The Dragan Disc Golf Classic…

Though it has gone by a few names since its origin in 2001 (Dragan Field Open, New England Disc Golf Championships, Maine Disc Golf Championships, Dragan Disc Golf Championships, Dragon Disc Golf Championships, Dragan Disc Golf Classic), the DDGC has always been the signature tournament at Dragan Field Disc Golf.  It has been a PDGA event since it’s second year, and a B-tier for all but one of those years.

When it became a PDGA event, it also began using the format for which it is now synonymous…the noon start. Save for two years in which the event was expanded to two days in order to include other courses,  the noon start format has been one of the things that has set this event apart from its peers.

The day begins with a Pro-Am doubles round at 8AM. Player check-in runs all morning until the players meeting at 11:45.  The first round tees off at high noon, followed almost immediately by round 2.  The pause between rounds is just long enough to resort the groups and send them back out.  Play is concluded with a final round for the top finishers in Open known as the Dragon’s Tail Nine.

Some disc golf luminaries have graced the DDGC with their presence.  Past winners of the event include former World Champions (David Feldberg and Joe Mela) and former US Champions (Feldberg and Steve Brinster).

My personal history with the event began as a player at the very first Dragan Field Open in 2001.  Since then, I have attended every DDGC to date (one of only three that can make that claim).  2004 marked the first year in which I filled a role in addition to just being a player when I became assistant TD.  In 2011, I took over as the official Tournament Director.

The tournament has been held annually on the first Saturday in June for the last 13 years, and that tradition will continue at DDGC17 on June 3, 2017.  All the tournament details and history can be found at the DDGC website.  Registration, as always, opens February 1.