In 2000, as in recent years, current PDGA membership is
mandatory for SuperTour and Major events, including Mad City
Open July 8th-9th, and the $5 temporary membership fee will not
be accepted.

***Exception*** For the MCO Amateur event on July 29th, you
don't have to be member or pay the $5 fee because it's a
non-PDGA tournament. However, it is a stop on the Wisconsin
Tour for the Intermediate (AM) and Junior Divisions.
 
For B, C, XB and XC events the $5 fee in lieu of membership (the
temporary membership fee) now applies to all players regardless
of division, with the exception of Juniors.  In other words, for
2000 this fee is extended to include Intermediate (AM2 and Novice
(AM3) players. TDs will be collecting the $5 fee from all non or
non-current PDGA members at registration/check-in. Only
registered members accumulate points, paying the temporary
membership fee does not allow you to accumulate points from
that event.  

**The PDGA requires TDs to pay the $5 fee for all non-member
players in these divisions, as well as Advanced and Pro divisions,
whether or not the fee is collected from each of the players.
Please be courteous to the overworked volunteer TDs and if you
know that you need to renew or join at an event, please show up
early enough to provide adequate time for the TD to do this.  

As in 1999, for renewals and memberships issued by a TD, PDGA
logo softcards are to be issued by the TD as receipt for membership
collected, upon receiving a player's new or renewed PDGA
membership, usually during registration. The player can then use
the soft card as proof of membership/renewal at other events, until
his permanent membership card is received by snail mail.

All players must show their laminated 2000 PDGA card or soft card
as proof of current membership when they register at events.  TDs
are also provided with a list of current members, so that recently
joined or renewed members can be identified.

If you are planning on playing in more than 5-6 events in 2000,
you will save money by joining or renewing, PDGA membership
costs and forms are available through pdga.com. You also
receive a subscription to Disc Golf World News as part of
membership. Memberships run on a calendar year basis, so if
possible please join or renew early in the year.  

Raising the Age Divisions:  effective January 1, 2000 the ages of
the Master, Grandmaster, Senior Grandmaster and Legend divisions
are being raised by 5 years.

Players are expected to indicate their revised divisions when
completing the 2000 membership forms and to provide their date of
birth as proof of qualification for an age restricted division.

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Invitations to 2000 Worlds:  invitations for the joint Pro/AM
Worlds will be determined in late January and will be based on
points earned on the 1999 Tour, regardless of whether a player's
division has changed as a result of raising the ages. For example,
a 38 year old Pro Master with enough 1999 points will receive an
invitation, but may only use that invitation to register in Pro
Open division at 2000 Worlds because they no longer meet the age
criteria for Pro Master. The entire Worlds player registration
process will be handled by the PDGA office.

The petition that continues to be circulated by persons concerned
about the age division changes did not reach the required number
of signatures by the Oct 15, 1999 deadline.  However, the PDGA
Board of Directors will review the ages issue if and when the
required number of signatures is reached.

Other Rules Changes:

The PDGA is moving towards the implementation of 2 new rules. For
2000, it is the TDs choice whether to authorize players to use the
new rules or not, this applies to all levels of sanctioned events.

The Mini Optional rule:  allows a player to use the thrown disc as
the lie.  If the player wants to use a mini, they do.  If not, the
disc acts as the new lie.  The only time a mini is required is if
the lie needs to be marked under the rules, like a disc that sticks
in a tree or goes OB.  As always, the player gets 30 centimeters
(11 3/4 inches) behind the lie to throw from.  *If you want to
touch your disc then mark it with a mini.  Otherwise play it where
it lies as the new mark.

The Flow of Play rule:  allows a player who is not farthest away 
to throw out of order, so long as no one in the group objects.
Sometimes it is much faster to allow someone who is parked under
the basket to putt out. Any member of the group has the right to
insist that the group play in traditional, farthest away throws
next order.

Rule 804.06 is being loosened: on grouping of players - in a
typical 4 round event, players may be randomly grouped for the
1st round, and grouped by score regardless of division for the
2nd round. For all events, players should play at least the last
half of competition (ie 2 rounds of 4) within their own divisions.

Player & Course Rating System:  The Statistics Committee has
been working hard to design, test and begin implementing a new
rating system for players & courses.  Electronic reporting is key
to having a particular event included in the new ratings system.

This is an exciting development that will provide a much more
scientific system for ranking players and comparing player
performance. Once the 1999 player ratings have been published
(goal is March 2000), TDs will be able to offer events where
divisions are based on player ratings. This system has the
potential to reduce sandbagging and to cushion the blow of the
ages being raised.

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DQ and Suspension:  as our exposure and sponsorship grows, the
potential harm to the sport increases from public behaviours
during an event such as illegal use of alcohol or other substances,
loud cursing, verbal or physical threats, course destruction,
cheating, etc. The PDGA expects the rules to be respected and
will lend its support to TDs when needed in this regard, through
player suspensions from the Tour due to inappropriate and
unacceptable behaviour.

Regional, State & Overseas Country Coordinators: the PDGA
anticipates increasing its support of and communication with its
local area coordinators during the year ahead.  Also, the PDGA will
be examining the possibilities of moving toward a state/province
(as opposed to region) based system of player points and ratings.

There are many states & provinces which do not as yet have a
Coordinator.  The principal roles of these positions are to
ensure course listings are updated for the directory, to assist
in designing local event schedules and to act as sources of
information on DG and the PDGA. Please consider volunteering
where there is a vacancy in your area. For starters, you get
your own email address at pdga.com.


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