WFDF and the PDGA renew relationship in order to promote disc golf globally
The World Flying Disc Federation (“WFDF”) is pleased to announce that its Congress has approved the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) as an associate member.
“We believe that there will be a number of mutual benefits from resuming a closer relationship between the PDGA and WFDF including improved communication between our two organizations, a leveraging of the respective resources of our organizations to achieve our mutual growth objectives and greater recognition in the larger world of sport. We can also learn from each other in areas where we may have different strengths,” commented WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “Special thanks to Dan ‘Stork’ Roddick for helping to bring the two organizations back together.”
Joe Chargualaf, executive director, and Justin Menickelli, PhD, board president, stated, “Speaking on behalf of the nearly 100,000 current members of the PDGA, we look forward to partnering with WFDF as we continue to focus on the tremendous growth and popularity of disc golf around the world. By sharing our strengths and resources, both organizations are in a better position to accomplish the many objectives needed to further develop disc golf into a globally recognized sport on the international stage. The future is bright for our sport, and we are thankful to partner with WFDF going forward.”
The PDGA is the governing body of disc golf, one of the largest flying disc sport disciplines, with over 95,000 amateur and professional individual disc golf-playing members across the globe. The PDGA sets rules and standards for the sport and it sanctions more than 5,700 annual competitive tour events with a collective purse of over $4.5 million. A 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization, it is based in Appling, GA in the USA, where it operates the International Disc Golf Center and three championship disc golf courses. The PDGA was an original charter member of WFDF when it was formed in 1985. WFDF is an International Federation (IF) recognized by the International Olympic Committee currently comprised of 100 national federations representing all disc sports athletes in their respective countries.
Charlie Mead, chair of the WFDF Disc Golf Committee, added “The re-engagement of WFDF and the PDGA is a major step forward in providing members of both organizations the opportunity to develop the sport of disc golf at an individual and international level. It will enable the further acceptance of the sport throughout our organizational structures – especially the opportunity to promote the principles and practices of WFDF and the PDGA. We will see growth in international competition in the years to come and the support we can mutually provide will also enhance opportunities for all who play disc golf at every level.”
The PDGA has also commented on this at https://www.pdga.com/news/pdga-rejoins-wfdf