Tournament Directors Guide | Australian Disc Golf

NOTE: This guide has been substantially updated for 2025. Please review in full even if you are familiar with the guide from previous years.

Tournament directors (TDs) are an integral part of what makes our sport great. It’s thanks to the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of TDs that events are able to be facilitated for the greater disc golf community as well as bring new players into our growing sport.

This guide provides essential information for running a Disc Golf event in Australia. It includes links to relevant resources from the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), the Australian Flying Disc Association (AFDA), and other organisations, which should be reviewed alongside this guide.

Event hosts, TDs, and organisers must familiarise themselves with this guide before applying for event sanctioning. It outlines compliance requirements and offers practical tips to help deliver a smooth and enjoyable event for players.

1. Who can host events

Only ADG affiliated clubs and non-affiliated businesses can host ADG sanctioned events. The event host is responsible for appointing the tournament director, managing the event and any associated consequences. Regardless of the tournament director or staff, the event host serves as the primary contact with ADG. To affiliate a club with ADG, contact your state representative.

Non-affiliated businesses must provide proof of adequate public liability insurance for the event or their organization.

While ADG affiliated clubs are typically regional, state bodies and other types of organisations may also become ADG affiliated clubs and are therefore able to use this status to host sanctioned events.

2. Insurance

ADG provides insurance coverage for all sanctioned events hosted by ADG affiliated clubs (non-affiliated businesses are not covered). Insurance, provided through AFDA, includes:

Public liability
Death and total permanent disablement
Personal accident insurance

For up to date details of inclusions and exclusions please refer to the insurance page on the AFDA website. The specific policy wording may be obtained by contacting the insurance broker or your state representative.

To qualify for this insurance, your club and event must meet the following requirements:

Club – In good standing with ADG
Event – All participants must be ADG members
Event – Landowner listed on the certificate of currency
Event – ADG must be informed of participant numbers

For public land courses, the landowner is usually the local council or municipality, but this should not be assumed. For private land courses, the landowner is likely a business, trust, or individual. It is the club’s responsibility to determine the correct landowner.

Insurance coverage is a key benefit of ADG affiliation. This is partly funded through the event-based fees ADG collects, enabling the coverage to be offered to clubs of all sizes and providing peace of mind to event organisers, while protecting players and the public in the unlikely event of problems.

Important: Before hosting your event, ensure the landowner is listed on your state’s certificate of currency under the “counterparties” section. ADG affiliated clubs can request the certificate from their state representative, who can also help add the landowner if needed. If the landowner is not listed, please allow sufficient time for this to be updated before your event.

3. First time TDs

First-time TDs are strongly encouraged to join our TD mentoring program. This valuable program pairs you with an experienced TD who will guide you through the event management process. It includes a checklist to track your progress and a certificate upon successful completion.

4. TD requirements

The TD, selected by the event host, must be an ADG member in good standing. They will represent the event for the host and manage the day-to-day running of all event-related activities.

One of the TD’s first tasks is determining if the event will also be PDGA sanctioned. The PDGA, as the international governing body of Disc Golf, sets the rules and regulations for the sport and offers a popular player ratings system. Many players base their participation decision on whether the event is PDGA sanctioned.

Some ADG sanctioned events require PDGA sanctioning, while for others it may be optional. To attract more players, ADG recommends PDGA sanctioning if possible. To PDGA sanction your event, complete the PDGA Event Sanctioning Agreement. Unless otherwise noted by ADG, the event host is responsible for PDGA sanctioning fees.

TDs and officials involved in PDGA-sanctioned events must be PDGA certified. Certification is achieved by passing the PDGA Certified Rules Official Exam, which consists of 25 open-book questions on Disc Golf rules. The exam costs USD20 and certification is valid for 3 years, unless major rule changes occur during that period.

All PDGA sanctioned events must follow the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events and the Official Rules and Regulations of Disc Golf. In Australia, events qualify for some variances and exceptions to the requirements (e.g., required payouts). These are set out in Section 6 of the competition manual and are also documented in the International Program Guide.

Depending on your tournament format, ADG may have additional requirements in excess of the minimum requirements imposed by the PDGA. For this reason TDs must be familiar with both the PDGA and ADG event standards. We have summarised the most important requirements in section 5).

Regardless of whether your event is PDGA sanctioned, ADG recommends following the competition manual, rules and international program in order to provide a consistent and high quality event.

Important: In Australia, all PDGA sanctioned events, except PDGA leagues, must also be ADG sanctioned (see section 8.c of the PDGA International Program Guide). ADG is notified of all events seeking PDGA sanctioning.

Recommended: ADGTour Major events and the Australian Disc Golf Championships should have a TD and/or Assistant TD with proven experience in facilitating tour events to a high standard (see section 14). This may become a requirement in future years.

5. Tournament formats

ADG event sanctioning covers a range of standard competition formats such as ADGTour events, Non-Tour events and leagues. Non-competitive development events such as “Come and Try” days, fundraisers for recognised charitable organisations and other events intended to introduce new players to Disc Golf in a non-competitive environment may also be sanctioned.

Regardless of the event format all organisers and participants are required to abide by the ADG Respect Agreement and any applicable local laws and regulations.

PDGA sanctioned events and events with a standard competitive format are expected to follow the Official Rules and Regulations of Disc Golf and Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events. Variances and exceptions permitted for international events are found in Section 6 of the competition manual.

ADGTour

The ADGTour is an annual series of ADG and PDGA sanctioned events held across Australia from January to November, adhering to minimum standards set by the ADG Tournament Committee. These events provide players with a consistent format and quality level.

A key feature of the ADGTour is its points system, where players earn points based on their placements and the number of competitors they outperform. ADG maintains a leaderboard throughout the year, counting a player’s six best results toward their total. ADGTour champions for each division are crowned in January. Points are calculated using the following formula.

p_e = p_a – (log_ar × (p_a – 1)) + p_t

Where:

p_e – Event points

p_a – Maximum points available

p_t – Total players in division

a – Maximum places available

r – Place of finish of the player

The available points for each tournament format are given in the tournament formats table. This system has been designed to reward players based on how many other participants they outperform. As a result events with larger fields offer more points to higher placed players. Currently a, the maximum number of places available is set to 50 for all event formats.

The ADGTour consists of three event classes:

Australian Disc Golf Championships (ADGC) – Known as “nationals,” held once annually.
ADGTour Majors – One per state (excluding the state hosting ADGC that year).
ADGTour Events – Scheduled any time during the tour year, except when an ADGTour Major is taking place.

These events form the backbone of competitive Disc Golf in Australia, catering to players looking to test their skills against national competitors. TDs must meet the requirements outlined for each event class but are otherwise free to organise their events as they see fit. ADG encourages events that go beyond the minimum standards to enhance the player experience.

Host clubs and TDs should stay attuned to player expectations in Australia to create events that attract participants and encourage repeat attendance. While ADG and PDGA standards are the baseline, understanding and responding to evolving player preferences is key. As ADGTour standards are updated annually, they may not fully reflect current player demands, so taking additional steps to meet expectations can make events stand out.

Non-Tour

Non-tour events offer maximum flexibility and minimal costs for organisers, with no specific requirements imposed. They are ideal for smaller, less competitive events, cost-focused gatherings, or non-standard formats such as doubles, one-disc events, ace races, and match play. These events do not award ADGTour points to players.

Leagues

A league consists of a series of connected events, often run monthly or on a regular schedule by local clubs. These events are designed to be accessible to both new and experienced players. Host clubs must report league participation numbers annually or when requested by ADG. League events do not award ADGTour points.

Development Events

Host clubs frequently organise events to introduce new players to Disc Golf or raise funds for recognised charities. These events may include activities such as basket demonstrations and opportunities for participants to try the sport with guidance from experienced players, rather than full rounds of Disc Golf.

Clubs needing insurance for such events should contact their state representative to determine eligibility for sanctioning, which is assessed case by case. These events are often sanctioned at no cost, depending on the activity. For development events, in lieu of ADG membership, organisers may record the name and contact of participants. If it is an event where participants stop by a stall or similar this is not required.

Format Comparison

ADG event standards are divided into those for ADGTour events and non-ADGTour events. ADGTour events are intended to provide a consistent, high standard for competitive play while non-ADGTour events offer greater flexibility to organisers.

The table below provides a combined view of the ADG and PDGA event standards for ADGTour events.

Important: For ADGTour events several requirements exceed the minimums imposed by the PDGA International Program Guide and Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events. Should these requirements pose an issue for your event consider running it as a non-tour event.

ADGTour Event Standards
Standard	ADGC	ADGTour Major	ADGTour
ADG Sanctioning Fee	AUD15 Player / Day	AUD8 Player / Day	AUD7 Player / Day
PDGA Sanctioning Fee	USD75–100 Per Event	USD50–75 Per Event	USD50 Per Event
Sanctioning Deadline	18 Months Prior	12 Months Prior	14 Days Prior
TD Requirements	PDGA Member and Official (Including Assistant TD)
TD Participation	Must Not Play	Must Not Play	Can Play
PDGA Officials	1 per course
PDGA Tier Minimum	B-Tier(A-Tier recommended¹)	C-Tier(B-Tier recommended¹)	C-Tier
ADG Membership	Required
PDGA Membership	Required	Recommended	Recommended
Notice of Registration	1 Week Prior	1 Week Prior	None
Length of Event	3–4 Days	2–3 Days	1–2 Days
Toilets	Required	Required	Recommended
Water Stations	Required Each 9 Holes	Required Each 9 Holes	Recommended
Grouping and Sectioning	Full PDGA 1.06 Requirements Apply (Not Reduced International Standards)
Min. Holes Played	54	54	2 x 13
Min. Unique Baskets	18	18	9
Min. Capacity	2 x 150	144	None
Min. Pro Purse	AUD5000	AUD1500	AUD250
Min. Trophies	1^st–3^rd All Divisions	1–4 Players 1^st 5–11 Players 1^st–2^nd 12+ Players 1^st–3^rd	Top 1 All Divisions
% of Players Paid Out	Top 33% (Top 40% recommended¹)	Top 33%	Top 20%
Pro/Am Payout % Of Net Entry Fees	85% (100% recommended¹)	85%	33%
Pro/Am Payout % Of Gross Entry Fees	75%	50%	33%
Results Submission	Within 48 Hours	Within 72 Hours	Within 1 Week
ADGTour Points Basis	150	120	100
Timing Restrictions	Held in November	Not During Month of Another Major or ADGC	Not During ADGC or Major in Same State
Events Per Year	One	Six	Unlimited
Min. Offered Divisions	All ADGTour Divisions	All ADGTour Divisions + MA4/FA4	All ADGTour Divisions + MA4/FA4

¹ Required from 2026 onwards.

Gross entry fees are what the player has paid to the event excluding transaction fees and any add-ons. Net entry fees are the gross fees minus pass-through fees defined in section 5.04 3. of the PDGA Competition manual for Disc Golf events.

The table below covers standards for non ADGTour events which may also be sanctioned by ADG. These standards are designed to fit a much wider range of events and offer the greatest flexibility and lowest costs to organisers. If the event is PDGA sanctioned then all PDGA requirements also apply. For development events you will need to contact ADG to discuss your requirements.

Non ADGTour Event Standards
Standard	Non-Tour	Leagues	Development
ADG Sanctioning Fee	AUD3.50 Player / Day	AUD1 Player / Event	Case-by-Case
PDGA Sanctioning	Optional	Optional	No
Sanctioning Deadline	24 Hours Prior	None	1 Week Prior
ADG Membership	Required	Required	Case-by-Case
Length of Event	1–3 Days	1 Day	1 Day
Results Submission	Within 2 Weeks	Quarterly	Within 2 Weeks
Events Per Year	Unlimited
PDGA Requirements	If PDGA sanctioned then the event must comply with all PDGA requirements specified in the Competition Manual and PDGA International Program including all payout requirements and sanctioning fees..		Not Applicable
Min. Offered Divisions	Any	Any	Any

Important Notes:

PDGA sanctioned events must consist of at least 2 rounds of at least 13 holes each and have at least 3 PDGA members with a rating over 799 based on at least 8 events (so called “propagators”) in order to provide player ratings.
PDGA sanctioning fees are listed in USD and so will vary over time. Payout requirements are listed in AUD and so are predictable and will not vary.
Events can be run with a shotgun start, tee times or split field over different courses or days based on division. See the competition manual for more details.
Junior divisions may optionally offer a reduced number of rounds or days for events.

Divisions

ADG follows the PDGA division scheme. Any of these PDGA divisions may be offered at an ADG sanctioned event.

Important: In 2025 the PDGA introduced clause 5.02 C. to the competition manual which requires that if a mixed division is offered then the equivalent gender based division must also be offered for at least 1 week of early registration or the first week of open registration. For example if an event offers MP40 then it must also offer FP40. Additionally 2.02 L.2 of the competition manual now requires that if an underserved division has at least one player it must be run. As a result the list of standard formats for 2025 ADGTour events has been updated.

ADGTour Events

For ADGTour events, there is a set of minimum divisions which must be offered at events. In 2025 these divisions are:

Mixed Pro Open (MPO)
Mixed Pro 40+ (MP40)
Mixed Amateur 1 (MA1)
Mixed Amateur 2 (MA2)
Mixed Amateur 3 (MA3)
Mixed Amateur 4 (MA4) – Non-points Division
Mixed Amateur 40+ (MA40)
Mixed Amateur 50+ (MA50)
Mixed Junior ≤15 (MJ15)
Women’s Pro Open (FPO)
Women’s Pro 40+ (FP40)
Women’s Amateur 1 (FA1)
Women’s Amateur 2 (FA2)
Women’s Amateur 3 (FA3)
Women’s Amateur 4 (FA4) – Non-points Division
Women’s Amateur 40+ (FA40)
Women’s Amateur 50+ (FA50)
Girl’s Junior ≤15 (FJ15)

Players participating in non-points divisions Mixed Amateur 4 (MA4) and Women’s Amateur 4 (FA4) do not receive ADGTour points. These divisions must still be offered at ADGTour events with the exception of ADGC.

Important: The divisions listed above which must be offered at ADGTour events are considered the minimum divisions. Events are free to exceed these minimums and offer any divisions they see fit. Players’ ADGTour points will be awarded in the next highest ADGTour division for which they qualify.

Non ADGTour Events

For PDGA sanctioned non ADGTour events you may offer any PDGA divisions so long as your event complies with all requirements of the PDGA event tier you have chosen to sanction your event in.

For non-PDGA events organisers are free to choose how to group and section players. While we recommend using PDGA divisions even at non-PDGA sanctioned events, it may also be appropriate to create your own schemes.

Juniors

Juniors (<18yo) at events are always the responsibility of a designated Responsible Adult, regardless of whether or not they are participating in a junior division. This may be the player’s parent or guardian or a person specified by the player’s parent or guardian. The Responsible Adult must stay with the Junior throughout the event. Depending on requirements in the state/territory of the event TDs may ask that an ADG junior consent form be completed. This form specifies who the responsible adult is.

Ensure your chosen event registration system enables you to determine whether or not players are under the age of 18 years when registering so that you can ensure guardian requirements are met.

Refer to the PDGA division guide for details on qualifying conditions for juniors. TDs may decide to offer a single day or reduced number of holes for the Junior division players.

6. Registering an event for sanctioning

To request ADG sanctioning for your event, an authorised representative of the host club or non-affiliated business must complete the ADG Event Sanctioning Agreement. The following information is required:

Event name
Event host (ADG affiliated club or non-affiliated business)
Format (ADGC, Major, Tour, Non-Tour,, WGE, ADGD)
PDGA sanctioned or not
City
State
Start date
End date
Tournament director name
Tournament director ADG number
Email contact (optional if the same as the tournament director)
Event information website link
Event registration link (optional if using our system)
Event player list page link (optional if using our system)
Divisions offered (if non-Tour event)

Using the online form is the preferred method of submitting your event for sanctioning. With the large number of events held each year and given ADG is a 100% volunteer organisation it is not possible to manually enter data for all events. The online form ensures all required information is provided.

ADGTour events must offer a minimum set of divisions as mandated by ADG. Exceptions for omitting required divisions can be requested and will be assessed by ADG on a case-by-case basis. For other event types, TDs may choose which divisions to offer.

For PDGA sanctioned events (required for ADGTour events, optional for others) you must complete the PDGA Event Sanctioning Agreement and pay the required PDGA fee (this is not reimbursed by ADG). After PDGA sanctioning your event you will receive an email confirmation from the PDGA with a link to the tournament manager and password needed to manage the event, ensure you retain this.

For any questions or assistance with the sanctioning process, contact competitions@australiandiscgolf.com.

7. Sanctioning Fees

ADG Event Sanctioning Fees are the primary funding source for ADG. These fees support expenses including AFDA insurance coverage, the ADG website pre-registration page, event calendar, points tracking system, grants program, Aussie Disc Golf Day, Women’s Global Event, Australian National Team support, ADGTour prizes and other ADG development activities. ADG aims to keep fees low to encourage maximum participation. The fee schedule is as follows:

Format	Fee
League Days	$1 per player per day
ADG Non-Tour	$3.50 per player per day
ADGTour	$7.00 per player per day
ADGTour Major	$8.00 per player per day
Australian Disc Golf Championships	$15.00 per player per day

After your event results have been reported, ADG will issue an invoice to the TD based on the reported player numbers. Full payment is required within 30 days of receiving the invoice. Payment details will be provided with the invoice. For any payment-related queries, contact treasurer@australiandiscgolf.com. Non payment may affect the clubs ability to run further ADG sanctioned events.

8. Player registrations

Player registrations are crucial for event planning, collecting player information, and verifying ADG membership. Regardless of the system used, all ADG sanctioned events will appear in the ADG event calendar, which is typically the first place players check for event details and information.

ADG provides a basic player registration system that allows players to pre-register for events in their chosen division and view a list of registered participants. Optional fields, such as T-shirt sizes or dietary preferences, can be added by contacting competitions@australiandiscgolf.com. If desired, a payment link can also be displayed after successful registration.

Events that wish to take payment prior to confirming registration, offer other options or integrate with their own management systems can provide a link to their own registration and player list pages which will replace the ADG links in the event calendar. If you are using an alternative registration system you must ensure that you collect participants ADG numbers and have them accept the ADG respect agreement.

It is now not uncommon for popular events to fill fast so you may want to manage this by advertising significant dates like when registrations open, when payments are due or cutoffs for receiving a player packs.

For PDGA sanctioned events you will need to upload the lists of your players to the PDGA tournament manager for your event. This video provides a tutorial for this process.

For large events, ADG recommends using Disc Golf Scene for pre-registrations. This platform streamlines tasks such as collecting player ADG numbers, accepting the respect agreement, and managing advanced registration features like payments, refunds, waitlists, and tiered or scheduled registration. It also integrates automatically with the PDGA tournament manager. Disc Golf Scene charges additional fees, which can be included in your event budget (recommended) or passed on to players. To use Disc Golf Scene your club will require a PayPal Business Account.

Important: Note the advance notice requirements for opening registrations for ADGC and Majors listed above. The opening date of registrations must be announced at least this duration prior to registration opening. This is to allow players sufficient time to prepare to be available to register as soon as registration opens.

9. Scoring

Online scoring systems such as PDGA Live, Disc Golf Metrix or UDisc are a convenient way for players to keep score during a round and for you to manage the scores and player groupings. Make sure this is set up prior to the event and announced well in advance. Paper score cards must also be available to groups if requested per section 1.05H of the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events.

Refer to section 808 of the Official Rules of Disc Golf for detailed scoring requirements. While the 2025 rule mandating all players to score is currently optional for international events (requiring only at least two players keep independent scores), organisers are strongly encouraged to adopt it in preparation for its likely future enforcement.

10. Prizes, Payouts and Trophies

Aside from the quality of the course and facilities a players perception of an event is often influenced heavily by the thought given to trophies, cash payout amounts for professional players and merchandise payouts for amateur players.

These items will typically consume the majority of the event budget. Two main factors are considered when determining payouts, the percentage of event fees which must be returned to players and the percentage of the field that must receive a payout.

The combination of PDGA tier level and ADG event format will determine the minimum required payouts and trophy provisions. The PDGA tournament manager contains several features which enable you to calculate and publish payouts.

Refer to the table in section 5 to determine your minimum payout and trophy requirements. Events are encouraged to exceed the minimum requirements wherever possible.

11. Results and Financials Submission

Scores for PDGA sanctioned events should be uploaded to the PDGA Tournament Manager the night of any day’s play where possible. Using PDGA Live Scoring is recommended as this automates the process for you. On completion of events, TDs are required to complete and submit their official PDGA results through the tournament manager as soon as practical and within the PDGA required timeframes.

All PDGA sanctioned events require the event’s financial information to be submitted along with the results using the PDGA tournament manager. Financial information submitted may be used by the PDGA, ADG and event host to confirm that all financial obligations to players and governing bodies have been met.

All ADG sanctioned events regardless of whether they are also PDGA sanctioned must submit a copy of their results, including the ADG member numbers of participants no later than 2 weeks from event completion. The level of information differs depending on the event type. The following is required for each participant.

ADGC, Major, ADGTour – ADG Number, Division, Place, Round Scores
Non-tour – ADG Number, Division (Place and Round Scores are optional)
League – ADG Numbers and player counts to be submitted annually or when requested

While not strictly required, including the players name is good practice to allow cross checking in case there have been any data entry issues.

If any divisions did not run and players were moved to an alternative division this must be noted when reporting the event results to ADG. This allows tour points to be calculated in the preferred division. You should also communicate any unusual events or disciplinary problems along with your event results.

For PDGA sanctioned events the simplest approach is to export a CSV file from the PDGA tournament manager and add a column to the spreadsheet populated with the ADG number of each player. On request ADG can provide a spreadsheet which maps PDGA numbers to ADG numbers for our players.

If you use the ADG registration system there is also a “CSV” link next to the event title on the player list page which allows you to download a spreadsheet containing the ADG and PDGA numbers of all registered players.

Event results should be sent to competitions@australiandiscgolf.com.

12. Safety

Safety should be the top priority when planning an event. Measures to protect other park users, such as placing flying disc warning signs and advising players to use spotters on challenging holes, should be considered. Ensure holes do not cross paths and alert players and volunteers to any potential hazards.

TDs should conduct a risk assessment prior to the event and review it afterwards. Consider the expected conditions for that time of year and plan accordingly. ADG’s bad weather policy should be followed. TDs should inform players of how they will be alerted if play needs to be suspended (e.g., via air horn or car horn). All events must comply with local regulations and restrictions in effect at the time.

13. Event Checklist

Here is a quick checklist for organisers to run through before, during and after their event. It should not be considered exhaustive but covers the most important aspects some of which have been overlooked in the past.

Before the Event

Pick a date and location for your event
Decide on the event format and look up requirements
Make sure your course is covered by the insurance policy
Work out registration fees, cut off dates and player capacity
Register your event on the tour
Register event with PDGA
Apply for any required PDGA waivers (e.g., for island holes and OB variations)
Collect preregistrations and payments
Organise your event: scorecards, maps, prizes, lunches etc
prepare and distribute caddy book
Set up online scoring system (if using)
Ensure all players are registered in the correct division
Notify affected players if any divisions are merging
Upload player list to PDGA
Sort out groups
Publish expected payouts prior to final round starting

During the Event

Check in players
Organise groups
Run players meeting and start event
Check scores after first round
Organise groups and start second round
Check scores after second round
Repeat if second day of play
Give out prizes

After the Event

Submit results to PDGA
Submit results to ADG
Payout Pro players who cashed within 2 days
Post stories and photos from event
Pay ADG invoice
Follow up on any feedback

14. Additional Requirements for ADGC and Majors

The Australian Disc Golf Championships and ADG Majors are the premier events on the annual ADG Tour. Expectations of the standards of quality at these events are high with players often going to considerable expense in both time and costs to attend. TDs should work with the ADG Tournament committee to ensure they understand the requirements and provide feedback to improve events for future years.

The courses used for ADGC should have previously been used at an ADGTour Major, PDGA A-Tier or higher level event to ensure they have been well tested. It is also expected that the event TD has experience running ADGTour Major events or alternatively PDGA A-Tier, DGPT or PDGA Euro Tour events to a proven standard.

Responsibility for hosting the Australian Disc Golf Championships currently rotates from one state to the next over a seven-year cycle as shown below.

2024 NSW → 2025 WA → 2026 ACT → 2027 SA → 2028 VIC → 2029 QLD → 2030 TAS → 2031 NSW

Knowing this cycle in advance allows states and territories to plan for their turn as hosts. While efforts will be made to keep this cycle, changes will occur if necessary (for example should we be able to establish Disc Golf in the Northern Territory). Each year the host state/territory of ADGC will not host a Major event in lieu of ADGC which is to be held in late November.

Due to the high participation at Australian Disc Golf Championships, TDs and event organisers can choose to run ADGC over two suitable courses on the one weekend or, two weekends back-to-back as two events offering different divisions. One event must offer MPO, FPO, MP40, MA1, FA1, MA40 and the other MA2, FA2, MA3, FA4, MA50, FA40, MJ15, FJ15. Registrations to be managed by ADG.

For Majors, preference will be given to running a state or territory’s event in the same month as previous years. If a state/territory wishes to change months they will need to negotiate with the state/territory already holding that month and the ADG board state representatives.

The host club for a Major should be decided within the state/territory with the involvement of the ADG board state representative.

Both ADGC and Majors warrant an expanded list of event requirements and recommendations for TDs to assist in providing the highest standard event possible. Refer to section 5 for requirements and consider recommendations below.

ADGC minimum sanctioning as PDGA B-Tier (A-Tier recommended). Refer to PDGA Tier standards chart for Pro Payout recommendations.
ADG Major minimum sanctioning as PDGA C-Tier (B-Tier recommended). Refer to PDGA Tier standards chart for Pro Payout recommendations.
ADG recommends that ADGC and ADG Majors be held on courses that have been previously utilised for tour events and can facilitate the minimum capacities listed in the above ADG / PDGA Tier Standards Chart (section 5).
A detailed Players Meeting including hole-by-hole descriptions and notes must be accessible to all players and can come in the form of a comprehensive Caddy Book, pre-recorded video, live video call or in person meeting prior to the commencement of the event and allow opportunity for follow up questions / concerns to be answered / resolved.
Printed or online Caddy Book should include all important dates, contacts and information such as sponsor recognitions, course map & tee signs, and event schedule.
Events should not state PDGA rules directly in their caddy books and instead refer players to the official rules. So called “local rules” are not officially recognised and should not form any part of event documentation or communication.
Sufficient and accessible HQ, parking and toilet facilities.
Water stations at least every 9 holes (typically at HQ and hole 9).
Ample warm up and practice putting areas.
Consider the effect of multiple lengthy holes in sequence and other factors which may result in player backups on the course.
Ensure that spotters are available on required holes.
Out of Bounds (OB) and Hazard should be clearly indicated by line marking paint, rope/stringline or a permanent and defined object/structure (fence, footpath, road, etc).
Mandatories should be clearly marked both on the object, and the restricted plane should be clearly marked on the ground. Each Mando must also have a designated Drop Zone clearly marked on the ground and shown in caddie book for any / all mandatories and island holes.
Either the TD or Assistant TD must be on-site and available to answer any rules related questions at any time that players are on the course during a round.
Pro player’s payout should be posted prior to the first pro player commencing their final round. This can be done either virtually and/or in person.
Social activities such as player dinners are welcomed by many competitors and should be offered where possible.

Event Timing Restrictions

ADGC should be held around the end of November
No ADGTour events will be held after ADGC has completed
No Tour events will be held on the same weekend as ADGC
No Tour events will be held on the same weekend as a Major in the same state

Note: Registration Notice Requirements for opening registrations for ADGC and Majors listed in above ADG Tier Standard Chart (section 5). The opening date of registrations must be announced at least 1 week prior to registrations opening. This is to allow players sufficient time to prepare to be available to register as soon as registration opens.

15. Important Contacts and websites