The idea of playing disc golf professionally while traveling the globe is very appealing. You may even be considering the money you will receive. But is it a good sport for a career? If yes, then how much does a pro disc golfer make?
Disc golf professionals earn an average of $116,000 per year, though those who receive sponsorships can make significantly more. For example, Paul McBeth, the most well-known name in professional disc golf, won $90,403 in prize money across 25 tournaments in 2021, giving him a career earnings total of just over $616k at the end of the season.
So surely, professional disc golfers make good money. Let’s get to know some more figures.
How Much Does a Pro Disc Golfer Make?
In 2018, professional disc golfers earned an average of $116,037, according to the website Paysa, but those with sponsorships make significantly more.
Paul McBeth, the most well-known name in professional disc golf, won $90,403 in prize money across 25 tournaments in 2021, giving him a career earnings total of just over $616k at the end of the season.
Furthermore, Paul has recently secured a Discraft sponsorship that will pay him over $1,000,000 over the course of four years, in addition to sales incentives on signature discs.
Most players aren’t as good as Paul McBeth, and it’s important to remember that not all of them have lucrative sponsors.
In 2020, the total purse was about $3.25 million. A year later, it had almost doubled to $6.4 million, which was almost twice as much. In 2021, the payouts for the Disc Golf Pro Tour were 58% higher than in 2018, and the payouts for the National Tour were 61% higher.
Even though disc golf has only been a sport for a few years, this is a big jump in a short amount of time.
Are There Different Tiers For Players?
Professional disc golf has a wide variety of formats. Disc golf, like all other sports and games, has tiers of expertise.
Depending on your skill level, you can compete at any of the game’s tiers. Pro disc golfers compete in PDG Majors, the sport’s highest level of competition.
If you want to play in a Major, you’ll need to join the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), and those tournaments guarantee winners at least 125% of their entry fees. If you decide to skip the PDGA Major, you’ll be sure to make it out to the National Tour. In order to compete on the National Tour, you must be a PDGA member; however, the level of competition will be lower, and the prize pools will be smaller.
Events and tournaments for A-Tier, B-Tier, and C-Tier disc golfers are held after the National tour. The payout drops dramatically at these lower levels, and only the very best players will likely come out ahead.
However, only about 65% of those who compete in disc golf tournaments will actually win any money.
How Much Disc Golf Tournaments Pay?
Typically, the prize pool at a major tournament ranges from $64,000 to $100,000. The average number of participants in these tournaments approaches or exceeds 200.
Most people in the field won’t get paid when all is said and done.
The field for the National Tour events will be smaller, but the payout will also be lower. A National Tour competition should have a purse of about $40,000.
The total purse for each of the A, B, and C Tier events will range from $2,000 to $20,000. Keep in mind that this is the total purse, not the purse for prize winners.
As you advance in your professional disc golf career, be mindful of the lower payouts and earnings. You won’t make any money at all for a very long time.
Bottom Line
So this was all about how much does a pro disc golfer make. Professional disc golf may not be as popular as other sports, but the future looks promising. With the sport’s growing popularity, an increasing number of companies will invest in sponsorship deals and prize money, which will benefit all professional disc golfers.
Thank you for reading!