All disc golf players can independently join the global disc golf association PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association), thereby obtaining their unique disc golf rating and tracking their game development through rating changes.
The first global players' association was founded in 1976 as the Disc Golf Association and was later renamed the Professional Disc Golf Association, becoming player-governed in 1982.
Although it initially focused on professional players, while a separate organization existed for recreational players, the PDGA has become the only worldwide association uniting all players — both amateur and professional.
Each person who joins the PDGA receives a unique membership number, which is also their chronological entry number since the association’s founding.
The first Croatian PDGA member was Zvonko Slavić from Pula, who joined in 1987 and holds member number 3730. He had already competed at the WFDF World Championships in Sweden in 1985.
Members in Croatia
As of October 5, 2025, there are 93 Croatian players who have received a PDGA number, of which 61 have an active membership for the current year.
Out of these 61 active members, 10 are women and 51 are men, meaning women represent 16% and men 84% of all active Croatian disc golfers.
Four members are juniors under 18 years old, while the rest are adults, with the oldest members being over 65 years of age.
The growth of Croatian PDGA players can be seen from the fact that by November 2019 there were 40 registered members, of which 33 were active that year.
The current list of Croatian PDGA members can always be viewed on the PDGA membership page.
Player Ratings
Each PDGA member receives an official rating when competing in PDGA-sanctioned tournaments.
A top world-class male rating is above 1,000, an experienced player’s rating is above 900, and beginners or casual players typically have a rating between 650–750.
For women, top ratings are above 950, experienced players are above 850, and beginners range from 600–700.
The rating for each round is calculated based on results from all players in that round and their current ratings. What makes the system great is that even players not competing for top spots have motivation — to play better than their current rating and improve it, regardless of their tournament position.
Membership Information
Membership is valid for one calendar year and can be paid directly through the PDGA website. Players who cannot pay individually can contact the national PDGA Coordinator, Aleksandar Aki Vucković, who each year organizes group registrations and renewals for Croatian players.
Memberships purchased after October 1st are valid through the entire following calendar year (for example, a membership paid on October 5th, 2025 is valid until December 31st, 2026).
The difference between Amateur and Professional membership mainly relates to the ability to receive cash prizes. Professional membership is required only for players competing in professional divisions and accepting monetary payouts. Since most tournaments in Croatia and the region award trophies, discs, or gift packages instead of money, the Amateur membership at 20 € is perfectly sufficient for most players. Nearly all Croatian disc golfers are classified as amateurs, reflecting the friendly and recreational nature of events held locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
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