Music City Open 2023

An AF Tournament Profile

Friday April 7th, through
Championship Sunday April 9th

aka

MCO

Tournament Director: Zachary Hoy
Assistant TD: Jay Skinner
Team: Music City Disc Golf
(non-profit public charity)

Title Sponsor
Lone Star Disc

Course in play for 2023:
Mill Ridge Park
Course Designers:
Shawn Sinclair and Ryan Tracy
Established 2021

MCO is located in Nashville, TN
14th annual pro event in Music City

18 hole course playing 3 rounds
during 3 day event =54 holes in play
Turf tees with Dynamic Disc Veteran baskets

The course utilizes lots of elevation changes,
with tight gaps both off the tee,
as well as down the fairway closer to targets.
There are several small ponds
throughout the course that play as OB.

FPO Par 66 on the 8733 foot Mill Ridge Park course
MPO Par 65 on the 9977 foot course
FPO and MPO play similar layout

Hole Lengths FPO

• 9 par 3’s = 270 to 436 feet
• 6 par 4’s = 429 to 666 feet
• 3 par 5’s = 723 to 849 feet

Hole Lengths MPO

• 9 par 3’s = 270 to 535 feet
• 7 par 4’s = 587 to 777 feet
• 2 par 5’s = 976 and 1112 feet

Team MCDG Back to Elite Status in 2023

The very first Music City Open took place in 1998 when Nashville hosted it’s first PDGA pro tournament. Just 19 MPO played that year and there was no FPO division. MCO was then on hiatus, until its return in 2010 as B-tier. It moved up to A-tier in 2013, with 29 playing MPO and 5 in FPO. 6 of the MPO were rated 1025 or higher, and just one FPO was rated higher than 900, which was winner that year, Paige Pierce.

From 2013 through 2020, Music City Open was an A tier event 4 out of the 7 years. During this span, it played 4 different courses in the Nashville area, and by 2020 the field size featured prominently with 142 in MPO and 24 in FPO. The following year, MCO rose to both elite series and national tour finale, hosting 130 in MPO and 37 in FPO. The first 2 rounds in 2021 played on the traditional Ravenwood course and new course Mill Ridge Park, played the final round.

Mill Ridge Park was still finding its legs, and in 2022, MCO was relegated to a Silver Series event, with all 3 rounds playing Mill Ridge. Still, it had more than 30 in FPO and over 100 in MPO who played last year. Now in 2023, it returns as an Elite Series event, with a greatly improved Mill Ridge Park. Attracting over 100 for MPO, with more than 50 registered in FPO for 2023.

Strength from Community

Team MCDG has blossomed into a 600 member disc golf club, local to Nashville. The Team has 2 primary missions: bringing high quality tournaments to the area and teaching local youth, adults and senior citizens the sport. Instilling a passion and being inclusive with all the fun disc golf has to offer.

Music City Open is just one of many events that MCDG runs during each calendar year. The Team manages leagues, clinics, and other outdoor activities for younger participants. As if perpetually in planning and event management mode, MCDG stays quite active, but devoted to community. It’s a known strength of Nashville, and the local club takes pride and joy in their ongoing work. The 2022 MCO graciously hosted 15 kids from the Tennessee School for the Blind, who had such a wonderful time that they plan to double attendance for the School at 2023’s tournament.

To help get prepared for this year’s MCO, local pro and national star, Chris Dickerson influenced course improvements. Chris, along with other competitors in the 2022 event, sought to increase overall flow of play as well enhance hole and course lay outs. Once again, it is the Team and excellent support from the local community who took upon the tall task of clearing the park of thorny brush and branches on several holes. Making it safer for pros who find their lie well off the fairway, while also making it better for spectator viewing.

As with many events on the pro tour, volunteers play a key role in overall success. To that end, TD Zach wishes to note the excellent efforts of Whitney Likehart, MCDG’s Volunteer Coordinator, who “helped rally many people to come work on the course.” If interested in serving as a volunteer for the 2023 MCO, click here.

Course Updates for 2023

At the 2022 MCO, hole 1 was a short, technical 207 foot par 3 (for both divisions). In 2023, hole 1 is a 600+ foot power drive shot, playing as a par 4 for both divisions. This new hole 1, plays 250 feet away from hole 18’s tee, heading away and into the lower middle of the park. The more open fairway allows for greater spectator access to the action. The 2022 hole 1, is no longer in play, gone from course. Instead new holes 16 and 17 utilize the area, by pond, for back to back water holes, both of which play as islands. 16 being a short, technical shot, and hole 17 a 350+ foot carry over water with layup considerations in mind.

We want spectators to be able to view multiple holes from several key vantage points.
TD Zach Hoy

The longest hole on the course is now hole 4, or what was hole 7 in 2022. And it’s gotten even longer for MPO. Both divisions will play it as a par 5, with an S-Curve layout where landing zones are part of holes underlying design. In 2022, both divisions played this hole as 800+ feet, which is how FPO will play it in 2023. For MPO it comes in at 1100+ feet.

Preparation for all these courses changes took both planning and resources. TD Zach notes 4 important pieces in improving the course for 2023. Vice President of MCDG and Assistant TD, Jay Skinner, as core member of the Team, along with Finance Director, Mitch Baker who were integral in behind-the-scenes type planning. Which includes securing Lone Start Disc as title sponsor and giving MCDG extra cushion for operations and planning. Along with ongoing discussions with DPT to ensure the new layout is conducive to fan experience.

Added length for both divisions is one upgrade for this year’s event. Extra space along fairways means fans have opportunity to get closer to the action on the course. As does the new elevated tees on hole 7, which is a new hole, and utilizes the upper middle area of Mill Ridge Park. Built with fans in mind, and playing as a tough par 3 for both divisions (535 feet for MPO, 436 for FPO). Hole 8 is also brand new in 2023, and plays as shorter (315 foot) par 3 for both divisions.

Finally hole 18 for this year’s tournament is what was hole 2 last year, but longer. Now at 723 feet, for both divisions, it plays as a 4 for MPO and par 5 for FPO, which could easily change some scores down the stretch. Hole 18’s fairways allow spectators to line either side, creating a great finishing hole atmosphere.

I am excited about the changes and can’t wait to see the competitors attack the course.
TD Zach

photo credits

All images, graphics and logo
courtesy of MCDG Media

Hit The Links

Music City Open tournament website
PDGA Event page
UDisc Live link
DGPT Caddy Book link (DGPT broke link, trashed file)
2022 Highlight Reels
- FPO – Round 1 – Front 9 (DGPT/GK Pro)
- MPO – Round 2 – Back 9 (DGPT/CCDG)
- FPO – Final Round – Highlights (DGPT)
- MPO – Final Round – Front 9 (DGPT/CCDG)
2023 Highlight Reels
- FPO – Round 1 – Front 9 (JomezPro)
- MPO – Round 2 – Back 9 (JomezPro)
- FPO – Round 2 – Back 9 (JomezPro)
- MPO – Chase card – Final Round – Back 9 (GateKeeper Media)
- FPO – Final Round – Back 9 (JomezPro)

Nearby Attractions

Returning from the 2022 AF profile are all the music venues and districts that make a whole ton of sense when visiting Music City. TD Zach suggests the honky tonk bars of Lower Broadway, along with the mother church of country music, aka Ryman Auditorium. And of course the classic Grand Ole Opry of Nashville.

East Nashville Beer Works is a local brewery, with beer garden and food menu. TD Zach highlights Beer Works since they made a specialty beer just for the 2023 MCO, called “Grip and Rip” (juicy pale ale). You can get the event brew on tap and canned at their establishment or onsite at MCO during the weekend.

Gibson Guitars will be providing championship trophies as well as a huge hole-in-one prize for 305 foot, hole 16, over the pond hole. As a part of the community that shares a passion for giving back, Gibson Gives will be on site at 2023 MCO to give out guitars and promote music education.

How MCO fits within the 2023 Pro Tour

7th Prominent event of the 2023 season
4th Elite Series tournament on Tour
- after Open at Austin (ES)
- before Blue Ridge Championship (SS)
First of 4 events on the early 2023 southeast leg of the season
MCO does play in standard re-draft and season fantasy leagues

How Many Pros Play

In 2022, the FPO field finished with 34 who played, 21 being 900+ rated
- 22nd largest FPO field in 2022
In 2023, there were 50 FPO who played
- 45 of those were 900+ rated (90%)
- 26 were rated 940+ (52%)
In 2022, the MPO field had 112 who played, 58 being 1000+ rated
- 18th largest field for MPO in 2022
For 2023, there were 116 MPO players
- 107 of those were 1000+ rated (92%)
- 33 were 1025+ rated (28%)
2023 MCO combined field was 166 pros
- Tied for 9th largest combined field out of 33 events tracked in 2023
- Also tied for 9th largest MPO field
- Tied for 5th largest field of 2023 for FPO

MPO Best Average Finish
in Past 5 Years

*Updated with 2023 results

Order	Pre 2023	MPO Player	Avg Finish	Times Played
1	1	Chris Dickerson	2.2	5
2	UR	Calvin Heimburg	2.5	2
3	2	Adam Hammes	5.3	3
4	UR	Ricky Wysocki	5.0	2
5	3	Alden Harris	13.6	5
6	UR	Aaron Gossage	13.5	2
7	4	Garrett Gurthie	16.0	4
T8	8	Chris Clemons	16.5	4
T8	9	Eric Oakley	16.5	4
10	5	Nikko Locastro	16.8	4
T11	16	Joel Freeman	17.0	3
T11	UR	Bradley Williams	16.0	2
13	UR	Paul McBeth	16.5	2
14	UR	Mason Ford	17.5	2
15	UR	Kyle Klein	22.0	2
16	12	Corey Ellis	24.0	3
17	T6	Zackeriath Johnson	26.7	3
18	T6	Kevin Jones	27.7	3
	Simon Lizotte is 2023 MCO Champion. Chris Dickerson won in 2022 and 2019. Mason Ford won in 2021. Alden Harris won in 2020.
	Simon doesn't make the average list, playing MCO once in the past 5 years.

FPO Best Average Finish
in Past 5 Years