Updated rules with a hint of vagueness

ON TODAYS CARD 📃:

• Transgender athletes and the PDGA

• PDGA updates to rules, competition manual, and tour standards for 2023

• Circle's edge and exciting replays

Estimated read time: 5 minutes 

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

• 11th Annual Chain Hawk Open Presented by Dynamic Discs - December 2-4 - Gainesville, Florida

• Carolina Clash Presented by Another Round Disc Golf and Dynamic Discs - December 3-4 - Charlotte, North Carolina

• Tri-Fly Disc Golf Presents the 10th Annual South Florida Open Sponsored by Dynamic Discs - December 9-11 - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

BULLSEYE

The PDGA's website crashed and burned yesterday for most of the day. Mixed in with replies by aspiring IT experts, were those reminding the PDGA about their stance, or lack thereof on transgender athletes in disc golf for 2023.

Currently, there are two open divisions for pro players under 40yrs old, MPO and FPO. MPO is a "Mixed" division where men or women can compete. The FPO division is gender-restricted, meaning only those who are eligible, can compete in that division.

In August, the PDGA released a statement saying the current policy on eligibility for gender-based divisions will not change for the remainder of 2022. However, if changes to the policy were to be made, those could take effect for the 2023 season at the earliest. The PDGA also sent out a survey to members in October, in the hopes of learning "more about attitudes and perceptions of transgender athletes".

• If you missed the survey, check this out to see the questions they asked.

The PDGA did release their PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf & Competition Manual Updated for 2023. There was no mention of changes to the divisions, but that policy does not fall within the categories they updated. So there is still a chance they make a change within 2022. With the PDGA not being clear regarding this decision, many are left wondering what the 2023 season will hold for athletes in the FPO division.

THE OFFICIAL'S CIRCLE

Yesterday evening, the PDGA released the updated rules, competition manual, and tour standards for 2023, just in time for you to read it while driving home in rush-hour traffic.

You can read the full statement here. Or if you don't care that much, just check out the highlights below:

Official Rules of Disc Golf

• 802.03 Excessive Time - A.4. During which the playing area is remains clear. If the playing area doesn't remain continuously clear, your 30-second time window restarts. How does one define clear? Maybe Nikko sees something we don't.

• 803.01 Moving Obstacles - B.1 ...Objects intentionally placed as part of the course or event are not casual obstacles. That log you threw in the woods? It may have been intentionally placed there by someone.

• 804.01 Mandatory Routes - A. A mandatory route restricts the path the disc may take to the target in the process of playing a hole. If you recall, Simon Lizotte experienced this firsthand during the Des Moines Challenge this year. They also updated the phrase "restricted space plane" throughout the rule book. 

• 813.01 Illegal Disc - 5. Intentionally deforming a disc such that it is not in a circular, saucer-like configuration.

Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events

• 1.03 Withdrawals and refunds - Changes here are the wording from cash to monetary "...100% cash monetary refund..." and clarifying the nature of what an applicable disaster is. Basically, if a disaster occurs making the tournament not happen, your tournament director (TD) doesn't have to go back to the 90s and pull out cash for you. However, if you are in an Amateur division, the TD can give you a refund of partial cash and a player pack if they so choose.

• 1.05 Practice rounds, beginning play, late arrivals - Here they clarify the scorekeeping amongst a group, stating each member should be given the opportunity to examine and verify the scorecard to be submitted Another new twist is if any player denies another player in the group that opportunity, they get slapped with two penalty throws. Remember that Ace on hole 3? Well it's a par now, sorry.

Tour Standards

• All A-Tier events must have a designated warm-up area available to all player. Not enough space, then the event must provide practice nets... Star treatment for those in the A-Tier

ITC WEEKLY PRO RANKINGS - TOP 5

Men

1. Paul McBeth

2. Ricky Wysocki

3. Manabu Kajiyama

4. Andrew Simmons

5. Chris Dickerson

Women

1. Kristin Tattar

2. Ohn Scoggins

3. Paige Pierce

4. Missy Gannon

5. Eveliina Salonen

CIRCLE'S EDGE

• Is Belize the new disc golf haven in Central America?

• More money is getting dumped into "Destination Bedford Disc Golf"

• There's a new PDGA Latin America Coordinator

• If you find yourself near a military base, there may a disc golf course

• List of best MPO wooded players for 2022

• Annndd a list of best FPO wooded players for 2022

• Lone Star Disc keeps making moves

REPLAYS

• Just when you think Calvin is done for

• One of the best feelings

• Can't forget when Simon does the inhuman

• Record for trees hit on an ace?

• When the commentators lose their minds

TOP 3 RATED COURSES IN...

Illinois!

• The Canyons at Dellwood Park - Lockport, IL - (OG short) - 18 holes - Par 58 - 5730 feet - 1747 meters

• Northwood Park - Morton, IL - (black) - 18 holes - Par 68 - 10499 feet - 3200 meters

• Fairfield Park - Round Lake, IL - (white) - 18 holes - Par 58 - 5039 feet - 1536 meters

via UDisc

RULE OF THE DAY

Thanks for reading!

Sending good vibes your way from In The Circle