The competition will be held Aug. 8 through 15, bringing about 350 athletes from 11 countries and $1.5 million in economic impact to Erie County.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – For the first time, the Professional Disc Golf Association will host its amateur championship in the Buffalo-Niagara region this month.
The event will bring about 350 athletes and their families from 44 states and 11 countries to the area over the week, with tournament play held in Erie County and Niagara County.
The event is estimated to bring $1.5 million in economic impact to Erie County.
Rounds are scheduled for Como Lake Park in Lancaster and Emery Park in South Wales, as well as Bond Lake Park in Lewiston and Royalton Ravine Park in Gasport. Warm-up and social events for the competition kick off on Saturday, Aug. 8, and competitive rounds start Tuesday, Aug. 11.
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The Buffalo-Niagara region was selected to host the competition following a 2024 site visit by PDGA executive director Doug Bjerkaas at the invitation of the Buffalo Sports Commission. He found that between Erie and Niagara County, the Buffalo-Niagara region has a wealth of top-notch disc golf courses with both professional facilities and natural beauty.
“I was impressed not only with the quality of the courses in the Buffalo region, but also with the PDGA members from Buffalo and the leaders from the Buffalo Sports Commission who were motivated to submit a bid to run a PDGA Major,” Bjerkaas said. “It became very clear that Buffalo was poised to host a PDGA Major.”
Erie and Niagara counties are ready to deliver as first-time hosts of the tournament, Visit Buffalo president and CEO Patrick Kaler said.
“We’re honored that the PDGA recognized what makes Buffalo such a special place to host a championship of this caliber,” said Kaler. “We’ve worked with Destination Niagara USA to make this a true bi-county effort, and we look forward to welcoming hundreds of competitors and their supporters to the area to experience our exceptional disc golf courses and all of the other great attractions that make our area an unforgettable destination.”
Disc golf is a popular and growing sport in the WNY area, thanks to a low cost of entry — most courses are free or inexpensive to play on, and the only equipment needed are a few discs, said James Carman, New York State Professional Disc Golf Association coordinator.
“It’s also great exercise while not being too strenuous, basically hiking with an occasional throw,” Carman said.
To prepare for the competition, Erie County’s Forestry and Parks crews worked to remove downed trees and low-hanging branches along the courses and completed three major safety improvement projects at the Emery Park course using capital budget dollars.
Several Western New York disc golf organizations played an essential role in getting the parks ready for the competition.
The disc golf community was able to hire a contractor to install 19 concrete tee pads at Como Lake Park with funding support from local legislators, said Nicole Ruberto, deputy commissioner of recreation for Erie County’s Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department.
The disc golf community also held volunteer workdays in the parks, moving tee boxes and putting in erosion control walls.
“An event of this magnitude could not take place without a strong partnership, like the one we have with Niagara Region Disc Golf,” Ruberto said. “The Parks Department has over 10,000 acres to maintain across 35 properties, so partnerships with passionate user groups such as disc golfers, mountain bikers, and hikers are essential.”
Niagara County’s disc golf facilities have also been redesigned and improved through a collaborative partnership between the Western New York Disc Golf Club (WNYDGC), the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and Niagara County Parks Department under foreman Frank Rotella.
“Outdoor recreation continues to be an important driver of tourism in Niagara County, offering visitors unique ways to experience our destination beyond the iconic waterfalls,” said John Percy, president and CEO of Destination Niagara USA. “As disc golf continues to grow in popularity nationwide, we are thrilled to welcome the PDGA Amateur World Championships to Niagara Falls USA. This event showcases the outstanding courses throughout our region while generating meaningful economic impact for our local tourism and hospitality businesses.”
The improvements to the parks will make them attractive locations for future events, said Sam Castiglione, vice president of the Western New York Disc Golf Club. “Their dedication has transformed these parks into world-class championship venues. The improvements made for Amateur Worlds will serve local players and future tournaments for decades, creating a lasting legacy for Niagara County.”
Spectators are invited to attend the competition. In addition, several nighttime activities are planned throughout the tournament, which will be open to the public.
The Buffalo Sports Commission is a nonprofit subsidiary of Visit Buffalo dedicated to promoting the region as a premier destination for amateur athletic tournaments, collegiate sporting championships, and youth sports events.
Visit Buffalo is the destination marketing organization for Buffalo and Erie County, promoting the region for tourism, meetings and sporting events. By showcasing the area’s culture, attractions and hospitality, Visit Buffalo drives visitor spending and supports economic growth.
Destination Niagara USA works to ensure Niagara County is a preferred international destination for group and leisure travel. It supports its mission to expand the economic prosperity of Niagara County by generating individual and group visitation.
