Hey disc golf fans, we’ve got some exciting news for you! The Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) has just announced a game-changing partnership with the European Pro Tour (EPT) to create a unified European tour called DGPT Europe. This collaboration is set to take the professional disc golf scene in Europe to new heights.
Under this new agreement, the European Pro Tour has merged with the DGPT, and their leadership team will continue to play key roles in DGPT Europe. We’ve got Juha Kytö, the former CEO of EPT, taking on the role of DGPT Europe Media Director, and Mikko Wikman, the former Tour Director for EPT, stepping in as the DGPT Europe Operations Manager. And let’s not forget about Leiv Aspén, the TD of the Krokhol Open, who will also be joining DGPT Europe part-time in operations management.
But that’s not all! The European Pro Tour’s live streaming service, Disc Golf Stream, will be joining forces with the DGPT’s Disc Golf Network. This means that all the exciting live broadcasts for 2024 will be hosted by the Disc Golf Network. Get ready for some epic disc golf action!
The PDGA Euro Tour, which is the professional competition arm of PDGA Europe, will be putting their independent PDGA Euro Tour Open Divisions series on hold to support DGPT Europe. This collaboration aims to provide similar support to DGPT Europe events as the Global and U.S. PDGA Operations and Logistics team does for DGPT events in the United States. It’s all about working together to grow the sport we love in Europe!
Antti Taronen, the President of the PDGA Europe Board of Directors, expressed his support for this partnership, stating, “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.” It’s great to see everyone coming together for the greater good of disc golf.
Jeff Spring, the CEO of DGPT, is also thrilled about this collaboration. He said, “We’re excited to continue working with PDGA Europe in 2024 and supporting their efforts to take professional disc golf in Europe to the next level.” This partnership marks the beginning of a new era for professional disc golf in Europe, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Juha Kytö, who has transitioned from being the CEO of EPT to the Director of Media for DGPT Europe, shared his excitement about the shared goal of elevating professional disc golf. He said, “As we unite under this shared goal, we’re also merging the talents and expertise of the European Pro Tour, PDGA Euro Tour, and PDGA Majors in Europe. With the collaboration of Disc Golf Network, we’ll be able to enhance and amplify our media offerings, providing fans with even more coverage and higher quality content.” It’s going to be an incredible experience for fans and players alike!
We can’t forget to mention the important role that Prodigy Europe has played in the development of the European Pro Tour. As part of this new agreement, Prodigy and the DGPT have struck a deal, and Prodigy’s leadership will continue to advise the DGPT to ensure the European market flourishes. It’s all about working together to grow the sport.
So, what can we expect from DGPT Europe? Well, there will be five European tournaments included in the standard 2024 DGPT event class, with additional events receiving DGPT Europe Silver Event status. These events will provide exciting competition opportunities and help DGPT Europe develop relationships with top-level courses and organizers. We’re looking forward to an action-packed season!
And let’s not forget about the points system. The DGPT will maintain two points standings for the 2024 season: the DGPT World Standings and the standalone DGPT Europe points standings. The five DGPT Europe events in the standard event class will count towards both standings, while the Silver Events will only count towards the European points standings. It’s all about recognizing and rewarding the top performers in the sport.
We’re thrilled about this partnership between the DGPT and the European Pro Tour. It’s a game-changer for disc golf in Europe, and we can’t wait to see the sport continue to grow and thrive. Get ready for an epic season of disc golf action!