Looking for a fun way to donate to charity and another reason to keep a closer eye on USDGC action this year? Well, Chains for Charity is it. With Chains for Charity, USDGC fans just like you will pick a USDGC player to follow, then donate a contribution based on the number of birdies, eagles, and aces that player produces during the event.
Your contribution will go toward two nonprofits: Educational Disc Golf Experience (EDGE), which brings disc golf to schools, camps and youth organizations; and Throw Pink, which encourages women and girls to get out and be more physically active through disc golf while promoting women’s health Initiatives.
Hurry. You must enter before Round 1 on Wednesday to get in on the fun and prizes.
Here’s how a player racks up Birdie Points (which are based a player’s score relative to par):
BIRDIE = 1 Birdie Point
EAGLE = 2 Birdie Points
ACE = 3 Birdie Points
Here’s an example: Say, you picked Nate Sexton last year. He accumulated 41 Birdies, which meant 41 Birdie Points. Those who pledged $.50 per Birdie Point would contribute a total of $20.50 to charity, those who pledged $1 would contribute $41.
EDGE and Throw Pink won’t be the only ones benefiting from this promotion. Those who contribute are eligible for awesome prizes.
Prizes include:
Look to the Chains for Charity Facebook page for more information and updates.
EDGE Coordinator Jay “Yeti” Reading, who is leading the Chains for Charity Promotion, said the idea was inspired by a similar promotion at a pro golf event in Iowa where he grew up.
“I just thought it was awesome,” said Reading.
Reading said the goal here is three-fold: Grow the game by supporting non-profits like EDGE and Throw Pink whose mission is to bring new players into the game; grow the sport by getting more people involved in the top level of professional disc golf and the players within it; and support the USDGC.
“This is another way to drive disc golf fans to tune into the USDGC and be a part of it no matter where they live,” said Reading, adding it will also be enjoyable for USDGC players.
“I think it will be fun for the players. I’m playing. And every time I line up for a 30 or 40-footer, I’m gonna be like I need to make this putt for charity,” said Reading.
Top performing USDGC players will also be rewarded. Cash bonuses will toward the USDGC player with backing contributors that accumulates the most Birdie Points and the player used to contribute the most donations.
For more information visit the Chains for Charity Facebook Page and the DGU Registration page.
James Hopkins and Aaron Shindledecker are poised to repeat as USDGC Doubles champs after taking the lead by three strokes after Round 2 at the Canaan Riverbend Gold Course on Saturday.
Here are cumulative results and Round 3 Tee times.
Hopkins/Shindledecker of North Carolina lead Zach Arlinghaus and Bobby Bryant III (Edgewood, KY / New Carlisle, OH). Two teams are four strokes back including Round 1 leaders Folk/Hooks.
The final round returns to the Canaan Riverbend Course on Sunday.
Round 1 of USDGC Doubles at Winthrop Gold is in the books and David Folk and Nathan Hooks have a one stroke lead over last year’s winners James Hopkins and Aaron Shindledecker.
Here are the Scores / Tee times for Round 2 at Canaan Riverbend Gold.
Folk / Hooks (Chapel Hill/Apex, N.C.) shot a cool 56 (-11) during favorable conditions at the Winthrop Gold Course on Friday.
Hopkins / Shindledecker (Greensboro, East Bend, N.C) will look to put the pressure on as the round moves to the densely wooded Canaan Riverbend Gold Course.
For the 20th Anniversary of the USDGC, the Winthrop Gold Course remains largely intact from last year. However, as you might expect, there are some key changes, plus in keeping with the 20th Anniversary, a few nods to early Championship holes.
Here’s a quick run-down of the noticeable changes. Keep in mind this is not a complete listing of changes or rules. For a hole-by-hole analysis of the ground rules, look to the 2018 Caddy Book Draft.
Like in years past, you’ll find both hazard (yellow rope) where players can choose to play from that lie with a one throw penalty or choose their previous lie with a similar penalty. And, there’s also standard OB (red rope). Each hole is unique, so look for hole specific OB rules in the Caddy Book.
This is by far the biggest alteration for 2018. First, the tee is now tucked into the woods right of last year’s location, but the big change is the fairway. Instead of one continuous, curvy fairway used last year, it is now divided into three segments: two fairway islands followed by an island green, which has been moved to a new location much further right than past years.
Those looking for par can puddle jump their way from one island to the next, while birdie seekers may opt to skip one island or another. However, if your disc doesn’t find the safe islands, you could find yourself in trouble in a hurry. OB is limited to previous lie or drop zone here.
2018 USDGC Course Designer Andrew Duvall said Hole 9 has always been their hole to conduct design experiments. Early on, the concept of the hole was two well placed shots to get access to the green for a birdie. Since then, there have been several variations utilizing different aspects of the hole, but this year Duvall said they’ve moved back to that mindset of emphasizing two accurate shots.
In a salute to the USDGC’s beginning, the straight-ahead, original Hole 1 pin placement will be used for Round 1. Last year’s pin location on the large tree stump will be used for the remaining rounds.
“As a hole itself there’s still a bit of challenge in that original location. Players will still get a par or a bogey knowing they should’ve gotten a birdie,” said Duvall, adding that it’s a good way to ease into the course to start the round.
“Not many events have the same storied history of the USDGC and obviously all of that has started on Hole 1,” said Duvall.
The feathers to the right of the tee are an integral part of the course. They can not be moved. If they are moved, they should be replaced.
The green is roughly the same size, however the left side OB line now extends further into the fairway, providing less room for safe bailouts in front of green.
Sinkhole relief: In the hazard area to the left of the green, a sinkhole has developed since last year's USDGC. Winthrop grounds crew have fenced off the area. Players may obtain relief from the sinkhole and the fenced area surrounding the sinkhole. Relief shall be on the Line of Play farther from the target in accordance with 803.02A.
Only 1 pin position for 2018, the traditional one located near the peninsula’s edge. It’s another homage to the early USDGC’s and Duvall believes that pin placement makes it a better hole when it comes to the approach shot over the lake.
“Other pin positions aren’t the same adrenaline rush when you see your disc start to fall towards the water instead of landing and you’re not sure if it’s going to make it or not,” said Duvall.
Once the right-side OB begins (about 50 feet away from the tee), it runs uninterrupted for the length of the hole. This new OB line tightens up the fairway halfway up the hole and also replaces the bean-shaped OB area near the green from last year.
Last year with the hole utilizing hazard OB, some players were still able to save par even after errant shots. OB on the entire hole is now previous lie or drop zone with a stroke penalty. This change goes along with a recurring theme with this year’s course, which is to encourage players to make wise decisions based on their ability and then commit to it. If not, the course will be quite tough, said Duvall.
For all four rounds, Hole 18’s pin will be in the familiar long position. Duvall said when it comes to last minute drama – the combination of Hole 17 followed by the demanding par 4 of Hole 18 – do a superb job. It’s exactly what you want for the tournament’s finale, he said.
USDGC Doubles, the kick-off of Championship Week, begins Friday at the Winthrop Gold Course. The second and final rounds will then move to the Canaan Riverbend Gold Course, situated in a wooded island north of Rock Hill on the Catawba River.
Here are Tee Times for Friday's round at Winthrop:
19 years of the USDGC have brought incredible comebacks, ridiculous aces, heartbreaking defeats, all amid the picture perfect setting of the Winthrop Gold Course in Rock Hill, S.C. Since 1999, the USDGC has been the event that has brought the drama to disc golf. This year, be there first hand to experience it all for the 20thAnniversary.
Purchase tickets online here, or on site at the gate.
Along with single day tickets and VIP passes, comes the new Gold Pass. It's the ultimate experience for the USDGC fan that includes among other things: Access to player hospitality area with unlimited food & beverage, exclusive commemorative disc, and reserved seating during the distance showcase.
Top Baltic talent will get their shot at a USDGC invite, now that the Pärnu Open has been added as a USDGC Qualifier. The Pärnu Open (July 7-8), located outside Pärnu, Estonia, is a part of the Innova Baltic Tour, which consists of three events followed by a tour championship.
Baltic Tour Manager Rene Mengel said the five USDGC invitations are a big deal because many Baltic players are aware of the USDGC’s significance and are eager for an opportunity to qualify. Mengel also believes the IBT/USDGC partnership will help create stronger global ties.
If you haven’t heard of the Innova Baltic Tour, it’s time to put the series on your radar. Started in 2009, the Baltic Tour’s mission has been to expose more of the region (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia) to disc golf while organizing top level events. For top area golfers, IBT events are not to be missed.
Here's a promo from last year's tour.
According to Mengel, interest in disc golf is soaring in the Baltics, especially in Estonia, where the Pärnu Open and the IBT Championship (Tallinn, Estonia) are located.He said just about every week in the Baltics there is a disc golf event. “Baltic players are actually pretty crazy about disc golf so there are many competitions throughout the year. Even when there is temperature -20 degrees in Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit),” said Mengel.
October weather in the Carolinas is generally quite pleasant, so Baltic players who earn an invitation to Winthrop should be comfortable when they face the University’s legendary Gold Course. After being tested on the IBT, they will be ready to make their mark on the USDGC and perhaps a trip to the podium.
Here's a look at 2017 Innova Baltic Tour Championship Lead Card Back 9
The United States Disc Golf Championship was established in 1999 to help shape the future of professional disc golf. Two decades later, the event remains a favorite among fans, as well as players of all skill levels. On its 20th anniversary, the USDGC continues to affirm many of its founding principles.
One in particular, is to remain true to what has always been a truly “open” format. As the event’s qualifying document has stated since it was first written, all dues-paid members of the Professional Disc Golf Association are eligible to qualify for the USDGC. Women and men, amateurs and professionals, young and old, all have an opportunity to compete for America’s most prestigious title.
At each of the regional qualifying events, all divisions that compete using the same tees, pin placements, and course rotations, are eligible for USDGC qualifying. All it takes is to shoot one of the qualifying event’s five best scores.
Each year, USDGC organizers set out to choose an ideal roster of top events that provide the greatest number of people a reasonable chance to compete. The qualifying process ensures that the USDGC field is loaded with the very best of the best. The qualifying process is an integral piece to the USDGC puzzle, and it has to be right.
This year it took a little longer than usual to find and arrange the qualifying events, but the finished product appears to be worth the wait. All 20 qualifying events will receive 5 spots each, including for the first time, the Amateur World Championships (hosted in Charlotte), where the top five scores from the Advanced Men’s division will earn invitations.
For a complete look at all of the qualifiers, view the Official Qualifying Document.
With Am Worlds taking place a mere 30-minutes from Winthrop, USDGC officials decided to include the event in this year’s lineup. While for many years the Amateur World Champion has received an invite, this is the first, and perhaps only time each of the top 5 finishers will qualify.
A significant factor in this decision was a desire to honor the long-standing support the Charlotte Disc Golf Club has provided the USDGC. “It would have been impossible for the USDGC to experience the early success that we did, without the Charlotte club,” said USDGC Event Director Jonathan Poole. “It would be impossible to measure the hours, much less the value, that the Charlotte disc golf community has brought to the USDGC,” Poole added.
As an added perk to Am Worlds competitors, Winthrop’s Course Design Team of Andrew and Harold Duvall will assist with the Final 9 layout to create a USDGC-like, “between the ropes” experience.
Qualifying for the Championship is an accomplishment in itself. Many accomplished players will tell you that. Last year, Paige Pierce made disc golf headlines after becoming only the fourth woman to qualify for the USDGC at a regional qualifier, reaffirming to everyone that women certainly belong at the USDGC. With the Women’s Open division playing the same format as the Open at the Aussie Open, Pierce made the most of her qualifying chance with lights out disc golf including a 1023-rated 3rd round.
Performances like this are the reason USDGC officials encourage tournament directors of all qualifying events to allow as many divisions as possible to play the same format as the Open division. “It has always been a goal to provide the greatest number of people with a legitimate chance to qualify. That is the spirit of the Championship,” said Poole.
The USDGC will continue to invite the following Champions to the 2018 event:
In addition, the following exemptions are returning for 2018:
Now that all 20 qualifiers have been set, it is time to start making preparations for which events you will attend. And if it is not clear beforehand, be sure to contact the event’s tournament director to confirm which divisions will provide you with your chance to dance at Winthrop this October.
From a fan’s point of view, a tournament’s scoring platform is as important as it gets to staying in-the-know. That is why the USDGC has partnered with scoring experts, UDisc Live, to handle the scoring and presentation for the 2018 USDGC.
If you have followed events on UDisc Live before, you know that the service, which debuted at the 2016 Vibram Open, brings a new kind of clarity and speed to tournament scoring and statistics.
A big factor in this, is UDisc’s custom mobile apps used by the in-round scorekeepers. With it, they are able to seamlessly and accurately enter players’ shots even in areas of poor wireless connections. Later, stats are automatically configured by UDisc without need of player input.
“We built UDisc Live to be truly instant - no delays, no refreshing, always up to date. From the time a score is entered in the app to the time fans can see the scores and stats online is typically around 1 second,” said Matt Krueger, who co-founded UDisc along with Josh Lichti.
Krueger said he and Josh can’t wait to experience the USDGC up close and personal.
“The USDGC is a special event that always pushes the boundaries of disc golf. UDisc Live will bring new and exciting ways for fans to follow their favorite players in real time,” said Krueger.
Check out UDisc Live's schedule. Many of their events are USDGC Qualifiers.
Get ready, USDGC Doubles returns to Rock Hill Sept. 28-30, 2018. Now in it's third year, USDGC Doubles has become a must-attend event for any Amateur Duo looking to test their mettle against top notch teams who've earned their way to Rock Hill from one of many qualifiers across the land.
The stars of the show, of course, are the 2 Championship caliber courses utilized, including the USDGC's Winthrop Gold Course. USDGC Doubles is the only doubles event featured on the legendary course. The other course, Canaan Riverbend Gold, is set in a wooded island on the Catawba River and is an adventure onto itself.
Sept. 28: Winthrop Gold (First Round)
Sept. 29-30: Canaan Riverbend Gold Course (2nd and Final Rounds)
There are many USDGC Doubles Qualifiers already in the works. Players, keep an eye out for qualifiers in your area at Disc Golf United. Exempt from qualifying, are the top three teams from last year's event.
The Main Event, will once again be all amateur. Amateur status will be determined by PDGA Major event standards. Qualifying teams are expected to remain as a team for the USDGC Doubles main event.
There are still openings to host a USDGC Doubles Qualifier in your area. But, the number of openings are limited. So contact us to get things started at USDoubles@InnovaDiscGolf.com. Here's a list of the current qualifiers.
Once accepted, the process is pretty easy. Just run a doubles event with one to two rounds of Best Shot format and promote it as a USDGC Doubles qualifier. All players will receive a premium custom USDGC Doubles Disc. The top team/or teams from each qualifier earn invites to the 2018 USDGC Doubles main event and Olympic style medals. Qualifying events may still have pro divisions, however, only the top amateur team/teams will receive invites to the USDGC Doubles main event.
The number of USDGC Doubles Invites are based on the qualifier's size:
