The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) rates players through a system known as the "Player Ratings." These ratings are used to assess and compare the skill levels of disc golfers, both professional and amateur, and are a key component in the sport. Here's how the PDGA rates players:
- Tournament Rounds: The PDGA Player Ratings are primarily based on tournament rounds. When a player participates in a PDGA-sanctioned event, their scores from those rounds are recorded. These scores, along with specific information about the course's difficulty, conditions, and other factors, are used to calculate a player's rating.
- Rating Updates: Ratings are updated periodically, typically on the 1st and 15th of each month. This ensures that a player's rating reflects their most recent tournament performance and maintains the integrity of the rating system.
- Performance-Based: The rating system is performance-based, meaning it takes into account how a player performs relative to other participants in the tournament. It's not an absolute measure of skill but a relative one.
- Course Difficulty: The PDGA uses the difficulty of the courses played to adjust ratings. Courses have their own "Course Ratings," and these ratings are used to account for variations in course difficulty. A player's performance on a challenging course, for instance, may result in a higher rating than the same performance on an easier course.
- Competition Factor: The competition factor, or "C-Factor," is applied to ratings. This factor adjusts the rating based on the level of competition in the tournament. If a player competes in a highly competitive event, their rating may be adjusted accordingly.
- Ratings History: Over time, a player's rating is determined by their performance history. This means that as a player accumulates more tournament rounds, their rating becomes a more accurate reflection of their skill level.
- Division-Specific: Ratings are calculated separately for different divisions, such as Open, Advanced, Intermediate, Recreational, and others. This allows players to be rated within their own division, making it fair for all skill levels.
- Rating Cap: There is a cap on how much a player's rating can increase or decrease with a single round. This helps prevent significant fluctuations based on one exceptionally good or bad round.
Players can access their PDGA Player Ratings through the PDGA's online system. This system provides detailed information about a player's rating history, tournament results, and other statistics. The PDGA Player Ratings system is a valuable tool for both players and tournament organizers. It helps players gauge their progress, compare themselves to others, and determine eligibility for various divisions and events. It also adds a competitive element to the sport and is often used to seed players in tournaments, ensuring that participants are evenly matched based on their skill level.
October 17th 2023 - Results of Public Comment on Proposed Rule Changes for 2024
The Official Rules of Disc Golf, the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events, and the PDGA Tour Standards go through some level of revision each year.
The public comment period in August was extremely successful, and, based on member feedback, the PDGA Global Board of Directors has approved some changes to the revisions for 2024.
MPO players must have a minimum rating of 935 to register for either PDGA Major or Elite Series (DGPT) events. FPO Players must have a minimum rating of 825 to register for either PDGA Major or Elite Series (DGPT) events.