Charlotte, North Carolina as you all may be aware has some of the best disc golf courses in the world.

The best disc golf courses in Charlotte, NC – ranked by difficulty.

1. Renaissance Park Pro Players Course – The hardest course in the area, Par set at over 70, this is one of the longest around. Tight and hilly this disc golf course is a challenge for any disc golf pro.
2. Hornet’s Nest Park – One of my personal favorite courses, A champion caliber par 58 course featuring a mix of disc golf strategy needed to keep it in the manicured fairways and wooded setting.
3. Reedy Creek Park is one of the most played courses around. Near UNC Charlotte this disc golf course, filled with wooded holes and terrain; accuracy and a disciplined game are needed to tame the par 54 track.
4. Sugaw Creek Park - A good mix of power shots and accuracy make this disc golf course one of the easier to get around and put up a good score.
5. Kilborne Park – located on a 50 acre plot, this par 54 course is a great course for a beginner disc golfer.

I am yet to play Elon Park but I hear that it is a great long and short disc golf course south of Ballantyne. What’s you ranking look like Charlotte?

As an weekend disc golfer, I never thought I was “good enough” to play with the pros. Last year was the first year I though I should join the PDGA and maximize my membership and try to “grow the game” in the Charlotte region. In my first year playing I ended up with one win and multiple placements in local disc golf tournaments. So how does the PDGA embrace social media sites to build the community?

Use Social Media to Build a Disc Golf Community

What the PDGA needs to do is embrace social media to the max and secure social media profiles that seem to have been brand jacked by local disc golfers. Currently the PDGA has a Facebook fan page that has just over 1,000 members and a Twitter account with under 600 followers. I have more followers then the PDGA combined accounts. This needs to change as Disc Golf is a global sport.

There is a great opportunity here for the PDGA to take advantage of technology that is really made for the fans and followers. Disc Golf is a sport that has a dedicated fan base and needs to tap into that core audience and deliver. Here are a couple ideas:

• Engage the fans on Facebook, Twitter, and Ustream. The PDGA needs to talk with the fans who are posting on their wall. They need to interact with people talking about disc golf on Twitter, and even have pro disc golfers give live lessons on Ustream! It’s time for the PDGA to build a culture where disc golfers and disc golf fans come to the PDGA’s social media accounts when they want to talk or find out more about the sport.
• Create content and promotions that allow the fans to reach out to the pros. For example, have players create personalized videos about various topics (the best shot I ever hit, my favorite disc golf course to play, etc.). Even better, set up disc golf clinics around the U.S. where social media fans who play the game can get a chance to meet and interact with professional disc golfers.

2/7 UPDATE:

We have also continued this discussion on DiscGolfr.us, please leave your comments.

Recently released from the PDGA are the 2010 Disc Golf Tournament Schedules.

This year is shaping up to be another record-breaking season, with new tournament dates, locations along with huge growth in the recreational sport we all love and play. With disc golf course traffic up over 25% in 2009, disc golf is more popular than ever. With it’s ease and short learning cycle, more amateurs are taking the step into the professional ranks, and giving disc golfers a greater sense of  community.

Focusing on tournaments within 100 miles of the self-titled “Disc Golf Capital of the World” – Charlotte, NC:

• Raleigh Winter Jam in Raleigh, NC Sat, Jan 23, 2010
• Albemarle Ice Bowl Albemarle,NC Sat, Feb 6, 2010
• 2010 ITP Atlanta Ice Bowl Atlanta, GA Sun, Feb 7, 2010
• 9th Buckhorn Open New Hill, NC Sat-Sun, Feb 13-14, 2010
• Mooky’s Cup, Not Yours High Point, NC Sat, Feb 27, 2010
• Earlewood Classic Columbia, SC Sat-Sun, Mar 6-7, 2010
• Loriella Challenge Spotsylvania, VA Sun, Mar 7, 2010
• Collegiate Disc Golf Championships (Medal Play) N. Augusta, SC Thu-Sun, Apr 15-18, 2010
• Atlanta Open presented by ReMax Roswell/Cumming, GA Sat-Sun, Apr 17-18, 2010
• Stoney Hill Challenge Newberry, SC Sat-Sun, Apr 17-18, 2010
• Carolina Clash Charlotte, NC Fri-Sun, Apr 23-25, 2010
• Charlotte Amateur Championship Charlotte, NC Sat-Sun, Jun 19-20, 2010
• Oak Hollow Open High Point, NC Sat-Sun, Aug 21-22, 2010
• United States Doubles Championships (Fri & Sun Only) Charlotte/Rock Hill, NC Fri-Sun, Oct 1-3, 2010
• United States Disc Golf Championship Rock Hill, SC Wed-Sat, Oct 6-9, 2010

What disc golf tournaments are you playing in this year?

The official governing board of the PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) is holding a refer a friend promotion for $5 credit in their online disc golf store, for every NEW disc golf membership.

As the PDGA states:

“The future of disc golf is on the verge of global recognition. What does this mean to you? Disc golf will be seen as a mainstream sport. It’s just a matter of time. People of all ages are getting hooked on the game we have all grown to love.  Now is our chance to be noticed and the future is in our hands!”

Membership starts at only $25 a year and comes with some of these great benefits:

• Allows play in PDGA sanctioned events at a discounted rate
• subscription to DiscGolfer - the official PDGA publication
• subscription to Disc Golf U – a handicapping service for disc golf
• access to the members only DISCussion Board
• e-newsletters, and more!

If you have questions about where your disc golf membership fees go – click here

If you have questions about why you should get a disc golf membership – click here

* The PDGA number of the recruiting member MUST be submitted at the time of joining.

1. Please include my name and PDGA number: Roy Morejon #38907
2. My PDGA Member Page to prove I’m legit a rookie.
3. Get started: Membership Information
4. 2010 PDGA: Secure Membership Form

Your Comments section on the sign-up form should look like this:

My local disc golf club: Charlotte Disc Golf Club is also accepting new disc golf members in the greater Charlotte, NC area. If you are interested their are some great tournaments and action happening weekly in North Carolina, and I highly recommend joining this group of competitive disc golfers.

2009 USDGC – United States Disc Golf Championship

If you cant attend the USDGC this year, they are offering some great services to watch the tournament live from your home/office/mobile. This year the USDGC has setup LIVE internet broadcast. Make sure to Register to Watch Live IPTV Coverage of the USDGC October 7-10 at http://www.todocast.tv/pdga. With the opportunity to watch LIVE online utilizing Dot Technology – A great service allowing you to even see the flight path of the lead group’s throws.

Another feature of the Championship is the Caddy Book.

It’s that time of the year for the 2009 PDGA Disc Golf World Championships  in Kansas City, Missouri. The field of 936 players from 13 countries and 44 US states, made this the largest disc golf world championship in history.

The PDGA metions that you will be able to follow the daily action via scoring updates, feature stories, videos, photo galleries etc. In addition to live scoring the PDGA will also be tweeting live play by play @PGDA.

Follow the 2009 disc golf world championship action at: http://www.pdga.com/worlds2009

Tiger Woods PGA 10 Disc Golf Wii Game

From Disc Golf Instruction and School/Class training clinics

If you are looking to join please check out the PDGA and become a member. If you are looking to play in the Charlotte, NC Area check out Charlotte Disc Golf.