


WI Tour 2023 Updates & Goals
The WDSA board wishes to help players navigate planning so they can compete in the WI Disc Golf Tour 2023.
There were 19 WI Tour tournaments last year. The most common WI Tour structure for an individual tournament is one day for upper rated divisions and one day for lower rated divisions, no matter how many courses are used. The WI Tour requires at least 144 player roster spots to be available per tournament. The 2022 season had 208 different people play at least five WI Tour tournaments. That is 42 holes of 5 on each card. The popularity of tournaments in WI clearly shows that the WI Tour needs to provide a lot of roster spots. During the 2022 season, there were six tournaments that offered 20 or less holes per round, one that offered 27 holes and seven that used 2 courses per day. Six more tournaments used at least three courses per day. In 2022 there were more than 130 events offered in WI. Three A Tier, thirty PDGA B Tier events in Wisconsin and nineteen were WI Tour events. There were also 60 C Tier and 30 more unsanctioned events. Every player should be able to find events that work for them.
The Wisconsin Tour goal for the 2023 season is to increase roster spots. One way this could have been accomplished, is by eliminating divisions. We chose not to go that route. In order to support players committed to the WI Tour, tough decisions have been made and we understand that not all players will be happy with the final decisions. Adding additional roster spots to the tour happened in two ways.
1. Two more tournaments were added to this season. Standing Rocks Open has been re-added to the WI Tour while The Great Glacial Washout will remain on the tour. This can add as many as 460 roster spots as SRO will have two courses on three different weekends! We were willing to have two stops in Stevens Point as location is very central state. We have also added The Spring Fling Women's only tournament at Rollin Ridge. The first dedicated division event that asked and was excepted to the tour. Further adjustments may be necessary in future years.
2. In addition to PDGA rule that B Tier players must be PDGA members. We believe roster spots will open up because of that. We will recommend Tour Td's use a tiered entry system that could relieve some of the super quick sellouts of tournaments. Some Td's have been starting registration with set numbers for divisions which helps as well. Especially for small divisions.
Every year the Tour committee critiques the WI Tour, resulting in changes. We try to figure out how to make it work for as many players and TDs as possible. The WI Tour started in 1993 with four tournaments. In 30 years it has grown from a small community into a highly popular sport - it has outgrown its shoes, house, yard, and garage.
The 2023 WI Disc Golf Tour Finale will be hosted by Josh Hamm of Riverside Disc Golf In West Bend using Riverside and Sandy Knoll Disc Golf Courses. Players must earn invitations using earned points at WI Tour tournaments only. WI Tour Champion Plaques will be awarded at the Finale.
WIDISCSPORTS CALENDAR AND MORE
I would like to remind players that widiscsports.com has posted a working calendar of all WI tournaments that go through the current PDGA State Coordinator, Mike Harrington. Not just WI Tour, but any organized event. We add as many registration links as TDs will give us, which is most.
This is the same website that includes tour points, rules, and an archive that is in the process of documenting WI people, places and events that have shaped Frisbee and disc sports in the state.
This website also includes a list of every Developmental fund donation WDSA has awarded. Over $70,000 from 2000 to 2022. This is money raised with a $2 donation from every player at every WI Tour tournament. Perhaps a part of the reason there are so many disc golf courses in WI.
There is a fun state map that interactively tracks the history of course development. From the few fists full to over 400 courses now.
The TOUR
In Wisconsin, we have an active tour that tracks player’s scores for a series of tournaments. The tour provides the “most coveted” black disc for each division’s champion at each tour stop. At the end of the season, trophies are awarded to the state champion and runners up in each division at our end of the season finale. This is a Tour not a single tournament championship.
DIVISIONS
Divisions recognized for black disc, points and tour champion
1. For divisions with 3 or more players, the tour will track points and offer a black disc to the division winner.
2. If a particular division has been awarded a Black Disc at 5 or more events, the tour will award a Tour Champion for that division at the end of the season.
3. This is a points series meaning that the player earning the most points through the season becomes Tour Champion. The number of stops that count toward your points total will be based of the number of completed tournaments of the Tour. This will be half the the total number of stops of the Tour. For example: 21 stops 10 count, 20 stops, 10 count. 19 stops, 9 count. 18 stops, 9 count. There are 21 WI Tour stops for any division this year. If we end up with 21 tournaments this year that would be 10 scores.
A note to players, Most TD's will be agreeable to include additional divisions if they are contacted in advance and if they are assured of having a minimum of players in that division. Also, players will only receive points in the division which they are registered. Black discs will only be awarded to divisions with 3 or more players.
Wisconsin Disc Golf Tour Division Champions & Tour Finale
In addition to the PDGA points you will earn on the tour at our stops, you will also earn Wisconsin points for your play on the tour. Participants will be awarded points based on their finish within their division. We award 100 points for first place regardless of the number within the division (3 person minimum). Points for the rest of the division will be a percentage of 100. For example if there are 4 players, first gets 100 points, 2nd gets 75 points, 3rd gets 50 points, and 4th 25 points. The intent is to evenly balance out the points awarded at smaller events with the larger attended events. These points you earn will help determine the divisional state champions for the season as well as who gets invited to the tour finale. We will only award spots to players based on their finish throughout the season. Make sure to play in as many events as you can to earn a spot.
FEES
There are 2 fees (or funds) that each player incurs while playing at all Wisconsin Disc Golf Tour stops. These extra monies are included in your entry fee for the tournament. First, we have a disc sports development fund that is collected from every player at each stop, this fee is $2. This money is made available for major upgrades on existing courses or installations of new courses here in the state. Second, we have a tour participation fee that pays for trophies and prizes/purse for the season finale. All Pro, Advanced, Intermediate and Recreational divisions pay $1 per tour stop into this fund. Juniors are not required to pay this fee.
FINALE BIDS
A celebration of the WI Disc Golf Tour for the completed year. A WI Tour Division Champion Award Ceremony and disc golf competition.
Host proposals wanted; send to the WDSA board before December of the year before the Finale you wish to host.
What are we looking for?
The host will secure 18-36 holes, parking, toilets, shelter, a plan for lunch on site, room for 4 vendors and electricity. What else can a host entice us with? No rents, the lunch plan, and added cash to defray finale costs. Or any cool ideas that the WI Tour does not need to be responsible for that will enhance the celebration.
WI Disc Golf Tour will direct the competition, the Division Champion Award Ceremony and anything that goes with those.
To be a Finale vendor: First pay - first reserve. A $30 non-refundable reservation deposit. Only 4 vendors and the host can vend as well.
The 2021 Wisconsin Disc Golf Tour Champions are:
OPEN Scott Burtard
FPO Lindsey Fish
MP40 Zack Cobus
MP50 Aaron DeLair
MP60 Troy Campbell
MA1 Michael Holton
FA1 Michelle Hecht
MA40 Jason Barnier
MA50 John Molenda
MA60 Tom McManus
MA2 Jeff Roth
FA2 Emma Rafuse
MA3 Dustin Ackerman
FA3 Lindsey Krause
MA4 Travis Lafernier
JUN Ian Mc Namara
Wisconsin Tour Coordinators
Year Coordinator Assistant
2023 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2022 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2021 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2020 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2019 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2018 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2017 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2016 Brad Wendt John Terlap
2015 Tom Jenkins Brad Wendt
2014 Tom Jenkins Brad Wendt
2013 Tom Jenkins Brad Wendt
2012 Tom Jenkins Brad Wendt
2011 Tom Jenkins Brad Wendt
2010 Tom Jenkins Brad Wendt
2009 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
Year Coordinator Assistant
2008 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
2007 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
2006 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
2005 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
2004 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
2003 Tom Jenkins Eric Paulson
2002 Randy Schukar
2001 Randy Schukar
2000 Randy Schukar
1999 Randy Schukar
1998 Randy Schukar
1997 Randy Schukar
1996 Mike Cozzens Michelle Cozzens
1995 Bill Stolpa
1994 Eric Paulson Tom Jenkins-John Elsner
1993 Eric Paulson Tom Jenkins-John Elsner