Professional Disc Golf Association is a membership organization dedicated to the promotion and sustainable growth of disc golf. It promotes the sport through player participation, tournament development, spectator participation, course development, rules and competitive standards, media and sponsor relations, and public education and outreach. The number of disc golf courses have almost tripled in 8 years from 2000-2008. The benefits of membership with the PDGA include playing in PDGA sanctioned events at a discounted rate, tracking player points and ratings, subscription to DiscGolfer - the official PDGA publication, posting privileges to the members only DISCussion Board, e-newsletters, eligibility to run/vote in elections, compete in member only events, and the official PDGA welcome package comes with a regulation sized and mini disc. From the organizational bylaws, the PDGA exists:
to promote the development of disc golf as a means of healthful recreation and physical fitness;
to establish and maintain Rules of Play and high standards of professionalism, amateurism and good sportsmanship;
to foster national and international professional and amateur disc golf tournaments and competitions;
to communicate event results, opinions and other information beneficial to the sport via electronic and printed media;
to achieve standardization in the Rules of Play, equipment used for play, tournament formats and all other aspects of disc golf.
The current PDGA Board of Directors consists of PDGA President Justin Menickelli, Vice President David Foss, Treasurer Robert Decker, and Secretary Nate Heinold, as well as Elaine King, Mike "Sully" Sullivan, and Laura Nagtegaal.
International Disc Golf Center
The PDGA International Disc Golf Center features a modern clubhouse with. of amenities, art, and disc golf attractions. The Clubhouse is home to the Ed HeadrickMemorial Museum, which showcases many historical items from the early days of the sport including the first proto-type polehole and flying discs from the Frisbie pie pan, to the Frisbee, to today's modern high tech golf discs. The IDGC also features the Disc Golf Hall of Fame. Located in Wildwood Park Columbia County, Georgia on Lake Strom Thurmond. It is 22 miles from Augusta, Georgia. This 975 acre park is home to the PDGA and holds three disc golf courses. Some of the fairways reach 600 feet, or more, in length. The obstacles include tree alleys, water boundaries, turns in the course and variations in topography. The National Championship is held here in September. Courses at the IDGC The "Steady" Ed Headrick Memorial Course, presented by the Disc Golf Association, features special edition DGA Mach III baskets on rolling terrain along the shores of scenic Clarks Hill lake. The course was designed by Hall of Famers, Chuck Kennedy and Tom Monroe, and it is affectionately referred to as "The Ed" by locals. Multiple target locations and tee areas on this blue level course make it very adaptable for recreational play as well as high level competitions. The length of the course varies from 4,135' in its shortest configuration to 8,110' in its longest. The W.R. Jackson Memorial Course is the longest course at the IDGC, coming in at and par 69. The Gold level course was designed by Hall of Famer, John Houck, and features Innova DISCatcher baskets set in a very challenging championship configuration. The Jim Warner Memorial Course is the newest course open for play at the International Disc Golf Center. It features Discraft Chainstar targets and was designed by Hall of Famer, Jim Kenner, with assistance from Ron Russell and Pad Timmons. The initial equipment installation took place in November 2008 and the course is open for play but improvements continue in preparation for the official grand opening at the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic on May 30–31, 2009.
