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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

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