PFD HISTORY
This page will be periodically updated to reflect the ongoing history of Pittsburgh Flying Disc
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Chronology of Accomplishments By Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society and Partner Organizations
1980-1984 -- Citiparks Regional Supervisor Vince Hurley runs Junior Frisbee Contests for kids sponsored by Wham-O.
October 1981 -- PFDS begins as an informal group of Frisbee enthusiasts and holds a tournament in Point State Park with Double Disc Court, Maximum Time Aloft, Distance and Freestyle competitions.
October 1982 – Pittsburgh Flying Disc tournament held at CMU and Flagstaff Hill with competitions in Ultimate, Disc Golf and Freestyle. Henry Thorne and Marcus Wittich are tournament directors.
August 1983 – Citiparks and Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society hosts Keystone State Flying Disc Championships at Schenley Park with Distance, MTA, Freestyle, and Golf competions. Dave Bikerman and Marcus Wittich are tournament directors.
Summer 1983 – Jay Cohen organizes the first season for the Pittsburgh Summer Ultimate League with 8 teams participating. PFDS continues to organize Pittsburgh Summer Ultimate with Todd Williams and Steve Neuman as Commissioners until 1989 when Ultimate spins off as its own club, eventually to become Community for Pittsburgh Ultimate.
1983, 1985 –Steve Kohman, Henry Thorne and Marcus Wittich propose a disc golf course, first in Frick Park, then at Flagstaff Hill, to Citiparks' Vince Hurley.
April 1984 – Pittsburgh hosts its first Professional Disc Golf Association tournament on a temporary course in Frick Park. Tournament Director Steve Kohman wins the tournament on a long downhill putt on the last hole.
July 1984 -- PFDS works with Citiparks to put on the Hacky Sack and Frisbee Festival at Point State Park. Thousands participate in flying disc and footbag games including disc golf on a 6-pole hole demonstration course. J. Gary Dropcho is event director.
1985-1986 -- Citiparks and PFDS run Junior Frisbee Contests and Hacky Sack and Frisbee Festivals at Point State Park and Schenley Park.
Fall 1986 -- Vince Hurley gains Citiparks approval and $9,300 Hunt Foundation funding for a disc golf course in Schenley Park. Steve Kohman designs the layout with help from Keith Clark, Red Whittington and John David from the Disc Golf Association.
March 1988 -- Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society officially founded. Founding Board members include Teri Breier, Keith Clark, Gary Dropcho, Joe Enck, Steve Kohman, Mark Licata, and Todd Williams.
April 1988 -- Citiparks employees and PFDS volunteers install 18 Mach II poleholes and tee signs in Schenley Park.
July 1988 – Combined Junior Frisbee Contest, Hacky Sack and Frisbee Festival and Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open held at Schenley Park Disc Golf course to christen new facility. Keith Clark is tournament director.
October 1988 -- PFDS hosts Ironwood Open disc golf tournament at Schenley Park. Keith Clark is tournament director.
November 1988 -- PFDS hosts Ultimate Players Association Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament at sites around Pittsburgh and Hampton Township.
April 1989 – Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open held at Schenley Park. PFDO is part of Can-Am Series for the first time. Steve Kohman is tournament director.
June 1990 – PFDS raises $1034 for the American Diabetes Association with a “Throw for Diabetes” event at Schenley Park organized by Steve Kohman.
April 1990-92 -- PFDS sets up a temporary course at Hampton Community Park and hosts kick-off event of the Can-Am Series. Fields swell to 120 players. Keith Clark is tournament director.
May 1992 – PFDS hosts a World’s Biggest Disc Golf Weekend for the first time at Schenley Park. Curtis Spence gets CJ Barney’s/Hemmingways Cafe and Zelda’s Greenhouse in Oakland as title sponsors of the event in subsequent years. J. Gary Dropcho organizes the event annually until Rex Nordheimer takes it over in 2000.
August 1992 – PFDS president J. Gary Dropcho challenges the club to raise the money to buy a disc golf course and donate it to a park that is willing to be a partner/host for a disc golf facility. A committee including Chairman Steve Kohman, Keith Clark, Lynn Giroux, Michael Novara, Mark Daniels, Curtis Spence, Red Whittington, Bob Pollak, Henry and Karen Thorne and Scott Johnson send proposals to over 20 municipal and county parks and recreation departments, make follow-up phone calls and meet with parks representatives.
September 1992 – Marshall Township Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee votes to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that a disc golf course be made the top priority for 1993 capital improvement in the parks. Committee Chair Carolyn Volk champions the cause.
January 1994 – Marshall Township Manager Neil McFadden tours PFDS members around the grounds of Knob Hill Park in his SUV. Members show him the potential for a great course with throws on what would become Hole #9.
March 1994 – J. Gary Dropcho proposes the design for Knob Hill Course. Steve Kohman, Keith Clark, Michael Novara, Lynn Giroux and others contribute to its eventual form. Marshall Township workers and PFDS volunteers clear brush and stake tee and basket locations.
June 1994 – J. Gary Dropcho works with Marshall Township crew to dig the holes and set the basket anchors and tee signs.
July 1994 – Keith Clark and Michael Novara assemble and install the baskets. PFDS volunteers dig tee boxes and set tee boards. Nelson Bennett constructs and installs the tee signs.
August 1994 – Marshall Township Community Day, intended to showcase the new disc golf course, is cancelled because of torrential rains. The disc golfers take shelter and wait optimistically. The sun reappears in the afternoon, and an official ribbon cutting ceremony is held with Parks Committee members Arleen Lipsman and Mary Ann Salzman.
November 1994 -- PFDS volunteers set B pin anchors and layout blue tees at Knob Hill.
June 1995 -- PFDS hosts Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open at Knob Hill after a two-year hiatus. Tournament layout uses A and B pins and White tees the first year.
June 1996-2000 -- PFDO grows in popularity and stature on the PDGA tour as layout expands to 7300’. Keith Clark and J. Gary Dropcho are tournament co- directors.
May 1996 – Carrick High School teachers Dan Tyger, Russ Peters, Larry Jackson, and J. Gary Dropcho help students design, get approval for, construct and install baskets and tee markers for a nine-hole course in Phillips Park. Mike Gable from Pittsburgh Public Works and Citiparks provided use of land and tools.
December 1997 -- Based on presentations and groundwork done by Rex Nordheimer, Monroeville Township agrees to put in a nine-hole disc golf course in Monroeville Park. Rex designs a layout and leads the fundraising effort to buy the course and tee signs.
March 1998 -- Hunt Foundation funds $5,000 grant written by J. Gary Dropcho to install concrete tee pads and tee signs on new Recreational (Red) tees, concrete tee pads on existing White tees at Schenley Park, and two park benches. Pittsburgh Citiparks and Public Works Directors Duane Ashley and Mike Gable support the project with a backhoe, construction materials and tools. Partners in Parks director Myrna Antonio-Hall provides administrative help.
April 10, 1998 -- On a day forever to be known as “Concrete Friday”, a crew of 16 PFDS members need only eight hours to pour and finish 31 cubic yards of cement into 36 tee pads each big enough to park a VW Beetle on. PFDS members volunteered 500 hours to plan, coordinate, install and landscape the tees in a great example of a partnership that improved the quality and value of the park.
August 1998 – Rex Nordheimer and PFDS volunteers install 10 Mach 5 baskets at Monroeville Park. Rex designs and constructs the tee signs.
August 1999 – Can-Am Cup team match play tournament is inaugurated at Knob Hill Park. TD J. Gary Dropcho initiates format for event that is intended to be contested each year by teams from around the Can-Am region. Northern Virginia wins the Gold Medals and the possession of the perpetual trophy until the next year’s event. Pittsburgh, Columbus and Pittsburgh B teams compete.
April 2000 – Ironwood Open disc golf tournament is resurrected as a PDGA event and part of the Can-Am series. J. Gary Dropcho is tournament director.
August 2000 - Carrick student Jim O’Mara completes his Eagle Scout requirements by raising $1500 and installing concrete tee pads on the Phillips Park course.
April-November 2000 – After Allegheny County Department of Public Works denied disc golf course proposals in 1994, 1998, and 1999, Tom Moeller renews the campaign for disc golf to be included in the county park’s comprehensive master plan. Moeller implements a sign-in petition at Schenley and Knob Hill courses to document the number of people using the facilities and collects the signatures of over 200 “playing” members of PFDS. Moeller, J. Gary Dropcho and Rex Nordheimer testify at public meetings at North Park and Boyce Parks to advocate for the disc golf proposal.
October 2000 – June 2001 --Marshall Township funds and installs concrete tee pads on Knob Hill’s White tees. Public Works Director Bruce Dickson and his crew work with J. Gary Dropcho, Keith Clark and PFDS volunteers to create 5’ x15’ grade level pads.
January 2001 – Tom Moeller and other PFDS members survey Deer Lakes Park as a possible disc golf course site.
April 2001-2002 – Ironwood Open continues at Schenley Park with Tom Moeller as tournament director.
June 2001 – Allegheny County consulting firm recommends a master development plan that includes a disc golf course in Deer Lakes Park, as well as establishing an independent recreation commission to oversee park development.
June 2002 – C pins and Recreational (Red) tees at Knob Hill designed and installed by J. Gary Dropcho and Marcus Ranii-Dropcho.
June 2002 – PFDO field and tournament purse/value reaches Supertour status. Keith Clark and J. Gary Dropcho are tournament co-directors and are recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Disc Club (MADC) as Tournament Directors of the Year.
February 2003 – Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (later named Venture Outdoors) refers inquiries by Moraine State Park about a disc golf course to Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society. PFDS president Rex Nordheimer and board member Keith Clark meet with park Supervisor Obie Derr who tells PFDS they’d like to partner with PFDS on a course and to survey the park for a suitable site.
April 2003-2004 – Ironwood Open continues at Schenley Park with Rob Johnson as tournament director. Indiana Open inaugurated in April 2003, with Michael Dropcho as tournament director. Ironwood and Indiana held as two one-day events and nicknamed IO2.
June 2003 -- Full field at PFDO reached for first time with a $10,000 purse. Keith Clark and J. Gary Dropcho are tournament co-directors and are again recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Disc Club (MADC) as Tournament Directors of the Year.
February-April 2004 – Leo Liller, Bryan Wright, and Tim Wright locate the eventual site for the Lakeview course at Moraine State Park. Chris Deitzel and Keith Clark join the survey. J. Gary Dropcho joins the design team after hip surgery rehabilitation.
March 2004 - An anonymous benefactor awards the PFDS a $5,750 grant for improvements to the Schenley Park Disc Golf Course. The grant served as seed money towards the Schenley Course Renovation Project and provides the capital necessary to install 36 new tee signs for the PFDS' oldest course.
May 2004-October 2004 – Volunteers work with DCNR and State Correctional Facility inmate crews to clear fairways and greens. Collaborative design work continues.
September 2004 – The A Team of PFDS members win the 6th annual Can Am Cup Team Match Play championship held at Brown’s Farm for the first time. KB Clark, J. Gary Dropcho, Greg Meitus, Tom Moeller, Mike Speaker and Tim Wright win tons of matches and defeat Buzzy Chains for the Gold Medals and possession of the Can Am Cup trophy. The trophy is displayed in the Ralph Kaiser Trophy Room at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum for one year.
November 2004 – PFDS volunteers turn out on three successive weekends to install anchors, assemble baskets and put Mach 3 baskets in the ground at Moraine Lakeview course.
December 2004 – PFDS celebrates raising $8000 to pay for baskets at Moraine State park by holding the first tournament at Lakeview disc golf course. Carl Vesch wins the “Over the Top” event by shooting 60 from the White tees.
April 2005 – PFDS moves the Ironwood Open to Knob Hill Park to avoid conflicting use problems at Schenley, and to give amateurs opportunity to play Knob Hill in 2005, as the PFDO is to be played at Moraine as a pro-only warm up to the PDGA Pro Worlds to be held in Allentown, PA in July 2005.
August 2005 – Tom Moeller coordinates a meeting with Allegheny County Park officials at Deer Lakes Park to discuss the potential site for an 18-hole championship disc golf course. Andy Baechle, Clarence Hopson and Mike Dutch from Allegheny County Parks meet with Tom, Dan Sauers, Jason Plunkett, and J. Gary Dropcho. The group walk proposed areas around Blue Gill pavilion and the upper fishing lake and conclude a handshake agreement to proceed with a partnership in which Allegheny County will purchase the course hardware, and PFDS will donate design services and volunteer labor to clear and install the course. The project timeline is 2006.
September 2005 – Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society A Team becomes the first team to repeat as Can Am Cup winners with the exact same roster. KB Clark, J. Gary Dropcho, Greg Meitus, Tom Moeller, Mike Speaker and Tim Wright have their names engraved a second time on the perpetual trophy which returned to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum trophy room for another year. Team Ohio won the Silver medals. Pittsburgh B team narrowly misses playing for the Bronze medals with a strong performance that helps the A team get into the Gold medal match.
December 2005 – PFDS members Tom Moeller, Dan Sauers, and J. Gary Dropcho meet with Andy Baechle at Deer Lakes to walk a proposed routing of 18 holes. Andy affirms that he wants “the best course” possible including whatever targets, tee signs, and tee pads the club recommends. Andy commits to ordering baskets early in 2006, and all agree to forge ahead with design and clearing work to commence early in Spring 2006.
May-August 2006 – Design, clearing and installation on the Deer Lakes course proceeds. A par-66 layout is developed with three sets of tees rated at 950 (Blue), 900 (White) and 850 (Red). J. Gary Dropcho, Tom Moeller and Dan Sauers lead the design team. Holes for the Front Nine anchors are dug by Allegheny County Parks workers, and J. Gary and 9 PFDS volunteers cement the anchors in place on July 29. County workers dig the holes for the back nine on August 22 and 11 PFDS volunteers cement the pins in place four days later.
August 5-6, 2006 – PFDS foregoes running a World’s Biggest Disc Golf Weekend and instead concentrates on two promotional opportunities at the Regatta at Lake Arthur and West Deer Community Days. Jerry and Marie Gotcher lead the effort at Moraine State Park, setting up a beginner course near the practice basket, giving lessons and info about the sport. Tom Moeller and Dan Sauers promote the new Deer Lakes course at West Deer Community Days with a temp course and info booth at Bairdford Park.
September 27, 2006 -- More that 840 volunteer man hours spent proposing, clearing, designing and installing the Deer Lakes course culminate in the Mach 3 baskets being assembled, welded with a County Parks brand, and locked in their anchors. First rounds are played on the baskets on September 27.
September 30, 2006 -- Bryan Wright hosts the fifth and final event of the 2006 Steel City Championship Series at Knob Hill Park. The second year of the series featured events at Schenley, Monroeville, Moraine, Phillips and Knob Hill courses and raised approximately $500 for course construction projects.
October 6-7, 2006 -- 7 PFDS volunteers build two footbridges to cross ravines on #11 at Deer Lakes, and continue clearing work on the back nine.
October 7, 2006 -- Job Ebel runs a fundraising tournament at Schenley Park to benefit Asbury Heights, a faith-based continuing care community in Mt. Lebanon.
October 28, 2006 -- The first tournament held on the Deer Lakes course featured high school and middle school players from around the county in the final event of a series of 4 tournaments. The Scholastic Championship was first held in 1995 at Phillips Park by students at Carrick High School and has grown to include events and players from around Allegheny County.
March 2007 -- PFDS members elected representatives to the club's board of directors for a 2-year term: K. B. Clark, President; Scott McIntyre, Secretary; Steve Kohman, Treasurer; Greg Meitus, Communications Director; Michael Hoeg, Membership Director; J. Gary Dropcho, Course Superintendent; Jerry Gotcher, Director-at-Large; Jeremiah Libby, Director-at-Large; Sid Olcott, Director-at-Large.
May 3-4, 2007-- PFDS participates in the club sponsorship program for the Pennsylvania State Disc Golf Championship, hosted by Indiana Disc Links Association at the IUP College Lodge course. PFDS sends 10 of its members to compete for bids to the United States Disc Golf Championship, the US Amateur Disc Golf Championship and the U.S. Women’s Disc Golf Championships. A full field of 90 players compete on a new 7625-foot par 61 layout featuring B pins. Tournament Director Michael Dropcho, Assistant TD Kurt Poole, IDLA members Keith Hernandez and Bryan Schlemmer run a state championship worth $6000 in purse money, prizes and trophies.
September 8-9, 2007 – PFDS sends three teams to the Can Am Cup team match play tournament and returns with the trophy for the third time. Chris Deitzel, Tim Wright, Jay Gobrecht, J. Gary Dropcho, Sid Olcott and Greg Meitus play for the winning team.
February 27, 2008 -- Schenley Park course promoter Scott Heintzleman and PFDS course superintendent J. Gary Dropcho met with Pittsburgh Parks and Recreation Director Duane Ashley and agreed on a partnership proposal to renovate the 20-year-old Schenley Links. Mr. Ashley agreed on the spot to fund the replacement of all the baskets on the course, repair broken tee pads and install a split rail fence between the course and the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion. PFDS pledged its volunteers to install the new equipment and to fund, produce and install new signs on the Red and White tees. The work is to be completed by the end of the summer 2008.
May 3-4, 2008 – PFDS participates for the second time in the club sponsorship program for the Pennsylvania State Disc Golf Championship, hosted by Indiana Disc Links Association at the IUP College Lodge course. PFDS sends 10 of its members to compete for bids to the United States Disc Golf Championship, the US Amateur Disc Golf Championship and the US Womens Disc Golf Championships. A field of 86 players compete on a 7625-foot par 61 layout featuring B pins. Tournament Director Michael Dropcho, Assistant TD Kurt Poole, IDLA members run a state championship worth $6150 in purse money, prizes and trophies, and additional $1,150 in player packages and paid entries for Open Men (Nate Krahn), Women (Alanna Poole) and Advanced (Skip Hummell) players into their respective national championships.
June 28-29, 2008 -- PFDS celebrated the 20th year of the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open with a PDGA A-tier tournament at Knob Hill and Moraine State Park courses. J. Gary Dropcho and Dave Olcott direct the event with a pro purse of $10,000 and 127 players. Scholl’s Bicycle Center is the title sponsor and contribute $2500 in cash and merchandise for the purse and am player packages. Rex Trimm donates handmade glass trophies for the Men and Women Open champions (Barry Schultz and Angela Tschiggfrie).
October 2008 – The Schenley Course Renovation Project is completed thanks to the generous donation of 18 Mach III Disc Golf Association baskets from Citiparks, $5,750 from an anonymous donor for signs and countless hours of labor from tireless PFDS volunteers. 18 new baskets, 36 new signs and some repaired cement pads, and a split rail fence breathes new life into one of the most popular PFDS courses in the region.
October 12, 2008 – Schenley Park course promoter and Wednesday League director Scott Heintzleman leads a 20th anniversary tournament to celebrate completion of the renovations to the course and to cap the league for the year. Highlights include a catered lunch for the players, trophies and prizes for the league and scholastic winners, and congratulations to volunteers who helped install new pin placements on each hole, renovate tee signs, and replace old Mach 2 baskets with new Mach 3 targets paid for by Citiparks.
December 13-14, 2008 – Newly elected PFDS board of directors retreat to Cabin 1 at Moraine State Park to strategize club priorities for the short and long term. President Dave Olcott, Treasurer Dave Kurht, Secretary Sid Olcott, Communication Director Jon Ebel, Membership Director Kurt Poole, Course Superintendant J. Gary Dropcho, and At-Large Directors Jerry Gotcher, Cris Lore and KB Clark meet late into Saturday morning, and host a potluck lunch for PFDS members Saturday afternoon.
February 14, 2009 – PFDS Treasurer Dave Kuhrt, and Kristen Scopaz lead the Ice Bowl tournament at Schenley Park to benefit the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The club raised $1265 and collected 259 food items. Mark Prestopnik, Sid Olcott, Brian Grace, Scott Heintzleman and Jeff Stanek assist.
March 14, 2009 -- Work commences on the concrete tee pad project at Deer Lakes, a joint effort between PFDS and Allegheny County Parks and Recreation. Footers are dug and tie walls begun on holes #1, 10 and 11.
July 2009 -- Knob Hill Park course promoters Scott Hartle and Keith Clark, Lifetime member Chris Deitzel and members Jen Johnstone and Lori Merriman complete Blue and Red tee upgrades at Knob Hill disc golf course. Asphalt aggregate bases are spread and tamped for final installation of recycled rubber Flypads on the Blue tees. Tee signs are installed to mark Red tee locations.
August 20, 2009 – Work commences on installing 54 recycled rubber tee mats on crushed limestone bases at the Lakeview Course in Moraine State Park. The joint effort between PFDS and Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) completes the White, Blue and Gold tee pads on Holes 1 and 2.
September 19, 2009 – Over 1000 volunteer hours in 2009 building, pouring and finishing concrete tee pads on the Deer Lakes Course are logged with the pouring of 7 more Red, White and Blue tee pads on Holes 2, 14 and 15. Only ten pads remain to be completed in Spring 2010.
Dan Sauers, Josh Charlton, Jason Plunkett, Scott McIntyre, J. Gary Dropcho, Jerry Gotcher, KB Clark, Scott Hartle, Sid Olcott, Dave Olcott, Dave Kuhrt, Brian Grace, Chris Deitzel, Lori Merriman, Scott Heintzleman, Jon Ebel, Pete Dawida, Albert Theobald, Craig McCloud, Matt McMillan, Tim Wright, Kristy Alanna Poole, Kurt Poole, Jim Wilson, Dave Wagner, Dave Walker, Ron Hosek, Curtis Spence, Don Altmyer, Robin White, Brad Cirelli, Marcus Ranii-Dropcho were among the volunteers that Lakeview Course Promoter Jerry Gotcher referred to when he declared 2009 to be The Year of the Mule.
November 22, 2009 – Work is declared completed on 54 tee pads at Moraine State Park. PFDS purchased Fly18 Flypads and volunteers worked with DCNR staff to level and tamp crushed limestone bases before installing Flypads. Additional landscaping around tee areas planned for Spring 2010.
Tom Baumgartner, Dave Wagner, Jim Wilson, Jack McCullough, KB Clark, Chris Deitzel, Jason Gibson, Lori Merriman, Jenn Johnstone, Bryan Schlemmer, Mike Hoeg, Jerry Gotcher, J. Gary Dropcho, Scott Hartle, Dave Kuhrt, Leo Liller, Dave Muchicko are among the volunteers that Lakeview Course Promoter Jerry Gotcher referred to when he declared 2009 to be The Year of the Mule.
January 23, 2010 -- 38 participants raised $1,058 and collected 366 pounds of food for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in the 2010 Pittsburgh Ice Bowl. Winning fundraisers were Mark Prestopnik ($161) and Craig McCloud ($125 in addition to gift certificates for the raffle!), Jeff Stanek (60 food items) and Wes Hudson (50 food items). Conditions were 50 degrees, sunny and no wind.
August 2011 -- Slippery Rock University agrees to the 18-hole course and to be partner in the bid for a PDGA major event.
August 2012 -- PFDS and Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau bid on the Pro Disc World Championships for 2014.
September 13, 2012 -- PDGA announces the Major Events awarded for 2014 & 2015. Pittsburgh is announced as the destination for the 2015 Pro Disc Golf World Championships. Chas Ford and J Gary Dropcho will be the tournament co-directors.
March 2, 2013 -- PFDS holds a press conference at the Knob Hill barn to announce their winning bid for the 2015 Pro Disc Golf World Championships. The Throwdown Hoedown follows with a one-round C-tier tournament directed by Chris Deitzel. 80 players Throwdown Knob Hill to celebrate, and continue the Hoedown at the Franklin Park Fire Hall with dinner, cake and homebrew.
April 2014 – J. Gary Dropcho meets with Slippery Rock University and Disc Golf Foundation to secure the funds for the disc golf course installation. The president of the university still hasn’t signed off on the course.
June 2014 -- Slippery Rock finally issues a 12-page license agreement between the University and the Disc Golf Foundation and signs approval for the installation of the disc golf course.
January 2015 -- The 2015 PDGA Pro Disc Golf World Championships “All-In” leadership team (Chas Ford, J. Gary Dropcho, Paul Ashmore, Maria Montano, Tricia Lafferty) announce the return of the Throwdown Hoedown to be held at Camp Kon-O-Kwee in March.
Disc golf clubs in PA, WV, NY, OH are recruited to support and help staff the championships.
Ricky Normandeau produces the logo for Pittsburgh Worlds, as well as iconic artwork representing each of the four courses to be used in the championships.
The partnership with Slippery Rock University moves forward with Greg Sferra and Karen Perry from SRU Campus Recreation, Dallas Cott from Facilities, Chris Cole from Conference Services, and Holly Kennedy from Sport Management Program engaged in planning and promotion of Pro Disc Golf World Championships. SRU will be a venue for the week-long competition, and will house players, host PDGA staff and media, as well as the tournament Finals and award ceremony.
January 17, 2015 – PFDS sets up temporary baskets and promotes disc golf at Winterfest held at Moraine State Park.
January 27, 2015 – Curt Brooks commits his Mirage Mar/Com firm to produce a promotional video for the world championships. Tom Nypaver produces a 60-second video using archival footage, drone shots of the courses by Larry Jennings, and voice over by Joey Spehar.
February 22, 2015 -- Mark Prestopnik leads the PFDS Ice Bowl and raises nearly $1,400 and 300 lbs. of food. 43 people play Schenley Park in 3” of snow and 20° temps.
February 2015 -- Pro Worlds Sponsorship Director Paul Ashmore pitches sponsorships to major disc manufacturers. Innova, Discraft, Prodigy, Disc Golf Association and Latitude 64 come on board as sponsors of SRU, Moraine, Knob Hill, Deer Lakes courses and Field Events at Lake Arthur Regatta respectively. Sponsorships include new baskets, tee pads, tee signs, player pack items, and monetary donations to ALS Association Western Pennsylvania chapter.
All-In team continues to meet bi-weekly via Skype to strategize and report on Pro Worlds progress.
February 8, 2015 – Mark Prestopnik again runs the PFDS Ice Bowl at Schenley Park and 62 players raise $1,183 and 400 lbs. of food for Pittsburgh Area Food Bank.
February 16, 2015 – Jim Palmeri announces he will premiere A Chain of Events, a book he wrote with Phil Kennedy about the origin and evolution of disc golf, at the upcoming Pro World Disc Golf Championships in Pittsburgh.
February 10, 2015 – J. Gary Dropcho presents at Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau’s annual membership meeting. The partnership with BCTCB President Jack Cohen and Sales Director Amy Pack provides tee signs at the SRU disc golf course, procures the Pittsburgh Marriot North as the Pro Worlds host hotel, and connects BCTCB members who provide event services such as construction equipment, tents, printing, golf carts, and publicity.
March 2, 2015 – The Regatta at Lake Arthur organizing committee agrees to include the Pro Worlds Flymart under a big tent on the South Shore of Moraine State Park. Joint planning and support from Mike Hall at General Rental Center will set up booths for 25 disc golf vendors.
March 13, 2015 – Sponsorship Director Paul Ashmore announces Top Tier Sponsors for Pro Worlds’ venues: Innova/SRU; Discraft/Moraine; Disc Golf Association/Deer Lakes; Prodigy/Knob Hill; Latitude 64/Field Events; Tribaloid/Flymart; Oskar Blues Brewery/Players Picnic.
March 21-22, 2015 – Throwdown Hoedown III brings together players and staff from sponsoring clubs and organizations for a preview tournament at Moraine Lakeview, a disc golf scramble at Camp Kon-O-Kwee, a silent auction and a dinner party. Trevor Murphy designs the logo for the Disc Golf Scramble. Music by Shameless Hex. Appreciation Awards given to Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, Mirage Mar/Com, ALS, VisitPittsburgh, and Camp Kon-O-Kwee. Nite-Ize sponsors Night Flight disc golf. Merchandise Director Tricia Lafferty announces the regional clubs pledging $1000 contributions through marketing Pro Worlds logo golf discs that will get their 18-hole course sign attached to the totem pole above Hole 8 at Deer Lakes Disc Golf Park: Chili DGC; Coyote Hills; Iron Hill; IUP College Lodge; Lime Bluff; Roland Park; Quakers Challenge; Seth Burton Memorial DGC; Many stay overnight at Camp KOK Cochrane Lodge and spend the next day planning preparations at the venues for the Worlds courses and field events. The weekend provides huge momentum for the big event only 20 weeks in the future.
April 2015 – Doug Cloutier, Trevor Dunkel, Jason Gibson, Bud Hearne, Will Graves, Chris Lachendro, Ron Hosek, Dave Muchicko, Jeff Stanek, Jeremiah Libby, Brian Hutchison, Keith Clark, Pat Graziani, and a host of volunteers repurpose rocks and blocks to build Gold tee pad retaining walls on holes 2, 3, and 10 and install A/B/C pin anchors at Slippery Rock University Disc Golf Links course. General Rental Center donates the use of an auger, Allegheny Mineral donates limestone, and SRU Facilities staff moves materials into place to facilitate the work.
May 2, 2015 – Sid Olcott and Jeremiah Libby lead the last concrete pour of Blue and Gold tee pads at Moraine Lakeview. Rubber tee mats are repurposed by Adam Jones and Nati Disc Golf for a course in Cincinnati, OH.
May 23-24, 2015 – Mike Solt, aka Mr. Disc Golf, hosts Worlds preview tournaments at Deer Lakes and Slippery Rock University courses. 147 players total and $1000 donated to ALS.
May-June, 2015 – Doug Cloutier, Trevor Dunkel, Will Graves, Marcus Ranii-Dropcho, Dan O’Connor, Mark Fedorenko, Keith Clark, Jen Johnstone, Pat Graziani, Alex Clark, Jason Gibson, Vince Slaugh and many others install stabilegrid/honeycomb rubber mat tee pads donated by Innova Disc Golf for at Slippery Rock U course. General Rental Center donates the use of an excavator, Allegheny Mineral donates limestone, and SRU Facilities staff moves materials into place.
Tom Baumgardner and Dave Frap Sileo design, construct and install a course kiosk at the practice basket location and install new tee signs donated by Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.
June 2015 – Knob Hill gets a make-over: Marshall Township installs 5’x15’ concrete pads on Blue Tees; Jeff Stanek creates and helps to install new White and Blue tee signs at Knob Hill; New Prodigy T1 targets installed and old Mach 3 baskets are sold to community members.
June 18, 2015 – Maria Montano, Red Whittington and J. Gary Dropcho organize amedia event at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum to announce the premiere of the Disc Golf Foundation’s disc golf history exhibit. The exhibit will debut at the Pro Disc Golf World Championships’ Players Meeting on August 3 and remain at the museum until November 3, 2015.
June 20, 2015 -- Jeremiah Libby hosts Papa’s Shake N’ Bake Worlds preview tournament at Knob Hill. 58 players christen new Blue concrete tee pads.
July 2015 – Final course preparations completed at the four Pro Worlds courses one month before they are to be played at the tournament. Course Directors Keith Clark and Royce Racinowski (KH), Sid Olcott and Jeremiah Libby (ML), Will Graves and Kurt Poole (DL) and Greg Meitus and Matt Hamilton (SRU) ready their venues and prep their teams for the players who are already practicing the courses on their travels during the 2015 disc golf season.
August 1, 2015 – Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald issue proclamations welcoming the 2015 PDGA Pro World Disc Golf Championships to the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
August 1, 2015 – Deer Lakes hosts the Pro Worlds Mixed Doubles competition, won by Paige Pierce and Jeremy Koling. Andrew “Big Dog” Sweeton officiates. Elwood’s Pub hosts the Mixed Dubs Social afterwards, with brats’n’sauerkraut and Oskar Blues brews on the menu.
August 2, 2015 – Flymart and Field Events are held as part of the Regatta at Lake Arthur on the South Shore of Moraine State Park. Thousands of fans get to meet top pro disc golfers, attend skills clinics, buy World’s merchandise at the Flymart, and spectate as players compete in various skills events.
Donations to the Worlds Charity Sponsor ALS Association of Western PA from disc manufacturers, players and auction bidders top out at $35,000 to assist patient care and further research for a cure to Lou Gehrig’s disease.
August 3, 2015 – Jim Palmeri signs copies of his book A Chain of Events and talks about the early history of disc golf at the opening of the Disc Golf Foundation’s disc golf history exhibit at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. PDGA Operations Director Mike Downes and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto welcome 405 players from 10 countries with the opening ceremonies and players meeting of the 2015 PDGA Pro Disc Golf World Championships.
August 4-7, 2015 – Preliminary rounds played at Knob Hill, Moraine, Deer Lakes and Slippery Rock yield male pro tournament course records: Paul McBeth at Deer Lakes Blue (51, 1085 rated) and Moraine Gold (51, 1091 rated); Will Schusterick at SRU Gold (51, 1084 rated); Joe Mela at Knob Hill Blue (53, 1049 rated).
Female pro course tournament records are set by Paige Pierce at Moraine Blue (60, 988 rated) and at Deer Lakes Blue (64, 991 rated); Sarah Hokom at Knob Hill Blue (59, 1001 rated); and Catrina Allen at Slippery Rock Gold* (61, 1011 rated).
August 6, 2015 – PDGA Awards banquet and Disc Golf Hall of Fame inductions are held at the Pittsburgh Marriot North host hotel. Gail McColl, Anni Kreml and J. Gary Dropcho are inducted into DGHoF. Red Whittington introduces J. Gary, who promised to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship and integrity that disc golf is founded on and thanked so many friends and family who made his disc golf life possible.
August 7, 2015 – World’s players and staff are treated to a pierogies and Oscar Blues brews picnic at the Knob Hill barn. Alex Talbot provides musical entertainment.
August 8, 2015 – Tournament Co-Directors Chas Ford / J. Gary Dropcho and PDGA Executive Director Brian Graham present prize money and trophies to
World Champions Paul McBeth, Paige Pierce, Ken Climo, Sarah Demar, Joe Mela, Sandra Frazer, David Greenwell, Shigeko Sekiguchi, Peter Shive, Carlos Rigby, and Ronald Byrd.
Paige Pierce makes a heartfelt presentation of the FPO trophy to Sarah Hokom who finished second by a stroke after a no-fault and serious traffic accident on her drive to Deer Lakes caused her to miss the first two holes of her fifth round of the tournament, incur an 8-stroke penalty, lose a 5-stroke lead and play the last 43-holes with a bruised body and black eye.
October 24, 2015 – PFDS packs the community room at King’s Restaurant in Wexford for its Fall meeting. An overflow crowd juiced by the overwhelming success of 2015 Pro Worlds hears reports that the club profited from hosting the tournament, not just with a small financial gain, but with 4 newly upgraded courses, elevated status in the international disc golf community, and a grassroots growth in the Pittsburgh disc golf community.
October 2016 -- Board Members Mark Prestopnik, Nate Pucci, Will Graves and Pete Dawida step down from their board seats and are replaced by Chris Lachendro (Membership Director), Dan Horwat (Secretary), Adam Woodward (Treasurer), and Eden Gonano (Historian)
November 2016 -- PFDS Putting league is formed and founded by member Eric Nichols at Rivertowne Brewing
December 2016 -- During an open board meeting, a new bag tag and member sign up system is born with an end-of-season player party. New board members attend their 1st meeting as seat holders.
PFDS Instagram page is founded by Communications Director Cody Winget.
Ice Bowl 2017 is announced with Friction Gloves as a sponsor for the
Community fundraiser for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Facebook page is founded by PFDS and brings the Pittsburgh social media disc golf community together.
January 2017 – The Throwdown Hoedown with Disc Golf Club Symposium is announced for March 4-5 at Camp Kon-O-Kwee.
February 2017 -- The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society (PFDS) held its 16th annual Ice Bowl Disc Golf Tournament Fundraiser in support of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. It was a beautiful day with the temperature at 50 degrees for tee off. The conditions were windy, but the temperature exceeded 60 by the end of the tournament. 82 disc golfers set the new PFDS Ice Bowl attendance record. $1,335 was raised, and a massive quantity of non-perishable food items were collected (estimated weight 1,000 lbs), a new PFDS record! TD was Mark Prestopnik.
March 4-5, 2017 – The Throwdown Hoedown Disc Golf Symposium returns to Camp Kon-O-Kwee with a four-person team challenge, dinner party, putting contest and Night Flight disc golf. Dr. Leonard Johnson, Michele Ramon, and Elmer Cox are the Keynote presenters and speak about promoting disc golf through a collegiate scholarship at Ferris State University. Disc Golf clubs staff a Learn To Play clinic for parents and their kids. More than 100 golf discs are donated by regional clubs and given to participants and to Camp Kon-O-Kwee.
March 18, 2017 -- 1st Annual Shamrock Showdown is held at Knob Hill with new TD Jacob Johnston running a successful 73-player tournament.
March 18-19, 2017 -- Team Pittsburgh won the only match that mattered at the Virginia Team Invitational at Hawk Hollow and broke a five-year streak of a first-time team losing in the elimination final!
March, 2017 -- PFDS Sunday Devotional kicks off its 30-week season with Eden Gonano as League administrator. PFDO Announced as National Tour event (Patrick Graziani to TD) and 2017 event schedule is released.
May 2017 -- Linbrook Disc Golf Course gets tee signs and permanent turf tee locations. PFDS Board members unanimously vote on the direction of the club moving forward to incorporate and become a non-profit 501c3.
June 2017 -- Board members meet with lawyer Eric Davis and sign the official documents of incorporation. The formation of Pittsburgh Flying Disc.
July 2017 – At Cranberry Community Days, PFD and Cranberry Township announce the 2018 Project of the Year Disc Golf Course at North Boundary Park to hundreds of people of all ages. Moe's Southwest Grill and Innova Disc Golf sponsor the disc golf booth.
August 2017 -- Keith (KB) Clark is inducted into the PA Disc Golf Hall of Fame for his tremendous effort growing the game, as well as his hard work and dedication to the sport of disc golf!
September 2017 -- PFD Player party is a success and 2018 bag tags are released.
November 2017 -- Brian Keegan and Eric Driscoll take over the winter putting league at Rivertowne Brewing. Open Board meeting held at Rivertowne Brewing. 2017 season is recapped, Cody Winget resigns as Communications Director.
January 2018 -- Patrick Graziani announces he will step down as Chair of the board of directors. Eden Gonano is announced as Communications Director and Jacob Johnston as an assistant to the Communications Director. Vice Chairperson Chris Lachendro temporarily assumes the role as Chairperson. A logo contest is held for a new PFD Logo.
February 2018 -- Course Promoters are announced. Vince Mach TD's 2018 Ice Bowl Fundraiser. The event raises $1,080 dollars, each dollar being able to serve five meals, as well as 400 pounds of food! Thank you to all the players who came out for a great event to support the local community!
March 17, 2018 -- PFD Hosts the 2nd Annual Shamrock Showdown at Moraine State Park. Jacob Johnston is TD. 72-player success.
April 2018 -- The new PFD logo, by Ricky Normandeau, is unveiled. Knob Hill park renovations begin to remove hole 11, extend hole 4 into a par 5, and create a new hole 5. The 30th Anniversary PFDO AM & Pro-side tournaments are announced.
April 10, 2018 -- Official ground-breaking ceremony is held at North Boundary Park for PFD’s newest world-class disc golf course.
May 19-20, 2018 -- Matt Rosier TD's the Ironwood Open hosted at Moraine State Park. 92 players and tons of volunteers lend their time to prep the courses and run this once again very successful event.
June 2018 -- Knob Hill Park renovations are completed. The course is now a par 63 with the additions/renovations.
June 16-17, 2018 -- Lori Merriman TD's the Am-PFDO presented by Innova, hosted at Knob Hill Park and Deer Lakes Park. 129 players come out to the very successful event. Troy Wagner wins MA1 Advanced Division, Jimbo Jackson wins Am Masters 40+, Stephen McClaning wins Am Masters 60+, Isaac Theodore win MA2 Intermediate Division, Kevin Burr wins Rec Division, Sherry Herzog wins Am Masters Women 40+ and Meghan Mach wins Rec Women.
August 4-5, 2018 -- Robin White TD's the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open - Pro Side, hosted at Moraine State Park. 68 Players come out to the very successful event. Nathan Queen wins Men's Open Division, Greg Grootenboer wins Pro Masters 40+, Red Whittington wins Pro Masters 40+, and Paige Bjerkaas wins the Open Women Division.
September- December 2018. Course Superintendent J Gary Dropcho continues his efforts along with countless volunteers in the Pittsburgh disc golf community to set anchors, build elevated pins and clear brush/fairways at North Boundary Park. The newest and biggest addition to the PFD local courses is set to open in Spring 2019.
October 2018 -- PFD board members hold their quarterly meeting where Lori Merriman is once again announced as Chairperson of the board. Scott Bates announced as Grass Roots director and Brent Mayes as Director of Development. Chris Lachendro steps down as Vice Chair.
November 4, 2018 -- PFD Celebrates 30 years of flying frisbees! Vince Mach hosts and runs extremely successful event with 62 competitors showing up to play the course in its original layout using only discs available in 1988.
January 2019 – PFD’s annual New Year's Day round is held at Schenley Park. Course work continues at North Boundary Park to prepare for its springtime opening.
February 2019 -- 2019 PFD events are announced. PFD holds open board meeting at Hoss's steakhouse prior to Putting League. With a nice turn out, the board discusses insurance for the players and directors. PFD continues to search for Vice Chairperson position. Adam Woodward to leave treasurer position in 2020 and search begins for his replacement.
February 16, 2019 -- PFD and TD Vince Mach host 2019 Ice Bowl Fundraiser where 68 competitors join the event in a record-breaking year, raising a record $1,858.00 and second-best ever 600 lbs. of food items.
March 16, 2019 -- PFD and TD Jacob Johnston host the 3rd Annual Shamrock Showdown where 81competitors join the event on a cold and windy day. The event is extremely successful. Jacob announces it will be his last as TD due to attending college in the fall. PFD has hopes of continuing the event next season.
March 23-24, 2019 -- PFD and TD J. Gary Dropcho host the Throwdown Hoedown Disc Golf Symposium at Camp Kon-O-Kwee. 135 competitors and many other participants join the bi-annual disc golf retreat with club members from PA/OH/WV/NY/MD to collaboratively strategize ways to grow the sport. Day and night disc golfing occur with "ideal" teams of disc golfers competing against each other. The event goes wonderfully with the symposium of presenters covering topics ranging from women and youth disc golf programs, sponsorship and fundraising, and team building for the 2019 PDGA AM World Championships.
April 2019 -- The 2019 disc golf season officially kicks off with leagues starting throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. Eden Gonano runs the Sunday Devotional. Matt Rosier directs the Monday Deer Lakes PDGA League. Nate Langer celebrates the Knob Hill Tuesday Doubles. Andy Flemm manages the Schenley Park Wednesday Evening League. Chris Lachendro puts on the Thursday Moraine Doubles League. Many other events are posted for the season.
May 2019 -- Matt Rosier TD's the Ironwood Open hosted at Moraine State Park and Slippery Rock University. 137 Players come out and tons of volunteers lend their time to prep the courses and run the biggest Ironwood to date.
June 8-9, 2019 -- Lori Merriman and Eric Nichols run the 2019 Am Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open Drive by Innova. 144 amateur players compete over 2 days between Knob Hill Park and Deer Lakes Park. Lori announces that Eric will take over the event next year.
June 15, 2019 -- PFD and Cranberry Township host a large crowd at North Boundary Park where a ribbon cutting officially opens the 18-hole Championship course and 6-hole ADA Learn to Play disc golf course. With a pavilion and other amenities still to come, North Boundary Park is one of the biggest disc golf facilities in the world. Designers J. Gary Dropcho and Doug Cloutier, among others, throw the first official shots on the course. Official course records are set and it's a happy day for the entire disc golf world.
July 2019 -- Moraine Ace Race event occurs with Chris Lachendro TDing and 72 players showing up for the event.
August 2019 -- Can-Am Cup 20 brings out 75 competitors from the tri-state area with 12 teams battling for the right to hoist the cup. Team Coachful repeats as champions.
PFD hosts an MVP Circuit Challenge at Knob Hill and a fundraiser Double Dahn raises money for the upcoming Knobulus Maximus Tournament
September 2019 -- PFD hosts a Discovering Disc Golf event at Camp Kon-O-Kwee with a small gathering of youth and parents.
Schenley Park League Finals bring an end to the handicap league.
October 19-20, 2019 -- The Hunt at Deer Lakes TD'd by Eric Nichols turns out a full field of 72 competitors. Knobulus Maximus at Knob Hill TD'd by Nate Langer brings out a full field of 72 competitors which round out a nice weekend of C-Tier events.
November 2019 -- Sunday Devotional finals close out the season with 135 competitors playing throughout the year.
December 2019/January 2020 - Lori Merriman establishes a new putting HQ in Sewickley and runs a very successful indoor putting league with Marksmen baskets.
February 2020 - Ice Bowl Food Bank Fundraiser leadership passes to Benjamin Leskowat as TD. The group of 50 players raise over $1,000 and 213 lbs of food for the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
March 2020 - COVID-19 causes Shamrock Showdown, Ironwood, Tuesday Doubles, Thursday Moraine Double events to be cancelled. Other leagues and events are postponed due to the global pandemic.
April 2020 - COVID-19 continues to delay resumption of disc golf in the area. Knob Hill and Schenley Park have baskets pulled for the first time in the history of the courses to help mitigate the spread.
June 2020 -- Sanctioning is reinstated by PDGA and the local courses begin to open back up some under strict guidelines. Sunday Devotional, Deer Lakes Monday and Schenley Wednesday Handicaps resume under new regulations. The first PFD tournament of the season and the first PDGA sanctioned tournament at North Boundary Park is run safely by TD Jeremiah Libby with 127 players in a flex-start format using PDGA Live Scoring to avoid large groups personal contact. COVID reshapes tournament practices now and for the future.
July 2020 -- Events continue to be postponed, notably the PFDO-Am event set for August.
August 22-23, 2020 – Tag Team TDs Matt Rosier/Eric Nichols pull off a Pro PFDO at Moraine State Park, made possible by some innovative tournament procedures required by COVID.
October 17-18, 2020 – Tag Team TDs Eric Nichols/Matt Rosier put together a modified B-tier Amateur Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open at Moraine Lakeview for 152 players. All division winners get Innova Discatchers for trophies!
September 9-11, 2022 - The DGPT hosts a Silver Series event at North Boundary Park in Cranberry Township. The event was called the Butler County Disc Golf Classic and took the place of the PFD Open. Kristin Tattar from Estonia won the FPO division. Joel Freeman from Colorado won the MPO division by shooting a course record -14 down in the final round to win. His round is considered by many to be one of the greatest disc golf rounds ever.
September 8-10, 2023 - The PFD hosted the second annual BCDGC at North Boundary Park in Cranberry Township. Joel Freeman won the event in back to back fashion.
February 2024 - The PFD hosted the 2024 Ice Bowl tournament at Schenley Park. Through this event, we were able to donate $5,357.35 to the Pittsburgh Area Food Bank. We had 188 players participate and the event was ran by TD Jonathan Olshock.