The PDGA Global Board of Directors Nominating Committee completed a comprehensive assessment of 13 self-nominated candidates which included detailed reviews of cover letters, resumes, referral letters, background checks, and for the most qualified candidates, video interviews. More information about the Nominating Committee can be found here.

The process culminated in six candidates from different backgrounds appearing on the ballot for the upcoming PDGA Global Board of Directors elections. These six candidates will be vying for two open positions on the board.

The PDGA Global Board of Directors is required for nonprofit status and mandated by the PDGA bylaws. In addition to semi-annual summit meetings, the board conducts monthly teleconferences with staff to accomplish its varied goals, such as setting PDGA policies; hiring and supervising of the executive director, who is responsible for headquarters, staff and ongoing operations; financial managements, including an annual budget; identification of responsible future board members; and representing the membership's visions for the future of the sport and the association.

Two at-large board member positions will be elected this year during a month-long election from July 1-31, 2023.

The two candidates who receive the most votes will serve three-year terms from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2026. For additional information, please see the PDGA Elections page.

Here are the six candidates who have stepped up and are ready to help take the sport of disc golf to the next level, along with their background information and statements of intent. Stay tuned to PDGA.com and the PDGA on social media throughout the month of June as we get to know these candidates even more.

2023 Board Candidates

• Geoff Hungerford #688
• Adam Wright #6387
• Tim Petrea #34756
• Nate Heinold #49340
• Luke Turnbull #63994
• James Koizumi #126027

GET TO KNOW THE PDGA GLOBAL BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

Geoff Hungerford #688

Candidate Information

Location: Louisville, Colorado

Introduction: Biography: Geoff Hungerford is currently a PDGA Director and Secretary of the PDGA Board of Directors. He was a career engineer, working in new product development for over 40 years in the USA and United Kingdom. Geoff retired from engineering in 2017 and is now engaged full time with disc golf competitions and related pursuits.  He has served for over 6 years on the PDGA Seniors committee. Geoff has also served as a board member for the National Amateur Disc Golf Tour and the Mile High Disc Golf Club. Geoff started competing at disc golf in 1974 at the American Flying Disc Open. He designed the first Frisbee golf course in Colorado (1974), which was permanently installed in 1976 by the Univ. of Colorado. He started the Chinook Frisbee Group in 1975 and began hosting disc golf and Frisbee competitions at that time.

Group in Boulder, CO in 1975. He ran the Boulder Flying Disc Festival in 1977. He competed in the World Frisbee Championships at the Rose Bowl in 1975, 76 and 77, invited by Wham-O Mfg. Co. He served as one of two International Frisbee Association (IFA) Regional Directors for region 9 from 1976-78.

Since that time Geoff has had an unquenchable passion for disc golf. In 1992 he founded the Colorado Disc Sports Association, a 501(c)(4) that managed the Colorado disc golf tour. He's won over 100 PDGA pro events with career earnings in excess of $63,000. Over the past four years Geoff has been engaged full time competing in the biggest disc golf events offered in the USA and Thailand. He competes in 30-40 PDGA events per year across the U.S.

I have been passionate about disc golf since the PDGA was created in 1976.  Ed Headrick told us why he was starting the PDGA at the Western Nationals in 1976 held in Boulder, CO. He anticipated the sport would grow tremendously and need regulation for professionals who play for money, like other professional sports. Since then the PDGA has achieved Ed's original vision and taken the sport to levels unimaginable at that time. Tournaments, tours, players, clubs and companies have come and gone since then, but the PDGA has endured with the vision of taking our sport to the next level of professional sports.

I'm still as excited today about that vision as I was almost a half century ago. I want to see disc golf take its place among major professional sports. Now that disc golf is a full time pursuit for me, I have the time to contribute to the PDGA Board. With my travel schedule taking me to a new city almost every week, I can see firsthand how the sport is developing at major events. I'm active on social media and love to interact with disc golfers. I'm most excited about three things in particular:

1. Growth among women playing disc golf
2. Media coverage of major events both Pro and Am
3. A PDGA Seniors Tour modeled after the PGA Seniors Tour

The current PDGA staff, committee members, and directors are the single largest community of disc golf subject matter experts ever assembled. I intend to support them in every way I can. With regard to gender eligibility I will continue to adhere to the International Olympic Committee Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-Discrimination. I anticipate a time in the future when the PDGA will recognize worldwide competition based on a variety of gender eligibility criteria that are consistent with local laws and regional cultures.

Background/Professional Experience

• Process Engineer: silicon wafer fabrication
• Engr Manager: Microlithography
• Engr Manager: magnetic recording head fabrication
• Software Development: Engr Managerr & Individual Contributor
• Adjunct Physics Professor

Goals as a PDGA BOD Member: I am running for a Director position to continue with enhancements and promotion of the PDGA Global Masters Series. In addition my goals as a Director include supporting our full-time staff in their pursuit of the vision and charter of the PDGA. I was actively involved in drafting and approving the PDGA’s current 5 year plan for priorities while I served on the board. I intend to support every item in that PDGA list of priorities.

Interview

Geoff Hungerford Interview Transcript

Follow-up Questions

Are there things that other athletic organizations do that you’d like to see the PDGA implement?

GH: I support the idea of a Ladies PDGA, just like the LPGA in ball golf. I think our female disc golfers are better able to manage aspects of disc golf related to women than men are.

What are some of the challenges the PDGA faces as our sport and community grows, and how might the PDGA address those challenges?

GH: Currently we face financial challenges if we want disc golf to take its place among other major sports. We're not big enough yet to attract major corporate sponsors, but we're slowly making progress. I suggest the PDGA continue to cultivate our partnership with the DGPT and Disc Golf Network. 

Do you have any suggestions for leveraging, statistics, ratings, and data to improve the member experience?

GH: The Global Masters Series is an excellent way to leverage ratings, which is something unique to the PDGA. I envision that the PDGA will continue to promote, recognize, and reward excellence among masters age players on a global scale.

What, if anything, would you change about the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions?

GH: I feel the PDGA should sanction and recognize disc golf competitions where tournament directors have the freedom to choose a female eligibility policy that is appropriate for the community they serve. This would be an extension of the PDGA policy currently offered to the DGPT, they can choose between an exclusive or an inclusive eligibility policy, provided it is not prohibited by local laws.

How do we make PDGA membership valuable even to those disc golfers who cannot or choose not to compete in sanctioned events?

GH: I suggest the PDGA explore making our sport attractive to spectators who love to watch the game, but don't compete in sanctioned events. I anticipate this would involve expanding media opportunities and possibly offering a limited PDGA membership class for elite spectators.

Adam Wright #6387

Candidate Information

Location: West Union, SC

Introduction: I began playing when my dad introduced me to object golf with a Frisbee in 1980. We played regularly and sometime thereafter we discovered a course with baskets close to our neighborhood. I've been playing ever since.

I first got involved in organized Disc Golf with the Minnesota Frisbee Association in 1991 and served on the MFA Board as Secretary and Vice President.

I've run sanctioned and non sancationed events since the early 90s. I have been involved in course development which includes proposing, fundraising, and designing in multiple states.

Background/Professional Experience

• American Acedamy of Dramtic Arts, Pasadena, SC
• Brown College , Minnesapolis, MN
• University of South Carolina Union campus, Union, SC.
• Licensed Financial Advisor in a dozen states with Series 7 & Series 66 Certifications.
• Licensed Insurance Agent in South Carolina.
• Worked in broadcast media from 1994 - 2017
• Work as a Financial Advisor from 2017 - Present

I have owned several small businesses over the years including a party rental business, photography business and a Disc Golf Business.

I have been a member of the Civitan Club, Rotary International, and served on the BOD of several Chamber of Commerce boards. I have been the fundraising chairs of my sons' Boy Scout Troop; and current sit on the School Improvement Council for Walhalla Elementary School in West Union, SC.

Goals as a PDGA BOD Member: I want Disc Golf to be a recognized high school sport in the United States and around the world.

Safety considerations to be made for sactioned events on smaller, older courses that were designed before high speed drivers.

I want media coverage of the PDGA Elite Series, Silver Series and Majors become more accessible and to raise the quality of the coverage.

Interview

Adam Wright Interview Transcript

Follow-up Questions

Are there things that other athletic organizations do that you’d like to see the PDGA implement?

AW: I would be open to seeing a tier of membership for non-tournament players; members that run events but don't play in sanctioned event; and even a membership designed for senior members. Those type of membership exist in other organizations.

What are some of the challenges the PDGA faces as our sport and community grows, and how might the PDGA address those challenges?

AW: As the popularity of Disc Golf increases, how to we continue to grow the sport while remaining true to what brought us into the sport to begin with? I love the family feel of my disc golf community but I don't feel that closeness in large metropolitan clubs like I do in my smaller club.

Do you have any suggestions for leveraging, statistics, ratings, and data to improve the member experience?

AW: I would like to see when players play seasonal leagues have their ratings update monthly for those rounds instead of having to wait until the end of the multiple month league for ratings to be updated. I would also be open to seeing the ratings for multiple day events be adjusted to changing weather conditions.

What, if anything, would you change about the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions?

AW: I believe there is an unfair advantage that transgender women have over cis women in female protected divisions. I believe there needs to be a level playing field and I don't think that exists in the sport right now.

That being said, I do have a female transgender member of my family and if she wants to compete in sports one day, I would like her to have that opportunity in a way that is comfortable for her. I do not know what those options are or what they should be but it is something that needs to be look into to be as welcoming as we can be as a community.

How do we make PDGA membership valuable even to those disc golfers who cannot or choose not to compete in sanctioned events?

AW: For non-competitive membership, the PDGA could consider membership tiers based on being a supporting member or a senior member. Another option to consider is a membership for non tournament players that would get something in return. It could be something that is collectible in nature.

Tim Petrea #34756

Candidate Information

Location: Tifton, GA

Introduction: Hello, I am glad to have the opportunity, once again, to compete for an opportunity to serve on the PDGA Board of Directors. This will be my fourth year in a row attempting to gain a spot. I love this game and look forward to the opportunity to represent the PDGA and help to guide its growth in the next 3 years. I currently serve on the Board for the South Georgia Football Officials where I have the opportunity to build the training program for High School Football officials in our area. I proudly serve as an Innova Ambassador where I have the opportunity spread the love of Disc Golf. For my career, I get the opportunity to serve as a Parks and Recreation Director. I love my job and look forward to going to work everyday. One of the messages that has become my mission is that "Play Matters". It is important to me that people understand the importance of play for the sake of play.

Background/Professional Experience: As a leader in the Parks and Recreation Industry, I have the opportunity to Plan, manage, develop and enforce policy, and many other facets of this great field. My network is strong with our State Organization and the National Recreation and Park Association. I have been fortunate to be able to work with Agencies in Georgia, North Carolina and Wyoming.

I am proud to be working for a park system back in Georgia.

I have served in the United States Airforce.

Goals as a PDGA BOD Member: As a PDGA BOD member my goals are as follows

1. Establish stronger initiatives between the National Parks and Recreation Association and State Parks and recreation agencies that will assist in outreach to diverse groups, creating more competition options, and educatng the masses about PDGA design standards.
2. Establish stronger communication with the National Federation of High School Sports to continue the conversation about Disc Golf becoming a scholastic sport.
3. Strengthen the communiction of the PDGA to its members through Education and Assesment of current outreach programs.

Interview

Tim Petrea Interview Transcript

Follow-up Questions

Are there things that other athletic organizations do that you’d like to see the PDGA implement?

TP: Yes, I would like to see actual live events on Sports Networks. If Cornhole and Ultimate can do it then why cant we?

What are some of the challenges the PDGA faces as our sport and community grows, and how might the PDGA address those challenges?

TP: Retention of members is always a challenge. Maybe we can think of more rewards if a member renews.

Do you have any suggestions for leveraging, statistics, ratings, and data to improve the member experience?

TP: 

What, if anything, would you change about the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions?

TP: I would like to address some of the inconsistencies in the policy. If a player is not allowed to play on the Pro Tour , then they should not be allowed to play in the A, B , or C tiers. I would like to become more informed on why we cant enforce this. 

How do we make PDGA membership valuable even to those disc golfers who cannot or choose not to compete in sanctioned events?

TP: my only thought is creating a system where they can log in the amount of games or courses they play. When they reach certain goals then they open up rewards. This is far reaching I know, but its all I can think of

Nate Heinold #49340

Candidate Information 

Location: Eureka, IL

Introduction: My name is Nate Heinold and I am running for reelection to the PDGA Board of Directors. I am the current President of the Global Board of Directors of the PDGA and have served in that role the last two years. I have been playing disc golf for 23 years and have been fortunate to play all over the United States. I live in Eureka, IL with my wife and our two kids and have a lifelong passion for the sport of disc golf.

Background/Professional Experience: I have a Master’s Degree in Business with a concentration in finance from Illinois State University. For the last 13 years I have worked as the VP with a focus in marketing and commercial sales for the Ledgestone Group. I also have the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in insurance (CPCU designation). My focus has been on risk management for larger commercial organizations over the last decade. I have served on the PDGA Board of Directors since 2017. I am also the Chairperson and one of the Founders of the Paul McBeth Foundation. I have ran nearly 100 PDGA sanctioned events over the last decade, and founded the Ledgestone Open disc golf event, which is now the largest disc golf event in the world. In addition to running Ledgestone, I am the current TD of the Great Lakes Open and the PDGA Champions Cup. I have run numerous PDGA Majors, including the 2019 PDGA Pro Worlds, the 2022 PDGA Master and Juniors Worlds and will also TD the 2023 PDGA Amateur and Junior Worlds. In 2024 my team and I will run the PDGA Pro Worlds event in Lynchburg, VA. In 2023 I will be inducted into the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

In my business dealings I have also served as the President of the local Chamber of Commerce and have consulted or volunteered with numerous organizations. I have begun to transition away from insurance full time and now run the Ledgestone Disc Golf Operations as my full time job. In addition to managing our online store, we run events throughout the year, design and maintain courses, wholesale Ledgestone discs and work to grow the sport locally in Central Illinois. I currently manage a team of 20 people across 5 states.

Goals as a PDGA BOD Member: I am very proud of the work that I have accomplished over the last 6 years as a PDGA BOD Member, but I know there is more work to do. In the past several years I have been involved in or led several initiatives that have become PDGA policy. Some of my larger accomplishments include leading the charge to create a 4th PDGA Professional Major (Champions Cup), pushing the PDGA to invest in youth and education (still a work in progress), taking over the PDGA Majors Committee and enacting several changes to our Majors, supporting and helping overhaul our professional tour with the transition away from the National Tour to a unified Disc Golf Pro Tour, supporting and pushing for the current policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions and helping change our Tour Standards to allow TD’s to fairly compensate themselves.

Moving forward I have three main goals that I want to accomplish in my last term on the PDGA BOD. My main goal is an ambitious one, but it is one I strongly believe in. The disc golf industry, after several years of rapid growth, has begun to show signs of flatlining. The one definitive way to grow the spot is to give additional access to the sport of disc golf to those that do not have access. My goal is to propose a new plan this summer, with the goal to begin to implement this plan in 2024, that would see the PDGA directly supporting new courses in the ground in areas that do not yet have access to disc golf. This program would be a substantial investment on behalf of the PDGA (hundreds of thousands of dollars) to directly give grants to communities and areas that do not yet have courses. I would propose that the PDGA pay for this investment by raising PDGA membership fees $5 per member per year. Membership fees have not been raised in over a decade, and this would be a great way to invest in the future of our sport. The goal of the program would be to actively seek out areas that do not have disc golf and offer substantial grants to help pay for the development of new courses. A specific focus for this program would be schools, youth camps, international projects, Native American and other tribal lands and US communities that have little or no access to the sport. The PDGA would continue to work with trusted partners who are already fulfilling this mission.

My next goal would be to increase competitive access for our members to play in sanctioned events. There are still too many members who tell me that they miss out on playing certain events because the events fill too quickly. This goal will require many moving pieces to come together, but we have to give PDGA members priority when it comes to playing sanctioned events. That’s why I will be supporting an initiative for 2024 to require PDGA membership to play in any sanctioned event that is at the C Tier level or above. I will also be supportive of continuing to invest in PDGA leagues and investing resources into developing additional tier levels that give competitive access to newer players who may not be ready to become a PDGA member. Additionally, I believe that in order for the PDGA to give members more access to playing competitive disc golf, we need more resources and training for TD’s. I will continue to support efforts to fairly compensate TD’s and give them the resources they need so they can be successful and run additional events and have the training and support they need from PDGA staff.

Finally, my last goal will be to continue to help support the DGPT (Disc Golf Pro Tour). The DGPT is integral to the success of the PDGA. PDGA members love playing competitive disc golf, but they also love watching the DGPT and DGN. In order to continue to grow the sport, we need to continue to invest in the spectator and fan experience along with the DGPT. The PDGA will continue to see success as the sport grows, and the DGPT is an integral part of that growth opportunity that the PDGA needs to continue to work closely with and support. The stars of our game (Wysocki, McBeth, McMahon, Tattar, Pierce, Allen, etc) are some of our biggest assets to get our sport to the next level, and their success on the DGPT only helps the PDGA in its mission. Continuing to support these efforts is paramount to the PDGA’s success.

Interview

Nate Heinold Interview Transcript

Follow-up Questions

Are there things that other athletic organizations do that you’d like to see the PDGA implement?

NH: Across golf, tennis and other individual sports, fans love to debate who is the greatest of all time, how many majors someone would have won in a different era, etc. However, that is harder to do in disc golf for past members because their member profile is hidden if they are no longer a member. The PDGA should look to make that information available so those comparisons across time can be done.

What are some of the challenges the PDGA faces as our sport and community grows, and how might the PDGA address those challenges?

NH: One of the challenges the PDGA faces is TD burnout. Members want to play events, but in order for that to continue to be a reality, we need TD's who are motivated to run events. New TD's get a lot of criticism and it is not easy to run an event for the first time. Continuing to provide support to newer TD's and providing additional ways to earn compensation are things the PDGA needs to continue to invest in.

Do you have any suggestions for leveraging, statistics, ratings, and data to improve the member experience?

NH: In general, members have a lot of opinions on ratings, and many say its the most important member benefit. Providing additional information on why a round was rated a certain way (compared to a past tournament with the same layout) would be valuable analysis for our members. In addition, the PDGA could look to weight Majors and A TIers as a higher percentage of someone's rating compared to C Tiers.

What, if anything, would you change about the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions?

NH: I strongly support and helped author the current policy. In general, I do not believe that transgender women should be competiting in female divisions. At the same time, the PDGA sanctions events all over the world and we need to be mindful of the laws across our footprint. It is important to see how things play out with other sports organizations, legal proceedings, etc, before taking additional steps.

How do we make PDGA membership valuable even to those disc golfers who cannot or choose not to compete in sanctioned events?

NH: One idea we could implement is to give discounted or free membership to members who act as the TD for a certain number of events each year. One additional idea would be to allow members a discounted entry that only would allow them to play up to 2 sanctioned events per year. This could reward the members who want to give back to the PDGA but don't play often.

Luke Turnbull #63994

Candidate Information

Location: Newcastle, Australia

Introduction: Disc golf has been a constant in my life since being introduced to it in 2012. It's forged my relationships, salvaged my health, and been a contributing factor in the decision making I have made in my professional career and personal life since. I owe so much to it and I have been trying to give back as much as I can.

Background/Professional Experience: I have volunteered on the Australian Disc Golf board since 2014 and would like to take my experience with a national organisation to the next level and join the PDGA Board of Directors.

Professional experience: For the last 17 years, I have worked as a Business Analyst, Operations Manager, and People Leader across the telecommunications and banking industries. I am currently employed as an Analyst in the public sector. My key skills include data analysis, stakeholder management and engagement, people management, and process improvement.

Volunteer experience: In my role as President of the ADG, I have been able to lead the development of policies, strategies and resources to aid the growth of the sport across Australia. The role has included collaboration with various stakeholders, including players, clubs, sponsors, and governing bodies. It has provided me with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with managing and growing a sporting organisation on a large scale.

At a local level, I have actively contributed to the community by organising and managing tournaments and leagues, establishing a now thriving club in Adelaide, South Australia, and facilitating the design and installation of multiple courses.

In addition to the above, I also serve as a moderator of r/discgolf on Reddit. This online community is the largest social media presence of disc golfers with almost 250,000 members.

I believe my professional and volunteer experience will allow me to effectively contribute as a member of the PDGA Board of Directors.

Goals as a PDGA BOD Member: If elected, my first priority will be to continue the growth of disc golf with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. There has been some success in “young” disc golf countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Philippines joining more established countries like Japan, New Zealand and Australia hosting more events and engaging new players. To further this progress, I would like to see the formation of a sub-committee, inspired by the early days of PDGA Europe, with the ultimate goal of establishing PDGA Asia-Pacific as a dedicated entity to advance the sport.

Additionally, I believe it is crucial for the PDGA to better promote disc golf as a viable exercise option. More than half of Australian adults do not undertake enough physical activity each week; this number is 70% for children. Similarly, in America, the lack of physical activity is over 70%. Disc golf presents an excellent opportunity for individuals to embrace exercise, leading to weight loss, improved health, and ultimately a happier, longer life.

Lastly, I am committed to supporting the development of a PDGA-led Tournament Director Mentor program. Volunteers are a vital asset to our sport, and implementing such a program would help nurture the next generation of event staff, ensuring a strong foundation for future success.

Interview

Luke Turnbull Interview Transcript 

Follow-up Questions

Are there things that other athletic organizations do that you’d like to see the PDGA implement?

LT: The continued growth of disc golf is contingent on continuing to grow the player base but more importantly, to grow the staff/volunteer base who help facilitate the sport. Other sports offer professional pathways outside of playing and this is something the PDGA should investigate. Recognised accreditation programs for course design & installation, tournament director certification and similar endeavours would allow the sport to grow in a more professional direction. Additionally, better engagement on social media. Other sporting brands use social media to engage WITH the community, not just delivery a news article and then maintain radio silence. Engagement has to be two way.

What are some of the challenges the PDGA faces as our sport and community grows, and how might the PDGA address those challenges?

LT: The biggest challenge disc golf faces as it grows is competition for space. This includes space for courses,  space for players at tournaments, and space on the calendar for competing events. A well trained and enthusiastic workforce made up of paid employees and volunteers is vital to continue and sustain the growth of the sport. We need well trained people to engage with local government, private entities, parks and rec departments. We need well trained people to install a wide variety of accessible, challenging and safe courses. We need well trained people to run amazing events to ensure people keep coming back. And we need the PDGA to continue developing cutting edge technology to allow those people running events to do so without issue. 

Do you have any suggestions for leveraging, statistics, ratings, and data to improve the member experience?

LT: The PDGA should investigate the implementation of a more dynamic ratings update for players, rather than the monthly occurrence as it is now. If the current solution is a manual one that has to be triggered monthly, then in 2023, it's something that should warrant some level of automation.

The PDGA Live Scoring app could also use some enhancements. Many members of the community thought that the partnership with uDisc would develop into a world class PDGA scoring system, however that never eventuated. Players like statistics and the lack of there availability within the native app is a major discussion at every event I play - demonstrated at the elite level by uDisc being the go to for events on the DGPT and discgolfmetrix being used by a large number of clubs for leagues and events as well. The live scoring app could also use some enhancements by way of round summaries, individual hole breakdowns and player comparisons.

Finally - ask the member base. Manufacturers and retailers regularly survey their customers for feedback and it's a great way to gather insights and give members a sense of ownership for the direction of the sport.

What, if anything, would you change about the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions?

LT: I and the rest of the PDGA membership base were not privy to the discussions held by the PDGA Board of Directors in November 2022. My greatest concern with the current policy is the lack of transparency - a significant decision boiled down to a footnote in minutes, summarising a seven hour discussion into a few sentences. From my perspective - it's a more complex and nuanced discussion than some are making it out to be. The PDGA needs to ensure they maintain fairness within the policy whilst still being an inclusive sport. I believe that this will be a topic of discussion for the PDGA (and all sports) for many years to come and discussions need to be had and decisions made without malice, with fairness, inclusion and integrity for all involved. 

How do we make PDGA membership valuable even to those disc golfers who cannot or choose not to compete in sanctioned events?

LT: As an international member, the only two benefits of PDGA membership are ratings/sanctioned events and access to a 50% discount of DG Network coverage. These are not likely to encourage players who do not compete in sanctioned events.

I also don't believe we should target those players or aim to specifically monetize them. A "recruit a friend" program would be more effective as disc golfers are the number one reason new people play disc golf. The PDGA should also better market their official store and provide membership discounts for merchandise. 

James Koizumi #126027

Candidate Information

Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Introduction: I am grateful to have been introduced to the game nearly five (5) years ago. It is impossible to account for all of the smiles, hugs, friendships, personal growth (and disc purchases) that our sport has brought into my life. In the last three (3) years, I have been able to play disc golf in 21 countries making many lifelong friends along the way, while listening to their stories and relationship with the game. It would be an honor to have the opportunity to give back in the greatest way possible as a PDGA Board Member. I have an unrelenting sense of gratitude for all of the happiness and friends disc golf has brought into my life. This motivates me daily to give back to this sport and community. I feel it is my daily duty to payback with a clear conscience, a pastime we get to play and enjoy for free. As with many other dedicated volunteers, I own more discs than I have time to throw and have come to peace with that - same with the aspirations to become a pro, knowing that my niche in our community is better served as a welcoming ambassador, strategic visionary and professional leader. 

Background/Professional Experience: Senior Legal Counsel, Axiom Law - Called to the bar in Alberta, Canada with 14 years of experience. - My practice speciality is advising executive leadership on litigation matters, compliance and strategic/complex commercial agreements, including acting as lead counsel for multiple deals in excess of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000.00+). Past President (2021 and 2022) and Director (2023), Calgary Disc Golf Club and Executive Director (2021 to Current), YYC Disc Golf During my tenure and with the support and tireless efforts of many amazing volunteer leaders in our local community: Membership - Increased membership over 500% from roughly 160 to 800-900 members. Of that, we have now more junior and female members, each respectively than we had total members in 2020. Also, for perspective our city club has roughly the same number of members as the total number of active PDGA members in our province (state) in 2021 and 2022. Courses - We have a proven track record of building courses that people play often. In the past three years, as a Project Lead, Designer, Builder, or Steward or all of the above, I have been a key contributor or lead, responsible for approximately 15 course projects, including the Project Lead for the Baker Park redesign which was the #1 most popular course in Canada and #4 most popular course in the world by UDisc (2022). Our continued success is built upon our professionalism, reputation for delivery and communication with municipal partners. In 2022, it is estimated that the courses that I have been involved with and/or continue to help steward, account for 40-45% of the total number of UDisc plays in the entire province (state) combined. Whether it is Membership or Courses, there is a formula for that success that I want to bring to the PDGA to grow the game! Fun Facts - In the past 15 years, I have travelled to 70 countries on six (6) continents. - In the past three years, competed in PDGA sanctioned events in Canada, United States, Mexico and Finland - Aces on three continents in five countries: Canada, US, Finland, Mexico and Colombia (likely the first ace in the country's recorded disc golf history) - Participated in the Paul McBeth Foundation project in Medellin, Colombia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nrHVL-0Fhg 

Goals as a PDGA BOD Member: Grow the game. Fast! We are blessed with a beautiful opportunity right now to grow our game globally across generations, genders, abilities and borders at a near exponential rate. I look to drive cultural change within the PDGA that invites rapid growth, with an uplifting and supportive hand to our local communities to keep pace. It starts with challenging conventional thinking, with a shared vision from grassroots to global. Let's spend our energy on finding ways to say "yes", "we can do this" and otherwise making great things happen. Collaborate. I have been able to see first-hand the awesome job that incredible organizations such as UDisc, UPlay, Paul McBeth Foundation, DGPT, our media coverage partners, etc. are doing to grow the sport in the best way they can. We all will win in a place of abundance when we work together and support each other. Inspire and Mentor. In every community, there are leaders and volunteers that have done so much, often without recognition to establish the courses and events we benefit from enjoying today. Thank you, thank you. I want to identify and cultivate our future leaders, those that can help carry the torch and allow our leaders of the past to get back to the joy of throwing discs or come in as mentors or support for those future leaders. The same goes for my role if elected as a PDGA Board Member - I want to identify a number of highly qualified candidates and mentor them to take over when my term is done.  

Interview

James Koizumi Interview Transcript

Follow-up Questions

Are there things that other athletic organizations do that you’d like to see the PDGA implement?

JK: Athletic organizations are only one of many referential groups the PDGA should be aware of best (and worst) practices.  The sport of disc golf is a business and an accessible technology that connects shared community experiences around the world. Ensuring the successful future of the PDGA relies on lessons learned also from business and technology as well.

Governance and Transparency

• Establish stringent whistleblowing, anti-corruption, conflict of interest and disclosure policies, commensurate with market-listed corporations.
• Publish disciplinary conduct tribunal reasons and decisions commensurate with self-governed professional bodies. 

Shift in Strategic Vision - Acknowledge the Present, Evolve Commitments for the Future

• PDGA is heavily USA centric.  Make the long-term commitment and investment in the growth of the governance of the sport as a global entity. Support organizations such as Paul McBeth Foundation, UPlay and other local federations who are succeeding in creating infrastructure and communities worldwide.
• In order to grow the game, target grassroots development for the vast majority of recreational and semi-competitive players that support the smaller minority of avid, competitive players.  Not the other way around.
• Focus and openly communicate the PDGA vision, mission and priorities to other disc golf stakeholders so everyone else can find ways to specialize or collaborate.  Use the PDGA resources to do less (from a strategic and operational mandate), better.

Partnerships and Collaboration

Many organizations often fail as a result of the management or leadership becoming their own limiting factor, whether in resources, ego or philosophy.  

There is no better time to be a part of the sport of disc golf.  New ideas, money, resources and talents are coming to the game with a shared effort to grow our beautiful sport.  The opportunity right now for the PDGA is to shift roles from an explorer/pioneer to now mentor, help and grow that energy - governing with an open, supporting hand, instead of an iron fist.  For long-term success, ultimately the PDGA needs to actively establish partnerships, repair relationships, collaborate and in some cases get out of their own way, to see the game grow at a pace than what could have been achieved alone.  Take pride in knowing that those new partners and running mates exist to carry the load as a result of the efforts and contributions that the PDGA has invested in the past.

What are some of the challenges the PDGA faces as our sport and community grows, and how might the PDGA address those challenges?

JK: If change is the constant, then the greatest challenge for the PDGA will be to begin to develop a culture and leadership that is better suited to adapt and be resilient to change as a fiduciary. This would be my most important criteria for considering and selecting any board of directors representative for any context.

Some challenges may include: performing enhancing drugs, player and public safety, environmental sustainability, competing governing organizations, major corporate sponsorship and media agreements, player unions, Olympics, rival tours, equipment and technology, course design, on-course marshals and officials, among many others.

Do you have any suggestions for leveraging, statistics, ratings, and data to improve the member experience?

JK: 

Ratings

For many reasons, including the infrequency of local, sanctioned events particularly in smaller or newer disc golf communities, monthly updates, availability and cost for a member to play in said events, etc. the sanctioned PDGA rating is on the verge of quickly losing its currency and informative value.  

Amateurs

• Create a new, real-time, unofficial PDGA rating using the same algorithm, combined with a basic handicap weighting system similar to golf (best 8 of the last 20 rounds, reducing statistically extraneous high hole scores based on rating, or other similar methodology) to give players another “Unofficial” rating number to sit alongside the “Sanctioned” play rating.  
• Based on historical data for a course, layout, time of year, weather conditions, etc. after completing a round in UDisc, a member will get an estimated, Unofficial PDGA rating for that round in real-time after completing the scorecard.
• This information feeds into their membership profile which goes into the handicap system and those rounds are viewable to the public.  The course, day, weather, score and which PDGA member attested, among other information will be displayed. 
• Advanced iterations would include attestation from another PDGA member and also create an informal, simpler version of the rules to be eligible for qualifying rounds for the Unofficial rating.  
• As an aside, those simpler rules can be used for new players to introduce them into leagues, events and tournaments to begin their transition into developing first their Unofficial rating as a gateway to improve their transition experience into sanctioned play.
• Along with both the Sanctioned and Unofficial Rating, an amateur player will also receive beside those numbers, regional and national percentile rankings.
• This new, Unofficial rating gives PDGA members on a daily basis, the ability to track progress and relative skill, while event coordinator will also have another data point on evaluating a player’s recent play for qualification and division purposes.

Professionals

• It is long overdue to drop the emphasis on ratings and introduce a weighted global ranking, similar to golf.  
• The rating can take a number of forms, at a minimum it would be a weighted average over a period of competition (for example, two years) with more recent performances weighted higher, based on placing, strength of field, relative difficulty index of course and conditions.  
• Competitive rounds would still be rated and a player will have the Sanctioned rating listed beside their name, but it would be the Global Ranking that is the leading statistic for professionals that needs to be defended and competed for on a regular basis or a player will begin to drop.  
• No longer will players be able to sit on a high rating and with strength of field Global Rankings, the regional and lag discrepancies for skill evaluated only by ratings will start to close.
• For the professional competitor and tour event organizers, Global Rankings simplify the communication to get disc golf out of niche terminology to attract a wider, mainstream audience.  It demystifies a complicated algorithm to assist in enhancing the marketability of the competitor and event for sponsorship, promotion and global notoriety.

Statistics

Some of the changes to ratings above are meant to create more recent data points. Relative percentiles and world rankings will already begin to assist event organizers in determining criteria and enhancing competition.  Further to that, using statistical analysis to create rules at the amateur level - built right into the PDGA event results will help to identify where players need to have divisions adjusted.  

Event organizers - empowered with the discretion in the rules to move a player up a division if in a single round, a rating achieved in that round is greater than three standard deviations above their Sanctioned or Unofficial Rating.  These concepts can be argued and refined, the point is to simply empower event organizers with more, relevant data points and objective criteria which can assist with improving the closer quality of competitive experience for others.

Professionals and/or amateurs - on a subscription basis, statistics can be used to enhance member benefits, incorporating advanced stats into a player profile collected by third-party provider.  There is no reason to reinvent the wheel, simply establish collaborative partnerships with UDisc, Disc Golf Metrix, StatMando, etc. that are already doing an incredible job.  The PDGA can work with all parties to help standardize and define how the statistics are collected and reported.

Courses - long-term we will be able to, with statistical confidence, take the first baby steps in establishing difficulty or index ratings for courses.  This is the first step for a number of different paths, some of which include the development of a universal player slope index similar to golf which would be another important piece of information for players and course design.

Data

The PDGA sits on a massive amount of play and usage data.  That information needs to be readily accessible to members, disc golf community partners and the mainstream public.  All of the information can be used to help a community group get funding to build a local course, make facility upgrades, approach sponsors for money, give details on participants’ distances travelled and spending information for grants with local tourism boards, strengthening relationships with municipal governments and private land owners

Other data such as number of hours spent playing worldwide, number of steps walked and other healthy lifestyle data can be used to promote and attract a wider audience to try the sport.

The PDGA also can work with partners to combine information - equipment sales, participation by youth and seniors, research into mental and physical health benefits, etc.   Leveraging data collectively will lead to more players, more courses, money, exposure, countries and community events.  It is time to share it freely and openly so members can leverage it to grow the game.

What, if anything, would you change about the PDGA Policy on Eligibility for Gender-Based Divisions?

JK:

New Guiding Principles for the PDGA

• Focus its mandate, understand that for the game to grow the PDGA alone cannot have all the answers, be open to evolving and have the courage to admit it needs help from the community.
• Rename the “M” (mixed) division to the “E” (everyone) division to avoid common misinterpretations by the general public.
• Manage the E division and always provide for divisional competition based on age and/or skill rating/global ranking for all PDGA members.
• Enable and support the creation of arms-length organizations (“ALOs”) in the sport of disc golf for communities that may include one or more aspects of divisional play not covered by the PDGA: gender, accessibility, jurisdiction, etc.
• Trust and empower those communities that know their member experience better to create policies and communications around: promoting athletes, education, tours, events, rules of play modifications, membership management, policies and criteria for collaborative inter-association play, creating rankings, development players and teaching professional standards, etc.
• For future, significant policy decisions hold itself to a higher standard in terms of research, expert and community consultation, reporting and disclosure, along with a general self-awareness of whether the PDGA is the correct entity to govern the matter to begin with,

Impacts

• ALOs to keep policies updated based on the latest research and feedback within their respective communities.  
• ALOs to provide information and policy updates, no less than annually to the wider disc golf community about issues, decision and changes impacting their respective communities.
• ALOs to manage their community membership and be responsible for any private or sensitive information disclosed by their membership.  A competitor may be a member of a number of ALOs for which they continue to meet the qualifications for.  
• Give professional tour organizations their own discretion to adopt the ALO policies as guidelines for divisional play or adopt their own.
• Give event organizers requesting sanctioning, the option as approved by the PDGA regional and country representatives to create competitive play outside of the PDGA age and/or skill rating based on: compliance with local laws and only allowing for ALOs that provide within their membership policy the ability for inter-ALO competition either as a permanent member of both ALOs or event-based exceptions granted to a player on a case-by-case basis.

Transition Period

• Declare 2024 a transition year to invest in and allow ALOs to establish their communities, governance and policies for the long-term benefit of our sport.
• Facilitate and commission a public summit prior to the 2024 season to allow for duly constituted ALOs to agree on a temporary, working policy for connected ALO inter-divisional play.
• In the event this process fails or in subsequent years when an agreement cannot be reached between connected ALOs, PDGA events will always make the Everyone division available operated on age and/or skill rating/global ranking.

How do we make PDGA membership valuable even to those disc golfers who cannot or choose not to compete in sanctioned events?

JK: Understanding the membership value proposition is important in any relationship context and in this case reflective of community success and growth.  Asking the question and listening to feedback is the first step on that path, at the same time it is indicative that the governing body has lost the pulse on the constituency.

Let's shift goals from viewing members as a revenue generating enterprise to a cost neutral approach.  Generate funds from other sources, particularly external, corporate partners, grants, licensing and sponsors.  

More members means more engagement, resources, ideas, exposure, promotion, volunteer hours, access to wider networks and takes the sport out of a niche, emerging activity and into the mainstream dialogue.  All of which is more valuable than $10 per person extra on the bottom line.

Everyone is a lifetime, active member.  One-time fee or at worst, a nominal yearly fee to maintain active status for admin costs  

• Base membership status receives information and updates about the sport, access to free features and events, basic discounts, volunteer opportunities and event calendar.
• For additional services, the individual can then select and customize the options they value via a subscription model: magazines, discs, advanced stats, sanctioned event participation, access to discounts with partners such as UDisc, DGPT, stores, manufactures, etc., direct donations to not-for-profit entities such as UPlay, PMF, etc.  
• Create family, junior and senior membership categories at a discounted price.  Reduce the cost for global memberships for developing countries with lower family incomes.  

1000-Rated Volunteer Program

• Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community.  There is no path where we all succeed without them.
• Also, I would argue that for most communities around the world it is more important to have 1000-rated volunteers than 1000-rated players. Either way, let us make an effort to cultivate as many top-rated volunteers as we do for celebrating top players.
• Develop criteria and recognize those that have given an exceptional amount of themselves to our sport.
• Display that status on their membership profile page, announce their status while on the first tee of an event round, special bag tags, among other possibilities.

Volunteer Opportunities and Resource Board

The PDGA has the skills and infrastructure to become a hub for volunteer resources.  A lot of volunteers are already incredibly busy doing the work and do not have time or opportunity to access external resources.  Create a volunteer opportunity resource board for local members to help steward and maintain courses, volunteer at tournaments, create promotional media, etc.  Often, many of those willing to help do not even know an opportunity exists. 

On that website, create a resource board with training and instructional videos, templates, checklists, a forum for questions, best practices posts and mentorship to allow PDGA volunteer members to connect and leverage the community’s intellectual base.

Global Best Practices

I have had the good fortune and am grateful to have travelled to 21 countries in the last three years for the purpose of playing disc golf but also observing and studying best practices from those communities and the amazing accomplishments they are making.  It is a stated promise to bring those smaller communities to the table to put those ideas into practice on a larger scale.  Evaluating their achievements by merit, effort and results as opposed to how long they have been around.  Membership value does not need to come from sanctioned event participation, sometimes it comes from having a seat at the table, to be heard, involved and contribute.

In conclusion, I find that if you value people for what they can bring and contribute to the community instead of how much they are worth and can spend, you do not need to ask the question about how to make membership more valuable.