An AF Tournament Profile
Thursday Oct. 9th through
Championship Sunday Oct. 12th
A PDGA Major Event
Event Director: Jonathan Poole
Director of Athlete Experience: Chad Sullivan
Supporting Club:
Innova Disc Golf
and The US Disc Golf Team
Title Sponsor: Innova Disc Golf
Course in play for 2025
Winthrop University Arena Course
A & B Pin Positions
Course Designers:
Current: Andrew Duvall
Original: Harold Duvall
Course established in 1992
Located in Rock Hill, SC
This is the 27th anniversary of USDGC
and 32nd Major Championship at Winthrop
72 holes in play
during the 4 day event
Mainly concrete tees, some grass tees, and one wooden dock tee – hole 18
DISCastcher baskets
Winthrop is supposed to be incredibly emotionally engaging.
Course Designer, Andrew Duvall
Winthrop University plays as a par 64 for the MPO’s USDGC. There are 2 layouts that change during the tournament based on pin positions, A & B. The front 9 (4571 feet) plays same pins all 4 rounds. The back 9, plays 100 feet longer for A positions (5241 ft), compared to the B positions (5141 ft). Rounds 1 and 4, play A layout, and Rounds 2 and 3, play the B layout.
Hole Lengths – Includes both layouts
• 9 par 3’s = 249 to 413 feet
• 8 par 4’s = 539 to 901 feet
• 1 par 5 = 1025 feet
Most of the athletes have more than enough ability to score well on every hole. Winthrop does make a simple request: respect on every shot, you can not lose focus even for one throw. That level of emotional and mental pressure sneaks up on you and can wear you down over time. It is a test of mental fortitude as much as physical prowess that only grows stronger with each passing hole. Winthrop does an amazing job turning simple, achievable shots into some of the most exciting, emotional and pressure packed moments in disc golf.
Andrew Duvall
Stay Gold
Withrop is a course that since its inception in the 1990’s, the fairways were designed to be tight. Compact, while making excellent use of space. Course designers Harold and Andrew Duvall, along with TD Jonathan Poole and Dave Dunipace set out to create a course for the future of disc golf. In 1999, USDGC launched at Winthrop, with room for the spectators, as an objective of design. A way to grow the the sport, and immerse fans of the game in a PDGA Major. All relatively new at the time. And all part of a growing tradition.
A championship level disc golf course on a college campus. With enough water and elevation changes to rival top courses on tour. Being a campus ‘rec area,’ the course design makes use of many elements. Which, it pretty much has to with tennis courts, baseball field, and a multipurpose park in the mix. The 2024 layout, like many years before it, makes use of extensive OB, well sprinkled hazard areas, 8 holes with a single mandatory (mando), 1 hole (hole 1) with a double mando, and then 2 more holes with triple mandos.
The focus is always creating the best course for the players. If we felt that the course played better backwards, I don’t think we’d be scared – for a total redesign.
The diabolical Andrew Duvall
Beyond the many holes with mandos, and the extensive OB, and hazards, and tight fairways – 7 holes, of the 18, that for MPO are 640 feet or longer. Including the longest hole, and only par 5, hole 5 at 1025 feet. OB on both sides, with water to the left. The shortest of these long distance holes, is hole 18 at 647 feet, a par 4. A slightly diabolical hole that carries water off the tee, playing to a sloping right to left hill, and of course OB on both sides, into a green that is featured image of this profile, often creating death putt scenarios that can decide the event.
But I say slightly diabolical, since it is the hole before that, which is shortest hole on the course at 249 feet, that is truly diabolical. During 2022 USDGC, there were 8 MPO rounds in the 4 days, that took an 8 on hole 17.
No lead has ever been safe until you are past hole 17.
The honorable Andrew Duvall
From Setback To Success:
US DG Team Delivers
Like most events on the pro tour, prepping the course for the big event is half the battle. There’s months of ongoing maintenance, tweaking layouts based on slight changes to hole designs, and dealing with unexpected challenges.
Less than 2 weeks before the start of the 2024 Pro Major, Hurricane Helene moved through southeastern part of the U.S. leaving damage like the above pics (or much worse). According to spokesperson for the US Disc Golf Team, they worked tirelessly to whip it back into shape. On a course that makes use, of water, grass, wood chips and sand, their typical upkeep consistently displays an immaculate course. In 2024, that challenge was magnified, and the Team adapted.
Photo credits
All logos and graphics courtesy of US Disc Golf Team Media
All images credited to Chad LeFevre Photography
Hit the Links
- USDGC Tournament webpage
- PDGA Event page
- USDGC 2025 Caddie book
- 2025 Highlight reels – coming soon
Nearby Attractions
The shortest, most direct version of what to do in the area is perhaps best found on the York County visitor guide webpage.
There are hotels within 5 miles, and camping within 10 miles of Winthrop University. Or just 8 miles away is another course, Camp Canaan, that also has camping.
In terms of good places to eat nearby, here’s a short list offering variety:
- Slow Play Brewing – adult beverages with Cibi Cibi food truck
- official beer sponsor of USDGC
- The Dixie Pig – great BBQ with southern hospitality
- Groucho’s Deli – gourmet subs and sandwiches
How USDGC fits within the 2024 Pro Tour
- 28th Fantasy relevant event of the 2025 season
- 4th PDGA Major event of the season
- 4th and final Major for MPO division
- after Carolina Clash (A Tier)
- before DGPT Championship (Elite finale)
- Third of 4 tournaments during the east coast swing at end of the season
- USDGC does not play in standard fantasy leagues
How Many Pros Play
- In 2024, USDGC had 122 registered pros
- 117 were rated 1000+ (96%)
- 45 of the 122 were rated 1025+ (37%)
- For 2025, there are 107 registered pros
- 104 are rated 1000+ (97%)
- 53 of those 107 are rated 1025+ (49%)
Best Average Finish
in Past 5 Years
| Order | MPO Player | Prev Order | Avg Finish | Times Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Wysocki | 1 | 5.6 | 5 |
| 2 | Paul McBeth | UR | 5.0 | 4 |
| 3 | Niklas Anttila | 2 | 5.3 | 3 |
| 4 | Isaac Robinson | 6 | 7.4 | 5 |
| 5 | Kyle Klein | 8 | 9.2 | 5 |
| 6 | Joel Freeman | 3 | 9.5 | 4 |
| 7 | Chris Dickerson | 4 | 10.8 | 5 |
| 8 | Gannon Buhr | 9 | 10.3 | 4 |
| 9 | Calvin Heimburg | UR | 11.4 | 5 |
| 10 | Bradley Williams | 7 | 11.6 | 5 |
| Buhr is the 2024 Defending Champion. Kyle Klein won in 2023. Buhr also won in 2022. Paul McBeth won in 2021. Dickerson won in 2020. | ||||
2024 Results – Top 10 Finishes
| MPO PLAYER | 2024 PLACE |
|---|---|
| Gannon Buhr | 1st |
| Calvin Heimburg | T-2nd |
| Anthony Barela | T-2nd |
| Ricky Wysocki | 4th |
| Isaac Robinson | T-5th |
| Vaino Makela | T-5th |
| Joona Heinanen | T-7th |
| Niklas Anttila | T-7th |
| Adam Hammes | 9th |
| Paul McBeth | T-10th |
| Drew Gibson | T-10th |