Section 2 - Division Qualifications - Rules 2.1 - 2.5
2.1 General
A. Players are not allowed to enter a division for which they are ineligible. Please see The Table of PDGA Tour Player Divisions for specifics.
B. A player is solely responsible for knowing what division(s) they are eligible to compete in. Entry into an ineligible division may result in disqualification from the event and/or suspension from PDGA events.
C. A player must properly identify themselves when competing in a PGDA sanctioned event. Players who wish to remain anonymous or who assume a false identity will be disqualified from the event and face potential suspension from the PDGA tour.
D. Professional players entering into a Professional division compete for money and Amateur players entering into a Professional division may accept merchandise in lieu of cash.
E. Players entering into an Amateur division compete for trophies and/or prizes.
F. Female players may compete in male divisions if they wish, but male players may not compete in female divisions.
G. A player registered as an Amateur may compete in any Pro division for they are eligible based on age and gender.
H. A player registered as a Professional may only compete in Amateur divisions in select cases. (See Section 2.4 for specifics)
I. A Tournament Director may, by giving adequate public notice, restrict the divisions offered. Absent such notice, the director shall offer for competition any division which has four or more players that are eligible and wishing to compete. Tournament Directors may offer divisions with less than four players at their discretion.
J. All Bump rules are invalid and not allowed at PDGA sanctioned events. Players shall be allowed to play in any divisions they might be eligible for, if those divisions are offered by the Tournament Director.
2.2 Exceptions
A. Players are allowed to enter a ratings based division they would otherwise be ineligible to participate only under the following circumstances
(1) If approved before the event by the PDGA Tour Manager.
(2) Players who have become ineligible for a division due to a ratings update may participate for two weeks following the update, provided they are pre-registered for the event in question, at the discretion of the TD.
(3) If competing in an applicable points series (see Section 2.2 B for specifics)
B. Players may be allowed to enter a ratings based division they would otherwise be ineligible to participate in as part of a points Series provided that
(1) The Series Director has contacted the PDGA prior and received approval from the PDGA Tour Manager.
(2) The Series allows players to stay in the division for the entire Series.
(3) The player has not competed in a higher division at any time during the Series.
(4) The player's rating does not exceed 20 points above the rating ceiling for the division they wish to compete in.
2.3 Reclassification
A. Professional to Amateur
(1) Players registered with the PDGA as Professionals may petition the Tour Manager for reclassification back to Amateur.
B. Amateur to Professional
(1) An Amateur wishing to change their classification to Professional may do so by contacting the PDGA office and requesting a Pro card.
(2) An Am player is automatically re-classified as Pro when the player has accepted cash while competing in a Pro division. Accepting prizes in lieu of cash or accepting money for winning an ancillary contest such as an ace pool does not cause a player to relinquish his or her amateur status.
2.4 Pros Playing Am
A. Pros rated less than 970 may now compete in Amateur divisions offered at PDGA A, B, and C Tier events, for which they qualify based on player rating, age, and gender.
(1) Pro Men and Women
< 970 can play Advanced (MA1)
< 935 can play Intermediate (MA2)
< 935 can also play Advanced Master (MM1) if they are of Masters age
< 900 can play Recreational (MA3)
< 900 can also play Advanced Grandmaster (MG1) if they are of Grandmasters age
< 850 can play Novice (MA4)
(2) Pro Women only
< 850 can play Advanced Women (FW1)
< 800 can play Intermediate Women (FW2)
< 750 can play Recreational Women (FW3)
B. Players are awarded Amateur points for their performance but these points are not eligible for year-end awards or Worlds invitations.
2.5 Trophy Only
A. At the option of the TD, Amateur players are allowed to play in Pro divisions for which they are eligible according to age and gender at a reduced entry fee.
B. At the option of the TD, Pro or Am players may compete for trophies only in any Amateur division offered by an event that their player rating, age and gender qualifies them for, by paying a reduced entry fee.
C. Players competing under Trophy Only are not allowed to accept cash or prizes based upon finish but are allowed to accept trophies.
D. Players paying full price should have priority over players paying the reduced rate. If an event or division is full, a TD may require trophy only players to pay the full price in order to maintain their position in the tournament.
A. Players are not allowed to enter a division for which they are ineligible. Please see The Table of PDGA Tour Player Divisions for specifics.
B. A player is solely responsible for knowing what division(s) they are eligible to compete in. Entry into an ineligible division may result in disqualification from the event and/or suspension from PDGA events.
C. A player must properly identify themselves when competing in a PGDA sanctioned event. Players who wish to remain anonymous or who assume a false identity will be disqualified from the event and face potential suspension from the PDGA tour.
D. Professional players entering into a Professional division compete for money and Amateur players entering into a Professional division may accept merchandise in lieu of cash.
E. Players entering into an Amateur division compete for trophies and/or prizes.
F. Female players may compete in male divisions if they wish, but male players may not compete in female divisions.
G. A player registered as an Amateur may compete in any Pro division for they are eligible based on age and gender.
H. A player registered as a Professional may only compete in Amateur divisions in select cases. (See Section 2.4 for specifics)
I. A Tournament Director may, by giving adequate public notice, restrict the divisions offered. Absent such notice, the director shall offer for competition any division which has four or more players that are eligible and wishing to compete. Tournament Directors may offer divisions with less than four players at their discretion.
J. All Bump rules are invalid and not allowed at PDGA sanctioned events. Players shall be allowed to play in any divisions they might be eligible for, if those divisions are offered by the Tournament Director.
2.2 Exceptions
A. Players are allowed to enter a ratings based division they would otherwise be ineligible to participate only under the following circumstances
(1) If approved before the event by the PDGA Tour Manager.
(2) Players who have become ineligible for a division due to a ratings update may participate for two weeks following the update, provided they are pre-registered for the event in question, at the discretion of the TD.
(3) If competing in an applicable points series (see Section 2.2 B for specifics)
B. Players may be allowed to enter a ratings based division they would otherwise be ineligible to participate in as part of a points Series provided that
(1) The Series Director has contacted the PDGA prior and received approval from the PDGA Tour Manager.
(2) The Series allows players to stay in the division for the entire Series.
(3) The player has not competed in a higher division at any time during the Series.
(4) The player's rating does not exceed 20 points above the rating ceiling for the division they wish to compete in.
2.3 Reclassification
A. Professional to Amateur
(1) Players registered with the PDGA as Professionals may petition the Tour Manager for reclassification back to Amateur.
B. Amateur to Professional
(1) An Amateur wishing to change their classification to Professional may do so by contacting the PDGA office and requesting a Pro card.
(2) An Am player is automatically re-classified as Pro when the player has accepted cash while competing in a Pro division. Accepting prizes in lieu of cash or accepting money for winning an ancillary contest such as an ace pool does not cause a player to relinquish his or her amateur status.
2.4 Pros Playing Am
A. Pros rated less than 970 may now compete in Amateur divisions offered at PDGA A, B, and C Tier events, for which they qualify based on player rating, age, and gender.
(1) Pro Men and Women
< 970 can play Advanced (MA1)
< 935 can play Intermediate (MA2)
< 935 can also play Advanced Master (MM1) if they are of Masters age
< 900 can play Recreational (MA3)
< 900 can also play Advanced Grandmaster (MG1) if they are of Grandmasters age
< 850 can play Novice (MA4)
(2) Pro Women only
< 850 can play Advanced Women (FW1)
< 800 can play Intermediate Women (FW2)
< 750 can play Recreational Women (FW3)
B. Players are awarded Amateur points for their performance but these points are not eligible for year-end awards or Worlds invitations.
2.5 Trophy Only
A. At the option of the TD, Amateur players are allowed to play in Pro divisions for which they are eligible according to age and gender at a reduced entry fee.
B. At the option of the TD, Pro or Am players may compete for trophies only in any Amateur division offered by an event that their player rating, age and gender qualifies them for, by paying a reduced entry fee.
C. Players competing under Trophy Only are not allowed to accept cash or prizes based upon finish but are allowed to accept trophies.
D. Players paying full price should have priority over players paying the reduced rate. If an event or division is full, a TD may require trophy only players to pay the full price in order to maintain their position in the tournament.
