Ledgestone Insurance Open Presented by Discraft Aims to Break Records in 2016

The 2016 Ledgestone Insurance Open presented by Discraft is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events in disc golf history. With a massive field capacity of 1236 players, this year's tournament aims to break numerous records. The professional divisions alone are expected to receive a purse of nearly $150,000, significantly surpassing last year's record-breaking payout of $118,000.

Registration for the top-rated professionals and Team Discraft members began on February 15th through The Disc Golf Scene, while all players in all divisions will be able to register starting at 6:00pm CST on Thursday, February 18th. Tournament Director Nate Heinold has warned players to expect a chaotic day, urging them to set their calendars accordingly.

The success of the Ledgestone Insurance Open presented by Discraft is not limited to just its professional side. Amateur players will also be treated to an impressive payout of nearly $60,000 in prizes and one of the best player packs in the country. According to Heinold, this year's player pack promises to be even better than last year's, featuring a variety of discs and goodies.

But what truly sets this tournament apart is its numerous off-course activities and events. The week-long festivities will include two XC-Tiers, two glow-in-the-dark tournaments, long drive competitions, putting contests, player clinics, ice cream socials, buffet dinners, flymarts, chapel services, and much more. A massive festival featuring live music, games, an inflatable maze, great food, and other activities will also be held for all ages.

To address some of the concerns from last year's event, the tournament staff has made significant adjustments to improve the overall experience. Amateur players can now use their payout money online through Plastic Addicts after the tournament has concluded. Additionally, the course schedule has been revised to include more challenging and high-quality courses, such as Wildlife State Prairie Park.

The professional side will also see several changes, including modifications to the temporary course at Lake Eureka and adjustments to the Northwood course design. The throw-and-distance obstacle will be eliminated entirely from the Northwood design, while remaining in the Lake Eureka design but with a revised layout that rewards risk-taking players.

Notably absent this year is the Final 9 format, which has been replaced by a new schedule where Open and Open Women players will play one round per day over four days, while other divisions will compete over three days.

Behind the scenes, the tournament continues to grow thanks in large part to the dedication of Tournament Director Nate Heinold. As Vice President of Ledgestone Insurance, Heinold volunteers countless hours outside of his regular job to run the event, with a goal of hiring more staff for 2016 to help distribute the workload.

Heinold credits Discraft as the driving force behind the tournament's success, citing their support in transforming the event from a regional A-Tier to one of the best events in the country. To support this year's charity efforts, Discraft will be releasing limited edition fundraiser discs, which were announced on SmashBoxxTV's live weekly disc golf podcast.

This year's goal is to raise $30,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with hopes of exceeding that amount and reaching a total of $40,000. According to Heinold, this will be achieved through regular fundraising efforts and proceeds from the large raffle held during the event.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this historic event! Bookmark the registration page on The Disc Golf Scene, and find more information about the 2016 Ledgestone Insurance Open presented by Discraft on their official website and Facebook page.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/registration-has-begun-2016-ledgestone-insurance-open-presented-discraft