Disc Golf's Breakout Year: How the Pandemic Led to a Sport on the Rise

The COVID-19 pandemic had a peculiar effect on disc golf. As other sports shut down or struggled to adapt, disc golf found itself uniquely suited to the new public health restrictions. Players flocked to courses, disc sales skyrocketed, and the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) saw a 30% increase in active membership.

This unprecedented boom carried over into 2021, with Paul McBeth announcing a $10 million sponsorship deal with Discraft in February. Sports Illustrated took notice, hailing Paige Pierce as "the one taking disc golf to the moon." The anticipation among players and fans was palpable.

However, even with growing eagerness to return to normalcy, COVID-19 protocols remained in place for the early part of the 2021 season. It wasn't until the Dynamic Discs Open at the end of April that we glimpsed a "new normal" – one filled with iconic moments under bright new scrutiny.

The first moment came when Ricky Wysocki faced personal tragedy and still produced inspired golf, despite his ultimately unsuccessful bid to win the tournament. The gallery erupted in an outpouring of emotion as he sunk a majestic 70-foot putt on hole 16, transcending championship titles.

This was just the beginning. At the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships, five-time champions Paul McBeth and Paige Pierce faced off against the deepest field of talent yet. Each fought their way through five rounds to head into the final hole with a one-throw lead – only for it to be shattered by Catrina Allen's daring approach shot on the 18th.

The win probability peaked following both players' tee shots, but Allen and James Conrad went on to change the course of disc golf history. Allen cut an aggressive approach that looked destined for success until it caught the edge of the OB line behind the basket. Pierce threw a nervy approach that faded out-of-bounds short of circle 1.

The dramatic turnaround would be eclipsed by what has become known as the "Holy Shot" – Conrad's throw-in birdie from 247 feet to force a playoff and ultimately defeat McBeth. This moment, witnessed by millions worldwide, cemented disc golf's arrival on the global stage.

Other great moments followed: David Feldberg winning three consecutive Masters world titles; Jennifer Allen throwing an incredible showstopper to win her first major title; and Missy Gannon setting new records for winnings with a single-season total of $67,000.

The PDGA announced a partnership with the Disc Golf Pro Tour that would make it the "Official Pro Tour of the PDGA," suspending the National Tour after nearly 20 years. The DGPT responded by offering the biggest purse in disc golf history – $250,000 at the Pro Tour Championship – which Nathan Queen claimed with an incredible long shot victory.

McBeth surpassed his own single-season winnings mark at $88,900, getting redemption for his unexpected loss at Worlds by edging out Kyle Klein on the first hole of sudden death playoff at USDGC. The 2021 season proved that disc golf would not squander its gains during the pandemic and that a bright new era was upon us.

If 2020 set the stage, then 2021 provided the show we've all been waiting for – one that will forever change the trajectory of this rapidly growing sport.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/2021-disc-golf-season-savor