Brian Cole is the TD of the Portland Open. Photo: DGPT

(This is the latest in a series coming to PDGA.com spotlighting the tournament directors of the PDGA Elite Series and beyond)

Tournament directors are often the unsung heroes of disc golf competition. They spend their time preparing and hosting disc golf tournaments all over the world.

Get to know Brian Cole, PDGA No. 46301, the tournament director for the Disc Golf Pro Tour - Portland Open and the Operations & Logistics Director for the DGPT.

We caught up with Brian to get to know his story in disc golf and what advice he has for tournament directors:

PDGA: How were you introduced to disc golf?

BC: I started playing frequently when I lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2007. Brewer Park was a popular spot and was the first place I witnessed skilled disc golfers throwing 400' drives. Flip City quickly landed on my radar as a destination spot, and in 2008 I stumbled on Pro Worlds in Kalamazoo. I was hooked. I played a TON of disc golf early on.

Tell us about the first event that you organized. What made you want to serve as a tournament director? What did you learn?

The first event I TD'd was a Stumptown Slosh. The Slosh is a long running winter series here in the Portland area, and a local favorite as it only draws the winter die-hards. The disc golf community has long been an important part of my life, and I wanted to give back to the community what it gave to me. Jeff Hagerty (former Beaver State Fling TD) taught me the ropes. I learned that you cannot over prepare.

What is the top priority for a TD? What is your top goal as a TD?

To deliver a professional experience to the competitors, volunteers, staff, spectators, parks and neighbors. My top goal is continual improvement. Nobody gets everything right on the first try. Take notes and make it a goal to refine your processes and build on your successes.

What is one piece of advice for someone that is hosting their first event?

Be proactive. If you have your ducks in a row that doesn't mean you should sit back and wait for the event to come to you. Go out to the course, see what you can do to improve the experience. Talk to the parks staff, ask them how their previous experiences with tournaments have been. Talk to the players, ask them what they value in an event.

What is one thing that TDs often overlook?

A fresh perspective. When it's your home course, or one you know well, it is easy to overlook simple things that could be an annoyance for competitors looking for a smooth experience.

Bonus: In your opinion, what is the best way to mark tournament OBs?

Great question. And a complicated one that doesn't have a one size fits all answer. I don't think that Elite competitive disc golf has yet arrived at the best way to mark OB. Natural OB is the lowest impact, but often vague. Marking paint is better, but not aesthetically pleasing and careless painting can feel arbitrary. String is better, but labor intensive. What does it all lack? The right combination of visual cues to the competitor who is performing the magic of placing his disc just right 400' feet down the fairway, but either misses the mark because he couldn't see the OB clearly from the tee, or gets shamefully re-directed from an otherwise safe shot by a large, but visible OB stake. A tough balance. When you find the solution, let me know. Please.

When it comes to Stumptown Disc Golf, what has made that club so successful?

Continual Improvement, community, and mentorship. Also, being in Portland definitely helps. Portland is a historic disc golf city.

Tell us about the history of the Portland Open. How has it grown over the years?

2022 is the third year of the Portland Open.* This is my second year as the Tournament Director. In 2019, I helped facilitate the event as President of Stumptown Disc Golf. The event has grown consistently over these 3 years and has been at the forefront of DGPT events on tour. It is the premier west coast event in disc golf. In 2019, the event was hosted solely at Blue Lake Metro Park, which was the location of the infamous 2014 World's Paul vs. Ricky battle. Spectators showed up in droves, both then and now. For 2021, we added a promising new venue, Glendoveer Golf Course. For 2022, we have re-designed Glendoveer on the more hilly and wooded East course and are confident that competitors and spectators alike will be pleased with the result. The Portland Open team is looking forward to growing this event and adding to the rich disc golf history that Portland offers. *2020 was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

How important was it to get Blue Lake back in the mix for the Portland Open?

After missing out on Blue Lake in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 related complications, it was very important for us to return Elite level competition back to Blue Lake. There is something special about coming back to a course that so many people remember so fondly. The tour has grown so much in the past 7 years, many of the newer players have not competed here. Many of the spectators have seen the videos, but haven't had a chance to watch the competition LIVE. We are very excited to return to Blue Lake!

What makes the Portland Open unique?

Is it too cliche to say the Pacific NW? The clouds and the rain. The flora and the fauna that come with it. And the community that brings it all together.

What is your favorite hole at Blue Lake and Glendoveer?

Blue Lake - Hole 1. Who doesn't love a good roller hole?

Glendoveer - Hole 5. Epic tee shot, epic views.

What can fans expect from the 2022 Portland Open?

Incredible disc golf at the highest level. Watch live on Disc Golf Network or purchase tickets at DGPT.com/tickets