disc golf how to find course ratings

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How many rounds can you score for a PDGA?

For courses with less than 13 holes, scores from two rounds can be combined to produce an official round rating. Official ratings can be produced for rounds up to 36 holes long. The number of holes in each round is weighted to determine a player's PDGA rating.

What does 999 mean in golf?

If you do not complete a round due to sickness, injury or other emergency, you will receive a score of 999 indicating you Did Not Finish (DNF) that round. You will not get a rating for that round but will receive ratings for any other rounds you completed before and sometimes after that round (if TD allows).

Can you play in a division based on your rating?

In addition, there are ratings events where everyone – Ams and Pros – play in a division based on their rating. Players are allowed to enter divisions higher than their current rating, just never below (except in Ratings Events where every player must play in the division their rating places them in).

Is it true that the top players have higher ratings?

Yes, it can sometimes be true by a few percentage points. However, here's the catch. It's not because these top players have higher ratings. A couple factors are in play. There can be additional tournament pressure in higher tier events especially when local players are grouped with traveling pros.

Can you play in a lower division on the PDGA?

All amateurs with the exception of aged based divisions, like Juniors or Masters and older, compete in divisions based on rating levels. You may not play in a lower division if your rating is above a certain number. The ratings breaks for each division is shown on page 5 of the PDGA Tour Standards .

Player Ratings

A player’s PDGA rating is based on rounds in the 12 months prior to the date of their most recently rated round. The most recent 25% (1/4) of rounds will count double once there are at least 9 round ratings. This makes a player’s recent performance a bit more important.

Round Ratings

Your rating for each round is based on how well you shoot relative to a hypothetical scratch player defined as someone with a rating of 1000. The automated calculation uses scores from at least 5 players with ratings over 699 whose rating is based on at least 8 rounds of information. These players are called propagators .

What is a PDGA Rating?

A PDGA rating measures the kind of player you are and what PDGA competitions you can enter and participate in. The PDGA has 30 divisions in which individuals can compete.

Who Can Get a PDGA Rating?

To get a PDGA rating, you need to be a member of the PDGA. There are advantages to being a PDGA member. Here are some of the benefits of registering and becoming a member:

A Closer Look at the PDGA Divisions

Professionals in the Male and Female divisions can compete in the following divisions based on their age:

How Does the PDGA Ratings System Work?

The PDGA has a Scratch Scoring Average (SSA) for each competition course. This would be the average score of a round of disc golf on an 18-hole course. Your rating is the average of your round scores on a course compared to the SSA.

Does Your Rating Affect the Events You Can Participate In?

Yes, most certainly, your ratings will specify or dictate which PDGA events and divisions you can participate in. The whole point of the ratings was to create a system where the competition is fair.

Some Parting Thoughts

Disc golf is really catching on. More people are playing the game now. To keep the playing field even, it is essential to have a player rating system in place. The Professional Disc Golf Association has a player rating in place for its members who participate in PDGA events and tournaments.