed finish of waitlist replacements, should not entitled to a refund. If a TD fills a participant’s spot with a participant on the waitlist on the time of withdrawal after the printed shut of registration and the printed finish of waitlist replacements, however greater than 48 hours previous to the beginning of play, that participant should obtain a 100% financial refund of their entry charge.

1.04 Occasion Examine-In

This units requirements for TDs to inform gamers of check-in necessities. It additionally outlines participant check-in necessities at A-Tier occasions with staggered begins and scheduled tee occasions.

A. Pre-tournament check-in is required for gamers in Majors, Elite Collection, and A-Tier occasions and is usually recommended for all different Tiers. 

B. Any participant who doesn’t examine in by the point specified by the Event Director shall forfeit their official place and entry charge. Exceptions can be made solely on the sole discretion of the Event Director. The Event Director ought to notify gamers of check-in necessities on the registration web page or by way of electronic mail at least 48 hours previous to the earliest check-in time.

C. At A-Tier occasions utilizing a staggered begin with scheduled tee occasions, gamers should additionally examine in with the starter at least 5 minutes previous to their tee time every day. Gamers who don’t examine in with the starter by this time obtain two penalty throws. That is really helpful for staggered begins with scheduled tee occasions in any respect different Tiers. 

D. If a participant is later deemed to be absent for the primary gap below 811.F.5, Misplay, then the penalty in 1.04.C doesn’t apply. The participant solely receives the penalty for being absent. 

E. See 4.05 for check-in necessities for Majors and Elite Collection occasions.

1.06 Grouping and Sectioning

This adjusts the group dimension limits for doubles and crew play.

B. All gamers inside a division ought to be grouped for the primary spherical by way of one of many following strategies:

1. Random grouping; gamers inside a division could also be randomly grouped for the primary spherical. All Groups occasions ought to use this feature.

. . .

G. Teams shall not be greater than 5 gamers and ought to be restricted to 4 gamers each time potential. In Groups play, teams could exceed 5 gamers because of crew dimension or odd numbers of groups competing.

1.07 Suspension of Play

This provides penalties for teams who proceed to play throughout a climate delay.

H. A participant who stops taking part in earlier than a sign to cease has been given shall obtain two penalty throws if, within the opinion of the Event Director, there may be proof that the participant stopped taking part in prematurely. A participant who continues play after the announcement of an official stoppage in play shall obtain two penalty throws if there may be proof that the participant was conscious of the stoppage. 

1.10 Distribution of Prizes

These modifications make clear at what Tiers TDs could provide merchandise to Amateurs taking part in in Skilled divisions and scale back the timeframe for relinquishment of unclaimed prizes.

B. An Novice-class member taking part in in a Professionalfessional division (see 2.04.C) could NOT not settle for merchandise in lieu of money in A-Tier and above occasions; they might solely settle for a trophy (if one is accessible) at occasions sanctioned at A-Tier and above; nonetheless, they might settle for a trophy for his or her ending place if out there. All money payouts at or beneath that place would transfer down one place, inflicting an extra place to be paid. Amateurs taking part in in a Skilled division could settle for merchandise in lieu of money at different Tier ranges on the Event Director’s sole discretion. In any other case, all money payouts at or beneath that place would transfer down one place, inflicting an extra place to be paid. This doesn’t apply to Leagues (see 1.14.C.3).

. . .

G.5. Any prizes (money, trophies, or merchandise) that stay unclaimed (by no fault of the TD) six months 30 days after the completion of the occasion are then relinquished by the participant. TDs should make an affordable effort to offer the payout to the participant by contacting them, providing to ship, and many others. A participant has claimed a present certificates, present card, present code, or comparable prize upon receiving it, and this time restrict doesn’t apply to the redemption of such certificates, playing cards, codes, or comparable prizes.

3.01 Common

This broadens the ban on audible telephones and pagers to different gadgets that may trigger distractions and reorganizes clause C to enhance readability.

C. Gamers should not permitted to have audible cell phones or audible pagers on the course throughout any aggressive spherical. As well as, private music gamers and different gadgets should be used completely with private headphones and the quantity should be saved at a degree in order to not be heard by different gamers, forestall the participant from successfully interacting with their group throughout scorekeeping duties, or present a security hazard for the participant by not listening to “Fore!” calls from different gamers or warning blasts by the Event Director. Failure to work together absolutely along with your taking part in group because of private music gamers and different gadgets is taken into account a courtesy violation topic to courtesy violation guidelines and penalties. Units able to making audible sound or flashing mild should not make audible sound or flashing mild from the two-minute sign till the scorecard is submitted. 

1. If a participant’s gadget makes audible sound or flashing mild, it’s a courtesy violation (see 812, Courtesy). Nonetheless, using a tool deemed medically needed by the participant’s doctor, equivalent to a glucose monitor, shall not be a courtesy violation. 

2. Units that make audible sound should be used completely with headphones or earbuds, and the quantity should be saved at a degree that:

a. can’t be heard by different gamers;

b. permits the participant to successfully work together with their group, equivalent to scorekeeping or searching for misplaced discs; and

c. doesn’t create a security hazard for the participant as a result of incapacity to listen to warning alerts by different gamers or event workers. 

3. Failure to successfully work together with the taking part in group as required by rule because of using headphones or earbuds is taken into account a courtesy violation (see 812, Courtesy).

3.03 Participant Code of Conduct

This specifies what is supposed by “abusive or profane language” and connects it, partially, with the non-discrimination provision within the PDGA Bylaws.

B.1. Repeated and overt use of abusive or profane language, together with any remarks or feedback focused at a participant or group which are inconsistent with the PDGA’s non-discrimination rules as outlined in Section 2.4 of the PDGA Bylaws.

Tour Requirements

Make clear Event Official Necessities

This requires a Event Official to be on website at each course at each Tier besides Leagues. In Tour Requirements Desk 1, this provides “on website” after every occasion of “official” (e.g., “One official on website at every course”) and alter C-Tier to: “One official on website at every occasion course.”

Minimal Score for FPO Majors and Elite Collection Occasions 

This scores ground comes after session with the Majors & Elite Collection Committee and the Disc Golf Professional Tour. There have been fewer than 10 situations of a participant competing in FPO with a ranking below 825 throughout the twenty Main & Elite Collection occasions.

D.9. MPO gamers should have a minimal ranking of 935 to register for both PDGA Main or Elite Collection (DGPT) occasions. FPO Gamers should have a minimal ranking of 825 to register for both PDGA Main or Elite Collection (DGPT) occasions. 

Clerical Objects

Official Guidelines of Disc Golf

801.03 Appeals

This ensures this part matches 809.02.

C. If an Official or Director isn’t available to contemplate an attraction, the thrower could make a set of provisional throws for every further potential final result of the ruling (see 809.02) and later attraction the ruling to an Official or to the Director when sensible. If the lies are the identical, no further set of throws is made.

806.02 Out-of-Bounds

This clarifies that gamers should adhere to the printed course guidelines no matter whether or not a waiver was obtained for non-standard out of bounds choices.

D. . . . The above choices for an out-of-bounds space could also be restricted by the Director solely with prior approval from the PDGA Director of Occasion Assist. Whether or not or not prior approval has been granted, throughout event play gamers should nonetheless observe the course guidelines introduced by the Director.

QA-THR-1

This wording higher expresses the intent of the reply.

Q:
My throwing hand bumped a tree department throughout my backswing, knocking the disc to the bottom, and the disc rolled ahead of my lie. Was {that a} throw?
A:
No. A throw begins when the disc is shifting ahead within the supposed course. A disc dropped or knocked out earlier than or throughout a backswing doesn’t rely as a throw.

QA-OBS-3 

This modification is expounded to the revision to 803.01.

Q: My disc got here to relaxation below a protracted, fallen tree department. The department is clearly indifferent from the tree and extends from behind my disc to in entrance of it. Can I transfer the department? 

A: Sure. If a part of the department is anyplace the place you would put a supporting level when taking a stance on the taking part in floor behind the entrance of your lie, you’re allowed to maneuver it, even when one other half is nearer to the opening than the again of your marker. 

QA-OBS-4 

This modification is expounded to the revision to 803.01.

Q: A unfastened, damaged department is hanging down simply behind my marker, making it tough for me to take a stance. It’s not touching the bottom. Am I allowed to maneuver it? Do I get informal aid? 

A: No. Since it’s not on the taking part in floor the place a supporting level could also be positioned behind your marker, it has the identical standing as a wholesome, related department. You’ll have to mess around it. 

QA-OBS-8 

This modification is expounded to the revision to 803.01.

Q: There’s an enormous spider internet proper in entrance of me the place I wish to throw. Can I knock it down? 

A:  Provided that no less than a few of it’s on the taking part in floor the place a supporting level could also be positioned behind the entrance of your lie, through which case it’s particles and might be eliminated as an informal impediment. If it’s solely in your flight path or it doesn’t contact the bottom, it can’t be moved. 

QA-OB-5

This wording clarifies the rule relatively than making a rule itself.

Q:
My throw landed subsequent to an OB creek. It’s laborious to inform whether or not the disc is within the creek or not for the reason that fringe of the creek comes up into some mud and grass. One other participant went as much as my disc and pushed it all the way down to see if there’s water beneath. Is my disc now robotically in-bounds as a result of one other participant touched it?

A:
No. Notice that the interference and place guidelines are written when it comes to a disc being moved relatively than merely touched. The opposite participant didn’t change the situation of your disc. The truth is, a disc should typically be manipulated to be able to decide its standing or whose it’s. When you transfer your presumably OB disc, it’s robotically OB. However there is no such thing as a corresponding rule that makes it robotically in-bounds (nor robotically out-of-bounds) if another person strikes it. If that occurs, you restore your disc to its approximate place as agreed upon by your group.

QA-SCO-2 

This modification is a part of the revision to 808.

Q: A member of my group saved a paper scorecard, and their very own spherical and gap scores are appropriate. Nonetheless, the opposite gamers’ scores should not something like what everybody else truly threw. As a result of the penalty for a participant’s incorrect scorecard solely applies to the rating for that participant, can they try this? 

A: They don’t seem to be penalized if there’s a easy mistake for an additional participant’s rating, however randomly writing numbers down isn’t preserving rating, and that participant might be topic to disqualification by the event director. Gamers must make a superb religion effort at preserving rating and totaling up the scorecard appropriately.  On the finish of the spherical, the group ought to reconcile any variations between their scorecards earlier than they’re submitted. That can not be completed if somebody isn’t preserving an correct scorecard. 

QA-MAT-1

Eliminates reference to “further throw,” which isn’t an idea in match play, however relatively doubles and crew play.

Q:
My opponent conceded a putt, however I’d nonetheless prefer to throw the putt to maintain my placing stroke recent. Can I try this?

A:
No. As soon as your opponent concedes a puttthrow, you have got accomplished the opening. A putt thrown after that’s an additional throw. A throw after that could be a observe throw. The primary further throw incurs a warning; subsequent ones incur penalty throws. The penalty for a observe throw is added to the variety of throws it takes you to finish the subsequent gap.

Competitors Handbook for Disc Golf Occasions

2.02 Exceptions 

This strikes the regulation which prohibits Professionals taking part in Am divisions from utilizing the exceptions in 2.02 from the Tour Requirements to the Competitors Handbook.

C. Nothing on this part shall apply to Skilled-class gamers competing in Novice divisions.

1.12 Event Officers

This clarifies that Event Officers could carry digital copies of the principles, in addition to that the prohibition on Event Officers who’re taking part in making calls in their very own division applies to all Event Officers, not merely appointed ones.

D. Every Event Official should carry copies of the event/course guidelines, the Official Guidelines of Disc Golf, and the Competitors Handbook always. These copies could also be printed or digital.

E. If an appointed any Event Official competes within the event, they might NOT not officiate for any ruling inside their very own division aside from as a member of a taking part in group as allowed by the principles.

1.11 Officers

This modification strikes gadgets into the brand new Part 4 of the Competitors Handbook.

C. All gamers should be Licensed Officers to be able to compete in any Elite Collection or Main PDGA-sanctioned occasion. The examination relies upon the Official Guidelines of Disc Golf and the Competitors Handbook. 

3.03  Participant Misconduct

This modification strikes gadgets into the brand new Part 4 of the Competitors Handbook.

G. The general public show or use of tobacco merchandise by occasion workers, gamers, and by extension their caddies, is prohibited always at PDGA occasions of any Tier that solely provide Junior divisions (i.e., divisions starting with MJ and/or FJ prefixes), together with the PDGA Junior World Championships. Such public show or use can be prohibited at occasions held concurrently with PDGA Main and Elite Collection occasions. For insurance policies at PDGA Majors and Elite Collection occasions, see 4.04.A. Such public show or use can be prohibited in any respect different PDGA Majors and Elite Collection occasions, in addition to these occasions held concurrently with these Main and Elite Collection occasions, from the two-minute sign till their scorecard is submitted. 

1. This prohibition contains all smoking and chewing tobacco merchandise, in addition to digital and vapor cigarettes, whether or not tobacco-based or not. This prohibition doesn’t apply to smoking cessation merchandise that don’t produce vapor, equivalent to nicotine gum, nicotine patches, or nicotine lozenges. . . . 

3.04 Costume Code

This modification strikes gadgets into the brand new Part 4 of the Competitors Handbook. After the beneath language, the rest of three.04.D is struck and moved to 4.04 as detailed above.

D. The next gown code for all opponents can be enforced in any respect PDGA Elite Collection and Main Occasions. The PDGA additionally recommends that this the gown code in 4.04 be enforced at A-Tier and decrease Tier occasions, however that call lies solely with the Event Director. 

3.05 Carts, Caddies, and Teams

This modification strikes gadgets into the brand new Part 4 of the Competitors Handbook and clarifies the standing of suspended and disqualified gamers.

G. In PDGA Majors and Elite Collection occasions, the group consists of the gamers themselves, every participant’s particular person caddie, any lively Event workers equivalent to leaderboard attendants, Event Officers, and many others. and any credentialed media ONLY. No different folks could also be with the taking part in group. All others (together with gamers who’ve already completed their spherical) are thought-about spectators and should stay in designated spectator areas away from the taking part in group. Nobody who’s at present below suspension (as listed within the Present Disciplinary Actions) or who has been disqualified from: 

1. the occasion itself; 

2. a separate day of the occasion as outlined in 2.01.E; or 

3. a concurrent occasion of a special Tier (equivalent to an A-Tier held concurrently with an Elite Collection occasion); 

could act as a caddie for that occasion. 

3.06 Tour Participant Media and Sponsor Relations

This modification strikes gadgets into the brand new Part 4 of the Competitors Handbook.

B. All gamers at PDGA Elite Collection and Main occasions are requested to be out there to any and all media whereas on website besides throughout or inside half-hour of the beginning of a aggressive spherical. 

B. C. Media personnel ought to chorus from interviewing a participant till AFTER Gamers shouldn’t interact in media interviews till after they’ve formally submitted their scorecard to event officers. 

C. D. Essentially the most present details about media at PDGA occasions might be discovered within the PDGA Media Coverage doc.

If in case you have questions on how these modifications function, please be happy to succeed in out to PDGA Event Support. If in case you have questions in regards to the PDGA’s rulemaking course of, please contact PDGA Policy & Compliance.

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