After a few long chats with the ADGC Tournament Directors from Geelong Disc Golf, we’ve reached a mutual decision to cancel the 2020 Australian disc golf championships. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the restrictions followed, it was clear that, if it were to run at all, the nationals would be severely impacted: there’d be a much smaller field, no (or very few) interstate players, no major sponsors, none of the communal gathering of disc golfers that have come to symbolise the nationals, and very little connection with the Inverleigh community.

This last issue became the tipping point for the decision. For the Geelong Disc Golf Club and Inverleigh, it would have been an opportunity missed. One that wouldn’t come around again for at least seven years. We reached a point where we feel that disc golf in Australia would be better served by running an alternate event this November and holding the next Australian championships in 2021 in Inverleigh.

Planning is now underway for a nation-wide event involving tournaments run in different places across the country simultaneously. We will not be crowning any Australian Champions in 2020, but we’ll still have a day that celebrates our sport.

Effective: May 28th 2020                                                     

All Australian disc golf competitions including local leagues and national tour events have been cancelled since March. However, as government restrictions on participation in recreation and sport are currently easing, it is now time to prepare for the resumption of competition.

Given that Disc Golf is a non-contact sport played outdoors using a player’s discs and that play occurs in small groups of 3-5 players per hole, these guidelines outline the steps needed to start leagues and tournaments again. As each state is easing restrictions at a different rate, the main requirement is that events are run in accordance with local government orders.

Sanctioning the event

ADG is considering application for event sanctioning in areas where restrictions have been eased to allow sport to resume. Sanctioning will not be approved until restrictions are lifted in the area the event is to be held. TDs wishing to run an event should follow the steps outlined in the Checklist for TDs in order to have their event sanctioned. Where sanctioning is provided for an event it is important to still be prepared to respond to changes in your area due to the need to manage a local outbreak. The event proceeding will depend on restrictions in place on the day of the event.  

Requirements for Participation

Players, officials and spectators must not attend an event if they:

• have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19
• have been in contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• have been told to self-isolate by a medical authority
• are unwell or had any flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days.

Participants must be:

• ADG members with up to date contact details recorded.
• willing to work with contact tracers should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 following the event.

Before attending the event, participants should assess their own risk considering their age, medical conditions, situation and contacts.

Strategies to minimise the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19

The following strategies are to be followed by participants (players, officials and spectators) at the event. TDs can also download our social distancing rules for disc golf and distribute this to all participants prior to the event.

• Maintain group size below limits set by State Government directives. This includes before, during and after play.
• Take a “get in – play – get out” approach
• Practice social distancing of 1.5 m
• Wash or sanitise hands on arrival and departure from event.
• Keep a record of who you play with.
• Minimise physical contact with the Disc Golf Basket
• Avoid touching other participants equipment including but not limited to discs, minis, towels, drinks, food, stools, bags or prams (sorry, carts)
• Remove your disc from the basket prior to other players holing out.
• Ensure tee box is clear before entering.
• Follow hygiene measures- cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with tissue or elbow, wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, avoid touching your face, avoid touching others eg no high fives and avoid touching others things.
• Carry your own hand sanitiser, water and food. Public water fountains and shared water coolers should not be available.
• Check event website or facebook site to keep up to date on how the event will run
• Review PDGA COVID recommendations and best practices.

Running COVID-Safe event

Some changes are needed to the way events are run to ensure they are safe.

• TD to retain a record of names and contact details of all participants (players, officials and spectators), including player groupings eg via Disc golf metrix.
• TD to have hand sanitizer available for players to use when they arrive and prior to leaving.
• Use Tee-times, flex start or ‘go straight to your hole’ shotgun starts to avoid entrants gathering.
• Avoid gatherings of participants
  • Move players meetings to an online format (eg facebook live) where practicable.
  • Post tee times, hole assignments and scores online
  • Move award ceremony to an online format where practicable.
• Use electronic scoring systems.
• Collect payment and registrations online
• Consider using electronic vouchers as prizes and doing payouts by electronic transfer.
• Ensure any toilet facilities have soap or sanitizer available.
• Minimise spectator numbers
• Align with PDGA COVID recommendations and best practices, unless the State Government is more onerous.
• Communicate with players about how the event will run, using the event website, facebook page or mailing lists. TD’s may wish to use our social distancing rules of play to spread this message.

As a self-refereed sport disc golfers are experienced at knowing the rules and playing by them. We expect these new steps to be upheld in the same way in order to protect our diverse community.

Please contact us at secretary@australiandiscgolf.com if you have any questions.

All ADG sanctioned events are suspended from today until 18^th May 2020. This includes all A, B, C and X tier tournaments and leagues. ADG will be reviewing this situation and extending the suspension if needed.

Any government restrictions will supersede this statement.

The ADG tour events which are impacted by this suspension are:

• The Stony Creek Revival
• Baw Baw Alpine Disc Golf Classic
• Yeronga Memorial
• Sunshine Coast Open + WGE
• Victorian Disc Golf Open
• South Australian Open 2020

At the moment these events will not be rescheduled however this may be a possibility later in the year depending on how the situation progresses. We have placed the ADG tour on hold until we are better placed to make a decision about whether it can continue.

Our decision comes on the back of PDGA suspending sanctioned events worldwide https://www.pdga.com/announcements/covid-19-statement. AFDA have also suspended all on-field Flying Disc Activities until 18^th May 2020 https://www.afda.com/p/afda-coronavirus-statement-update-18-march-2020.

We appreciate your understanding in these uncertain times. We will do our best to communicate any updates as soon as possible. 

For most recent COVID-19 information, please refer to the Australian Government Department of Health link below

https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-cornoavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert