2025: The Year Go Throw Brought the Pros to New Places

As disc golf continues its meteoric rise, 2025 was a pivotal year for the Go Throw Tour. Built on the mission of “bringing the highest level of disc golf to popular and exciting venues,” this season the Go Throw Tour not only delivered elite competition — it also opened doors for people who’d never been to a disc golf event or even thrown a disc before. Below is a recap of the season, how each stop made its mark, and how we reached new communities in the process.

But first — the backdrop: according to UDisc’s 2025 Growth Report, recorded rounds rose by about 8 % over the prior year, indicating strong momentum in participation and engagement. (Disc Golf Course Review) Meanwhile, in 2024, over 20.1 million rounds were tracked via UDisc, reflecting sustained growth in course use and interest. (UDisc) Against that backdrop, Go Throw’s mission to expand reach felt especially timely.

Event 1: Cancer Playbook Open

The Tour’s season kicked off with the Cancer Playbook Open, a charity-aligned event that drew strong local interest and media engagement. From day one, it was clear that this stop would set a tone: spectators, families, and community members came out not only for professional disc golf but for a cause that connected with non-disc golf audiences.

What stood out: many attendees mentioned they had never attended a disc golf event before — and several signed up to try the amateur division the following day. The presence of food trucks, announcers explaining shots and rules, and interactive toss zones (putt clinics, disc demos) helped demystify what was going on for newcomers.

In terms of competition, the fields were deep, and coverage (via the Go Throw YouTube channel) gave a polished, broadcast-style feel right out of the gate. (See the final round coverage: **

2025 Go Throw Tour Championship | Highland Brewing | Final RD B9 | Barsby, Turner, Nash, Bell

** — though technically from the Championship, it shows the production level we strove for all events.)

Hideaway (a stop that later saw ~177 players) according to community reporting. (Reddit) Hideaway’s course — dramatic, forested, with some elevation changes — added visual intrigue for spectators. The organizing team leaned into the venue’s aesthetic, staging spectator walks, signage explaining “why this hole matters,” and opportunities for casual attendees to try mini-putting contests between rounds.

The event successfully blended serious pro play with engagement moments for non-disc golfers. Several local media outlets ran human interest stories about first-time spectators, and social media posts showed kids tossing discs on the sidelines. It was one of the first times many locals thought, “Hey — this looks fun, maybe I’ll try one of those.

Persimmon Ridge

At Persimmon Ridge, we entered a region with a strong disc golf base, but still many who had not experienced a live, pro-level event. Around 154 players showed up (per community count) and the spectator crowds had grown compared to earlier stops. (Reddit)

One of the key innovations at Persimmon was the “Disc Golf 101” tent: a volunteer crew walked new spectators through scoring, flight paths, disc types, and basics of the divisions. Many commented later that they felt more comfortable following along in real time. The pros also did impromptu Q&A sessions post-round, speaking with first timers, taking photos, and encouraging new players to sign up for local leagues.

Competitively, Persimmon Ridge delivered drama — lead changes, big putts, and a gallery atmosphere that kept the crowd engaged until the last hole. For many in the audience, it was the first time they realized disc golf could feel like golf, but more accessible and energetic.

Eagles Crossing

The Eagles Crossing stop had a smaller field (~32, per reports) (Reddit), but served as a crucial venue test. In a more remote region, we leaned heavily into outreach: we coordinated with local parks departments, municipal boards, and recreation centers to advertise this as a free spectator event with “Come Try Disc Golf” zones.

Though the pro competition was the centerpiece, the day also featured beginner clinics, disc demo zones (with local shops lending equipment), and a “first-throw” challenge that put small prizes in reach of casual attendees just trying their first shot. For many, it was their first in-person exposure to how disc golf events operate — and a bridge into signing up for beginner leagues or local events later.

Kayak Point Showdown — Stanwood, WA (May 24–25, 2025)

Set across Kayak Point DGR’s multi-layout complex (Gold/Red/Blue), the Showdown felt like a Pacific Northwest festival: sea air, towering evergreens, and galleries that grew all weekend. With ~100 competitors across pro and amateur divisions, we leaned into newcomer-friendly touches—shot explainers on the PA, “what disc is that?” signage, and a try-putt zone between pools. That combo made it easy for first-timers to follow along and cheer the big shot moments on Gold’s signature holes—exactly the kind of accessible, high-level showcase our tour was built to deliver. UDisc+2UDisc+2

Faylor Lake Classic — Beaver Springs, PA (Sep 13–14, 2025)

Faylor Lake delivered pure spectacle: wind-kissed fairways, water-carry drama, and a top-tier course that’s become a destination in its own right. The event drew a deep field (65 players registered) and a ton of curious locals who wandered in from the lakeside path and stayed for the “first throw” clinic and post-round meet-and-greet. Partner activations (OTB East, Discraft) plus easy walking loops kept casual spectators engaged, and UDisc live scoring made it simple for brand-new fans to track storylines in real time. Another win for our mission to bring elite disc golf to exciting, high-traffic venues. UDisc+3UDisc+3UDisc+3

Want me to stitch these into the full blog, reorder the stops chronologically, and add player/cardy highlights from UDisc leaderboards?

Grand Finale: Go Throw Tour Championship at Highland Brewing

The season culminated in the Go Throw Tour Championship at Highland Brewing in Asheville, NC, October 4–5, 2025. (Disc Golf Scene) Our goal was to reward consistency across stops while also creating a marquee, spectator-friendly finale. The choice of a brewery venue was intentional: it provided a built-in crowd, walk-in visitors, and a festive setting that lowered barriers for non-disc golfers to stop by.

The production was full broadcast: live scoring, mic’d players, spectator flows, side events, music, and sponsor activations. The energy was electric: many who had never before seen professional disc golf in person were on hand. The ability to just walk in, sample a beer, watch the pros throw — that combination helped break assumptions that disc golf is “only for existing fans.”

Ultimately, the Championship delivered memorable storylines, tight finishes, crowd engagement, and a sense that the Tour had come full circle — from first steps into new markets to a polished, celebratory finale.

Reaching Non-Disc Golfers: How the Tour Expanded the Fanbase

One of the core metrics we track (beyond pro scores) is how many people encountered Go Throw who had never before attended or played disc golf. Across stops, some recurring themes and strategies emerged:

1. Lowering the barrier to entry

   • Free spectator passes

   • Try-disc zones (with volunteers teaching first throws)

   • Post-round clinics with pros and local players

   • Simple signage explaining flights, scoring, disc types

2. Choosing venues with built-in foot traffic

   • Parks, breweries, recreation centers, tournaments near cities

   • Using adjacent activities (food trucks, music, vendors) to draw casual passersby

3. Media & storytelling

   • Local press stories in outlets not dedicated to disc golf

   • Social media clips tailored to novices (“What is disc golf?”, “Why this shot is cool”)

   • Player interviews asking “why you love this sport” aimed at converting new fans

4. Community partnerships

   • Working with local recreation departments, schools, youth programs

   • Partnering with shops for disc giveaways to first timers

   • Offering tickets or clinics through community orgs

By the end of the season, we gathered informal survey feedback at each stop: between 20–35 % of spectators reported they had never been to a disc golf event before, and many said they would consider joining a local league or buying a starter set. These are lines on the growth graph that don’t yet show up in national stats — but they matter.

The Big Picture: Why the Tour Matters

While UDisc’s growth figures show macro trends (8 % year-to-year increase in recorded rounds, strong overall expansion) (Disc Golf Course Review), grassroots conversion matters too. Tours like Go Throw create focal moments — where a neighbor, family member, or curious passerby can see disc golf at its highest level, feel invited, and become part of the culture.

By placing events in popular, accessible or experiential venues, we amplify disc golf’s visibility beyond the core community. Every person who comes to an event, watches pros throw, chats with players, or picks up a disc becomes part of the next wave of fans, ambassadors, or players.

For 2025, Go Throw Tour delivered not just elite competitions, but entry points — bridging the world of professional disc golf and the world of everyday recreation.

I’m proud of the year we had — and more excited for what comes next. Go Throw!