New Disc Golf Nations Emerge on Three Continents

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is thrilled to announce its latest national partnerships in three countries on different continents. This expansion brings the total number of affiliated countries to 52, with USA and Canada included. The PDGA's International Program has been instrumental in introducing disc golf to new regions and fostering growth globally.

In Mongolia, local enthusiast Sukhbold Gombojav, affectionately known as Subo, has played a pivotal role in developing the sport. He started by building a portable 9-hole course on a tree farm near Ulaanbaatar in 2023. With support from the PDGA's Marco Polo Program and the Paul McBeth Foundation (PMF), the facility was upgraded to an 18-hole permanent layout mid-2024. A visiting PMF team helped finalize the design, trained Subo as a Tournament Director, and organized the country's first sanctioned event, the Mongolia Open. This success has led to a monthly series of events, with portable targets also facilitating indoor play during the harsh Mongolian winter.

Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, Patrick O'Neill and Brittany Hertle, founders of Traveling Chains PR, have been instrumental in establishing a thriving disc golf community. Their efforts culminated in the installation of Playa Lucia, the island's first permanent track, near the beach in Yabucoa. With baskets donated by Dynamic Discs, this course hosted its inaugural PDGA event in late 2023 and is now set to host the Caribbean region's first-ever B-Tier event, the Playa Lucia Open, in December. The island's proximity to mainland USA makes it an attractive destination for winter holiday disc golf enthusiasts.

In Uganda, the PMF has collaborated with UPlay and received funding support from the PDGA to introduce and grow the game. Their charitable projects began in late 2022 with the installation of a small 9-hole course at a school and orphanage near Lake Victoria. Israel Muwanguzi, Project Driver for Ndejje University, has developed a local basket-making cottage industry and is working towards recognition of Disc Golf Uganda by the National Council of Sports. His team organized clinics at 15 schools in 9 northern districts and two cities, culminating in the first Uganda Junior Championships with an impressive 148 competitors.

These new partnerships demonstrate the PDGA's commitment to spreading disc golf globally and creating opportunities for players and communities worldwide. If your country is interested in becoming a PDGA-affiliated nation, refer to the International Program Guide for more information.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/developing-disc-golf-around-world