Q1: Last month, you mentioned that the PDGA calculates a course rating after the first PDGA tournament is held there. How is this different from ball golf? and is it better?

A1: Traditional golf calculates par for a course based on measurements of distance and obstacles (trees, wind, sand traps, water hazards, OB). They fit these measurements into an algorithm and determine what par and slope should be.

Par is what the average scratch golfer would be expected to score. A scratch golfer is the equivalent of a 1000 rated disc golfer.

Slope is a measure of how much worse the average bogey golfer would expect to score. A bogey golfer is roughly the equivalent of a 900 rated golfer.

The PDGA's course rating system, and its player rating system, are dynamic, meaning that there is no preset score for a 1000 rated round. Player ratings (and course ratings by extension) are determined anew each time a tournament comes to town.

This system is better for disc golf for multiple reasons. First, disc golf is played in all kinds of weather (rain, snow, wind) which affects scores. It is more fair to rate players based on the course and conditions than on a static course alone. Second, many courses are tweaked for tournament play. Disc golf simply does not have the resources to perform the necessary measurements before each tournament.

Dynamic player ratings provide a more accurate measurement of the competing players' relative skill levels. The course ratings - which are based on the players' ratings and scores - are therefore also suitably dynamic.

Q2: If i am looking at 2 discs that are identical (weight, plastic, type, etc...) do the flight characteristics change if one of the discs is tie-dyed?

A2: Nope.

Sincerely,

Torque Novitski, Marshall Street

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