The 2018 PDGA Disc Golf World Championships in Vermont changed the sport.
It adjusted the way the most prestigious title in disc golf was won, incorporating two completely contrasting styles of play on different courses to crown an ultimate champion.
The 2018 tournament used Fox Run and Brewster Ridge. Then in 2019, Northwood Gold contrasted Eureka Temp. In 2021, Mulligans paired with The Fort, and in 2023, Worlds returned to Vermont for another Fox Run-Brewster Ridge combination.
That trend continues in 2024.
Tournament director Nate Heinold is incorporating New London Tech, a 3-year-old design created by 6-time World Champion Paul McBeth in Forest, Virginia. The tight woods layout features a par 68 challenge with almost 11,500 feet of fairways and numerous elevation changes. The FPO field will tackle a par 69 version measuring over 9,200 feet.
New London will showcase for two of the five rounds at the 2024 World Championships. Heinold has paired it with three rounds at a brand new course to balance out the tournament: Ivy Hill.
“These courses are very complimentary of each other,” the Worlds TD said. “Ivy Hill is the long and open course, while New London is the tight wooded track.
Ivy Hill is the longest of the two, measuring just under 11,800 feet in length (10,372 for FPO). The par 67 behemoth heavily incorporates the elevation of the Appalachian region to test players physically. But it also tests players mentally with a high pressure island green on Hole 17, followed by a 1,078-foot par 5 for the final hole which finishes in front of a grandstand full of fans.
“I think both courses are exceptional and memorable in their own right, but I think Ivy Hill will probably stand out and be the most memorable,” Heinold said. “Ivy Hill has extreme elevation up and down and offers incredible views of the Blue Ridge mountains. The stadium finish is incredible and will be something that is remembered for a long time.”
The Ivy Hill course lies on the grounds of the Ivy Hill Golf Club, but does well not to simply follow the existing ball golf fairways. Heinold’s intricate design meanders its own way around the property to bring players a Worlds-level playing test and spectators a Worlds-level viewing experience.
“With an open air course like Ivy Hill, you really have to be careful to design a course that is fair in a variety of conditions,” the Worlds TD said. “The pressure is very high. If I turn the dial too hard and make the course unplayable, it won't be good for anyone. If the course is too easy then it's not a good enough test for Worlds. In this case with Ivy Hill, the first four times that I was on the property showcased saw significant wind. This course really can play five to seven strokes harder in the wind. That makes the design even more challenging because you have to find a middle ground.”
Unlike some new concept layouts on tour that haven’t had the luxury of being tested and fine-tuned before their debut, the Ivy Hill track has slowly been perfected over a two-year stretch.
“I did the initial design two years ago, and then we tested it out in March 2023 and did additional tests that next fall,” Heinold said. “That data allowed me to tweak the course based on the real time data I was receiving. The bottom line is that most course designers design a course and don't get to fix their mistakes because the course goes in the ground and then it's done. Here, I was able to make the tweaks I wanted to make.”
The main focus through 2023 and early 2024 was on the Ivy Hill property because New London has been cemented in the ground for several years and is expertly maintained by the Bedford County Parks and Rec Department. It has hosted a plethora of smaller scale events like the Battle for Bedford and the Lynchburg Championships.
The infrastructure surrounding Ivy Hill has been the major project.
Professionalizing the viewing experience at the tournament’s capstone location for the thousands of expected attendees is what will make this Worlds special. Raised platforms for spectators have been custom-built for the event along with plenty of bleacher seating for comfortable viewing and a stadium-like feel. Portable restrooms, mid-course food stations and multiple video boards add to an even more unique environment.
Competitors will compete in two rounds at both New London and Ivy Hill before a cut trims down the field for the final round at Ivy Hill and a new World Champion is crowned.
This Worlds will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t want to miss. Spectating costs start as low as $25 with higher packages and perks available for VIP experiences across the entirety of Worlds Week. Tickets can be purchased here.
Blog by: Jacob Arvidson
