For Immediate Release: 

Disc Golf Pro Tour Announces Unified 2024 European Tour

Disc Golf Stream to merge with Disc Golf Network

October 25, 2023: The Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT), the official Pro Tour of the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), is thrilled to announce a new agreement with the European Pro Tour (EPT) to create a singular unified European tour called DGPT Europe. PDGA Europe, which has operated the PDGA Euro Tour, is in support of this new partnership.

Under the new agreement, the European Pro Tour has merged with the DGPT, and their leadership team will continue in leadership roles with DGPT Europe. Juha Kytö (former EPT CEO) has been named the DGPT Europe Media Director, and Mikko Wikman (former Tour Director for the EPT) will serve as a DGPT Europe Operations Manager. Additionally, Leiv Aspén (TD of the Krokhol Open), will also join DGPT Europe in a part-time capacity in operations management.

Central to this partnership is the merger of the European Pro Tour’s live streaming service, Disc Golf Stream, with the DGPT’s Disc Golf Network. Disc Golf Stream will undergo a subscriber migration with the Disc Golf Network this off-season, and DGN will host all 2024 live broadcasts.

The PDGA Euro Tour, which is the professional competition arm of PDGA Europe, will pause its independent PDGA Euro Tour Open Divisions series, opting instead to support DGPT Europe. This collaboration is intended to develop support similar to that provided by the Global and U.S. PDGA Operations and Logistics team for DGPT events in the United States. DGPT Europe looks forward to exploring how PDGA Europe could extend similar support to DGPT Europe events in their respective countries. 

“We believe that this agreement is the right direction, and we will support it with our expertise for the integral growth of our beloved game in Europe,” said Antti Taronen, PDGA Europe Board of Directors President. 

“We’re excited to continue to work with PDGA Europe in 2024 by expanding and supporting the great effort they have made to take professional disc golf to the next phase in Europe,” said Jeff Spring, DGPT CEO. 

“This collaboration marks the beginning of a new era for professional disc golf in Europe,” continued Spring. “By pooling resources and expertise from several major players in the disc golf community, we aim to deliver an unmatched experience for fans and players alike as the European disc golf market continues to grow and develop. We’re thrilled to bring in the entrepreneurial passion and expertise of Juha, Mikko and Leiv to this new effort. They have helped launch the growth of professional disc golf across the continent and will help lead the continued evolution.”

“The DGPT and the European Pro Tour both originated with a singular vision: elevating professional disc golf. This unification signifies a shared dedication to that foundational goal,” said Juha Kytö, formerly the CEO of EPT and now transitioning to Director of Media for DGPT Europe. “As we unite under this shared goal, we’re also merging the vast array of talents and expertise that have been a part of the European Pro Tour, PDGA Euro Tour, and PDGA Majors in Europe. With Mikko Wikman concentrating solely on Operations, I’m thrilled to spearhead our media efforts. Collaborating closely with the seasoned team at Disc Golf Network, I’m eager to pool together European stakeholders to enhance and amplify our media offerings. Fans can anticipate not only a broader range of coverage but also a heightened quality.

The European Pro Tour was funded in part by Prodigy Europe, and their team contributed immensely to the development of the EPT since its inception. Prodigy and the DGPT have also struck a deal as part of this new agreement, and their leadership will continue to advise the DGPT in an effort to see the European market flourish. “It has been a pleasure to work and plan with Lasse Paju, and we’re excited to have the leadership of him and his team to help guide this new venture,” said Spring. 

“I want to thank everyone involved over the last two seasons,” said Lasse Paju, CEO of Prodigy Disc Europe. “Working with such a committed team and outstanding partner network has been rewarding. We’re excited about this new collaboration. Together, I’m confident we’ll develop disc golf even faster in Europe.” 

DGPT Europe Event Classes 

Five European tournaments from previous stops on the European Pro Tour or PDGA Euro Tour will be included in the standard 2024 DGPT event class (100% points weight – sanctioned as PDGA Elite Series). Additional events will be sanctioned as PDGA A-tiers and will receive DGPT Europe Silver Event status (50% points weight). 

While the DGPT recently announced that it had ended the use of the Silver Event designation for U.S. events, it will continue to sanction Silver Events in Europe to encourage growth and round out a European touring schedule. 

“Having determined that it’s time to set aside Silver Events and shift our focus to developing a qualifying series in the U.S., we recognize that the European market still requires Silver Events to help grow and sustain a balanced Tour,” said Spring. “While we expect the European market also to reach a similar point in the future, Silver Events will continue to be a part of DGPT’s growth strategy as they provide additional competition opportunities between standard Tour stops and will allow DGPT Europe to develop more relationships with top-level courses and organizers.”

DGPT Europe is still in the process of scheduling 2024 Silver Events and is looking for additional bids. European events who would like to be considered for Silver status can submit their interest here. The dates and locations of DGPT Europe Silver Events will be released this off-season. DGPT Europe encourages bids from interested local organizing committees from Central and Southern Europe, where developmental efforts will be focused.  

DGPT Europe Points System

For the 2024 season, the DGPT will maintain two points standings: a DGPT World Standings that awards spots in the 2024 DGPT Championship, and a standalone DGPT Europe points standings. DGPT Europe will not have a stand-alone Tour Championship in 2024, but will instead use its separate points standings to award bonus payouts and 2025 Tour Cards to top finishers. 

• The five DGPT Europe events included in the standard event class (100% points weight – sanctioned as PDGA Elite Series) will count points towards both the DGPT World Standings and the separate European points standings. These events will be covered LIVE on the Disc Golf Network. 
• DGPT Europe’s Silver Events (50% points weight – sanctioned as PDGA A-tiers) will only count points towards the stand-alone European points standings. These events will not receive live coverage on the Disc Golf Network. 

2024 DGPT European Schedule (PDGA Elite Series)

Does not include DGPT Europe Silver events (TBA). Additionally, the PCS Open, a previous DGPT event in Norway, will take a year off Tour but is expected to return for future seasons.

Final 2024 DGPT points system information, including how many events will count in each event class, will be released after the 2024 European Silver events are announced. 

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For media inquiries, please contact DGPT Communications Director Charles McCracken at charles@dgpt.com

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