A message from the BCDS Treasurer and Board

Re: Increase in Duck Golf fees and transparency
 
First off, I’d like to thank everybody for their patience on letting us come out with a breakdown and transparent budget structure for the new increased Duck Golf fees. We take Duck Golf very seriously, as we know you the players do as well, which is why this price structure adjustment has been on the table and discussed at meetings over the past eight months and we’ve had to take a hard look at what is the priority here and how to manage it all within the growing demand of the sport, both from a player perspective and from a financial perspective. 
 
It has been 14+ years since we have had any variable change in the Duck Golf pricing structure. In that time we have seen major growth in all facets of the series, from player participation, cost of running the series and the BCDS’ involvement in providing equipment, logistics, community outreach and grants to local clubs and tournaments around the province.  In prior years – specifically in the 2012-2014 time period, the BCDS qualified for government gaming grants to the amount of $40,000+ annually. This money went a long way to absorbing many external costs within the Duck Golf series, and to helping the BCDS grow the sport across the province by providing grants to local clubs, purchasing portable baskets for the BCDS to be used for various sanctioned and non-sanctioned events, running clinics and community outreach programs, providing full comprehensive insurance for all tournaments and local clubs and keeping up with operating costs for the BCDS. Over the past three years the criteria for these grants has changed significantly, and the BCDS no longer qualifies for these grants.  As great as the grants have been, they have glossed over the fact that we have to restructure our budget and tournament fee structure to get with the times. We cannot expect to operate as a society and board across the province on grant money alone; this is one of the extenuating parameters with the new grant guidelines. 
 
Now on to Duck Golf fee structure breakdown:

1. Like I stated above, it’s been 14+ years since we’ve had any revisions to fee structure. In that time, the price of park permits, logistics, equipment, gas, transportation, Insurance – EVERYTHING, has gone up, yet our fees have stayed the same.  We introduced PDGA sanctioning into the mix – remember that one??  Everyone got all bent out of shape about that one…?!?! Well it was for the best, and then some.  Included in that was a $2/player fee + a $50 US admin fee to the PDGA that the BCDS absorbed.  These fees will now be standalone and part of the new fee structure.
2. Previously there was a $5 BCDS series fee.  This would cover the cost of any and all fees, permits, logistics, gas, transport, etc. In most cases the costs for the tournament were over and beyond this dollar value brought in and the BCDS was technically losing money every time we ran a Duck Golf – not good business. This fee will now be increased to $10 of which all of it will be going directly to the BCDS to help acquire new equipment, offer club grants, support clinics, cover operating costs and provide support across the lower mainland and province – currently baskets are the main priority as our current set(s) are taking on some wear and tear and are only approved to PDGA C-Tier sanctioning.  A set of PDGA-approved A-tier portable baskets runs in the neighborhood of $8,000 Cdn. 
3. There will be a new $5 fee that will go directly to covering the costs and expenses of running each event.  This will include park permit fees, tournament expenses and logistics.  Any funds that are left over from this will go directly back into the local club that is hosting the tournament – a win/win for everyone involved so we can help each local club hosting a duck golf cover the cost of course improvement fees and maintenance.
4. CTP payout and ace pot will change under the new structure.  Previously ace pot was built in for all players, this will now be an optional buy in at registration time.  Each duck golf will have it’s own individual ace pot.  If no ace is hit during tournament rounds, a CTP throw off afterwards will determine the winner.  CTP will increase from $1 to $3 to help provide a better prize option for all divisions involved.
5. This leaves $45/player going directly to payouts – an increase of $12 over the prior structure which had the payout contribution of $33/player.  The cost of offering prizes to all AM divisions has increased significantly over the past 14 yrs, this will help to give adequate payout back into the AM prize options and increase the Open division payouts to match current levels across the board.

 
We realize that this may seem like a considerable jump in fees, but considering we have not had an adjustment in 14+ years, we feel that it is essential to the growth and prosperity of the Duck Golf series as a BCDS-run and PDGA-sanctioned series of events. The fact of the matter is this, if you the players want the BCDS to be more than a glorified insurance provider than things need to change. If you would like the BCDS to be a champion for growth in the sport and the local communities, provide new baskets and equipment for growing demand, help with course development and bringing new courses to the province, advocate on behalf to local municipalities on why their community should have a course and further the growth of the province-wide, than you will understand and support why we need to move forward with this new fee structure.  It’s still the best value going for sanctioned disc golf tournaments anywhere, so hopefully you will still come out and play the sport we all dearly love.
 
The BCDS has, and will continue to stand on its own 2 feet, only with the help and support of its members and the disc golf community in BC.  Each and every one of you has benefitted from the efforts and support of the BCDS over your disc golf career.  As a volunteer-based board who dedicates their time, energy and skill set to helping grow and prosper disc golf in BC, and I think the results are pretty amazing.  The only direction is onward and upward from here and we appreciate your support.
 
The Treasurer & Members of the Board

Included below is a price chart breakdown: