The Australian Disc Golf Hall of Fame is the highest honour in Australian Disc Golf. Earlier this year nominations were sought by the ADG, and many extremely worthy nominees were received. A selection panel of Hall of Fame inductees was formed to review the nominations. To be considered for the ADG Hall of Fame, a person must have been involved with the sport in Australia for over 10 years, have made a significant and measurable contribution to disc golf, and be a good role model for others. This year, after careful deliberation, two people have been inducted into the Australian Disc Golf Hall of Fame.
The Australian Disc Golf would like to take this opportunity to personally recognise and congratulate our newest Hall of Fame inductees, Bruce McNaughton and Michael Rubock.
At the induction ceremony held this past weekend at ADGC, Brian VanAllen, a 2017 ADG Hall of Fame inductee himself, had the honour of presenting the award in person. He graciously organised the induction to be a surprise for the two inductees and was able to have both recipients in (virtual) attendance. The inductees will receive a certificate to honour their achievements, in addition to a personalised bag tag to showcase their award. Below is the video of the induction ceremony, kindly filmed by PRKD Media, as well as a few words from Brian.
Bruce McNaughton has been a central figure in the development of Flying Disc Sports in Australia for more than two decades. After first playing Ultimate in Brisbane in 2000, he quickly became a major influence at the youth level nationwide, earning the Rob Hancock Memorial Award in 2007 for his service to the sport. In the late 2000s, he turned his attention to Disc Golf, becoming instrumental in shaping the Brisbane scene. He played a key role in establishing Brisbane Disc Golf, serving for many years as its treasurer, and was equally important in the formation of Queensland Disc Golf Association. Throughout the 2010s, Bruce was a constant presence at Queensland Disc Golf events. For over five years, he personally set up and packed down baskets at tournaments, generously supplying his own equipment to support the sport’s growth. Those baskets now remain in long-term “loan” to the Queensland Disc Golf Association. His commitment extended into coaching for local councils, promotional work, helping design several Brisbane area courses, including Cadogan, Rocklea, and Pine Rivers Park, as well as assisting with the installation of the Yeerongpilly course. As a player, Bruce has enjoyed an extraordinary competitive career: 46 career wins, six Queensland titles, multiple Interstate titles, seven Australian titles, and a New Zealand title. His record stands amongst the best in the country. In 2019, he reached a historic milestone by becoming Australia’s first PDGA World Champion, winning the MA65 division at the Amateur Disc Golf World Championships in Pennsylvania, USA.
Beyond his public achievements, Bruce has been a quiet yet vital supporter of national disc golf initiatives. He has offered guidance, shared experience, and contributed his professional expertise as a civil engineer to help build pathways and infrastructure for the sport. Known for his humility, grace, and good humour, even when the sport’s growing pains tested him, he has earned deep respect across the community. Bruce’s contributions in playing, coaching, mentoring, leadership, promotion, event organisation, and infrastructure development make him a worthy inductee into the Australian Disc Golf Hall of Fame. Congratulations, Bruce!
“My real reward is the growth in quantity and quality of players, courses and competitions. It warms my heart to have been part of it, and I recognise the great number of folk that have all played a part” – Bruce McNaughton
Michael Rubock has been a driving force in Australian Flying Disc sports and Disc Golf for nearly five decades. Beginning in the late 1970s, his competitive success, leadership, and passion helped shape the sport long before Disc Golf formally separated from the flying disc disciplines in Australia. Michael began by chucking a Super Pro Frisbee on the front lawn of his uni accommodation with his good mate Leigh Bird way back in 1976. Michael graduated to a 141 World Class Frisbee, if you don’t know what they are, just search the internet and have a look, which he bought in 1979. Later he filled in the form, which was enclosed with a Frisbee, paid his $5, and received his membership certificate and an invitation to the 1980 Australian Frisbee Championships in Melbourne. Whilst he missed the Disc Golf event because he couldn’t find the Disc Golf course, he made up the next day when he borrowed some discs and surprised everyone, including himself, by making the Distance Final. In the mid-1980s, Michael with Leigh Bird co-designed the first Disc Golf course at Poimena Reserve and organised multiple Flying Disc Championships in Tasmania, later bringing the National Championships to Tasmania in ’86 and then to his own hometown in Wynyard in 1989. Although a serious injury in 1991 paused his playing career, he remained deeply involved, championing disc sports across Tasmanian schools and inspiring generations of new players. Michael returned to the sport in 2018 to design and establish Tasmania’s second permanent Disc Golf course in Burnie, later founding the Burnie Disc Golf Club and leading numerous local events as Tournament Director. And even in his 60s, he’s continued to compete at a high level, winning the Burnie Open Division in 2019 at the age of 62 and the MA50 Tassie Open in ’21, among other notable titles. Across 40 years, Michael has contributed as a player, educator, organiser, administrator, promoter, coach, and ambassador. His influence spans national and international competitions, state-level leadership, course design, media contributions, and community development, and he exemplifies the spirit of the game. And his work has been fundamental to the growth of disc sports in Tasmania and Australia more broadly. And I believe Michael still wears his odd socks.
In recognition of his exceptional service, Michael also received the prestigious Rob Hancock Memorial Award in 2021. Michael’s Frisbee love affair endures as he continues to serve as the President of the Burnie Disc Golf Club. His legacy makes him a highly deserving inductee into the Australian Disc Golf Hall of Fame.
“Michael Rubock’s dedication, commitment, and participation in all aspects of Flying Disc Sports have been exceptional, and he has been a driving force in the development and growth of the sport at all levels, for 40 years. In all Michael’s years and roles – as a player, teacher, mentor, organiser, administrator, communicator, marketer, leader, coach, ambassador, team member, and more – he has not only excelled in his contributions to the growth and development of the sport, he has done this displaying the attitudes, qualities and characteristics which embodies the ‘Spirit of the Game’.”
– Gail P. Lynch
Founding member Australian Disc Sports
Rob Hancock Memorial Award Winner 1990
Disc Golf Hall of Fame Winner 2018
Special thanks to The Hall of Fame selection panel, Kingsley Flett (for photos), Brian VanAllen with Jason McCormick (for presenting), and the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees themselves!
