Pittsburgh Welcomes Disc Golf World Championship

The city of Pittsburgh is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to host the 2015 Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) World Championship, also known as Pro Worlds. On Monday night, over 400 competitors from 10 different countries and 46 states and provinces gathered at the Senator John Heinz History Center for a meeting that kicked off the event.

The Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, made a special appearance to welcome everyone and wish them good luck in the competition. The players were treated to a tour of the center's newest exhibit, "The Evolution of the Flying Disc," before the meeting began.

Behind-the-scenes efforts by a dedicated team have been instrumental in making this event possible. Preparing the four courses for tournament play was no easy task, especially considering the unusual weather conditions experienced in Pittsburgh this summer. The area saw significant rainfall throughout July, which added to the challenges faced by course directors and their teams.

One of the most notable challenges arose at Knob Hill in Warrendale, PA, where heavy rain turned the course into a mud pit. Course director Keith Clark and his team worked tirelessly to complete tasks such as laying concrete tee pads and installing baskets while dealing with wet ground conditions. They even had to contend with out-of-state off-road joy riders who tore up the fairway on Holes #10 and #11, but thankfully no people or equipment were damaged.

Deer Lakes in Tarentum, PA presented its own set of challenges, including building a unique hole (#8) that required collaboration between the club and public works crew. The course's natural surroundings made it essential to incorporate man-made structures, adding diversity to this heavily wooded course.

Slippery Rock University's course is another highlight of the tournament, offering players a mix of tight woods and wide-open areas for big arm throws. This new addition to the Pittsburgh area was finished just weeks before the start of Pro Worlds thanks to Tournament Director J. Gary Dropcho and his team of dedicated volunteers.

The final course, Moraine, required less extensive preparation due to its relative ease in terms of course clean-up and installation of concrete tee pads. However, this premier Pittsburgh course still boasts several "signature holes," including a scenic 843 ft. Hole #15 that overlooks Lake Arthur.

As the tournament begins on Tuesday morning, competitors can expect a thrilling experience with four unique courses showcasing their best. The event promises to be an exciting spectacle for both players and spectators alike, and everything you need to know about the upcoming events of the week can be found on the 2015 Pro Worlds page on PDGA.com.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2015proworlds/preview