Tournament Tiers Analyzed for Average Prize
| Tier | Average of Pro Purse | Average of Total Players |
| Major | $64,929 | 225 |
| National Tour | $40,159 | 152 |
| A-Tier | $22,708 | 122 |
| B-Tier | $5,087 | 58 |
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $70,500 | $5,875 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,500 | $3,875 |
| Average | $42,527 | $3,543 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,500 | $2,291 |
How much do professional disc golfers make?
According to the website Paysa, Professional Disc Golfers made an average of $116,037.00 in 2018. This pay scale ranged from the lowest 25% of disc golfer professionals making less than $62,970.00 annually and the highest 75% making more than $145,198.00 in the same year. The top 10% of pros made more than $213,198.
What is the average salary of a professional golfer?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $71,000 and as low as $16,000, the majority of PGA Golf Pro salaries currently range between $22,500 (25th percentile) to $36,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $51,500 annually across the United States.
How do pro golfers get paid?
How do golfers get paid? Professional golfers are paid a percentage of the purse for each tournament they play in and finish in the money. For example, the U.S. Open pays down to the 60th place finisher. Rory McIlroy won $1.4 million wining the US Open in 2011. The player in 60th place received a little over $17,000.
How to become a professional disc golfer?
- Can drive 300 feet
- Makes 30 foot putts half of the time
- Can throw backhand and forehand well
- Has developed some other skills
Do professional disc golf players make money?
Yes, professional disc golfers do make money from tournament winnings, sponsorships, and incentives on disc sales. The average yearly income for disc golfers at the pro level is approximately $116,000, but those with sponsorships tend to make considerably more than that.
How much do top disc golf players make?
And we know the top player in the world, Paul McBeth, has a guaranteed $250,000 per year from 2019 – 2023. He also makes sales incentives from his signature discs, but I'll exclude that factor from this equation. First, there is no way to determine what that number would be.
Can you make a living off of disc golf?
Disc Golf Pros Earned More Money in 2021 Than Ever Before In the graph below, you can see the dramatic increase in players surpassing the $10,000 threshold, with a record 20 different players winning above $30,000 dollars in 2021 alone. That's 15 more than in 2020.
How much do disc golf champions make?
Disc Golf Tournament Average Prize TrendsYearTotal Purse2016 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships$57,0792017 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships$63,2472018 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships$87,0172019 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships$93,9896 more rows
How much does Paul McBeth get paid?
How Much Does a Pro Disc Golfer Make Today?RankNameTotal Prize Won1Chris Dickerson$ 46,4302Kevin Jones$ 42,2243Calvin Heimburg$ 34,0474Paul McBeth$ 32,7291 more row•Jan 2, 2022
How do you become a pro golf disc?
How to Become a Professional Disc GolferPractice, Practice, and More Practice. ... Train To Be a Professional. ... Watch More Films and Be a Student of the Game. ... Finding and Hiring the Right Coach. ... Play in Accredited Tournaments and Go on Tour. ... Market Yourself to Get Sponsor.
How many pro disc golfers are there?
A total of 302 PDGA members have qualified as PDGA Premier Pros for the 2021 season. Due to the shortened 2020 season, all 2020 Premier Pros (based on the 2019 season) were carried forward into the 2021 season.
How much is the disc golf industry worth?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Disc Golf market size is estimated to be worth USD 205.7 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 538.5 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 17.4% during the review period.
Who is the best disc golf player?
Eagle McMahonThe Top 10Current World RankingMPOFPO1Eagle McMahonPaige Pierce2Ricky WysockiEveliina Salonen3Paul McBethCatrina Allen4Calvin HeimburgKristin Tattar7 more rows•Jun 21, 2021
How much do pro golfers make per tournament?
The average PGA Tour purse for 2022 is $9.1 million. The Player's Championship offers the largest payout on tour with a total purse of $20 million. Cameron Smith's win in 2022 earned him a staggering $3.6 million for that event alone.
How much does discraft pay Paige Pierce?
Her latest sponsorship contract with Discraft multiplied her previous salary tenfold, and she made about $500,000 in 2020 between her sponsorship contracts (which include performance bonuses and a portion of sales from their signature discs), tournament winnings and Patreon/YouTube accounts.
How much money did Paul McBeth make in 2018?
Paul McBeth, probably the most recognized name in professional disc golf, took home $57,880 in prize money across 25 tournaments, and has a career earnings total of just over $420k at the end of the 2018 season. On top of that, Paul has just recently switched over to a Discraft sponsorship that’ll pay him north of $1,000,000 spread ...
What is the PDGA?
The PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association), which is the disc golf equivalent of the NBA or the NFL was founded in 1976. Compared to other sports like basketball, which was founded in 1891, and football, which was founded in 1869, disc golf is a new sport. Currently, there are only a few ways for pro disc golf players to make money.
Do disc golf pros get sponsorships?
But like I said above, most disc golf pros aren’t likely to earn a sponsorship unless your one of the top players in the world. And even at that level, your not likely to earn a sponsorship worth huge money like Paul McBeth unless you boot him from the number 1 spot.
Does Paul McBeth like Discraft?
Players like Paul McBeth are pushing for the sport to become more mainstream, and has said he feels companies like Innova can do more to promote the sport with commercials and other promotional material. It’s not just about the money here. Paul has said recently said in an interview (found here) that he thinks Discraft has positioned themselves ...
Who are the top 3 disc golfers?
It is no coincidence that the top 3 ranked players in the world in Paul McBeth, Ricky Wysocki, and Eagle Wynne Macmahon all have Youtube channels.
How many members are there in the disc golf association?
In 2016, it listed around 35,000 members while a year later, it has grown to 41,000. In 2019, the association said that the list has grown to 45,000 members and these number does not include unregistered disc golf practitioner and the recreational player who plays the sport regularly.
How much is Paul McBeth's sponsorship deal?
He recently signs a sponsorship deal with Discraft to the tune of $10 million for 10 years. This contract is an extension of a similar contract he signs 4 years ago for a million dollars. Of course, Paul McBeth who is now considered the “Tiger Woods” of disc golf deserves it.
Is disc golf a fast growing sport?
Disc golf’s popularity has grown by leaps and bound over the years. The PDGA has said that it is a fast-growing sport in the whole world and they all have the reasons to be optimistic. For one, the membership of the association has grown over the years.
Do professional players make money on Dynamic?
I know teams from Dynamic discs and Latitude 64 earn a decent amount of money as team members. Of course, the salary varies according to the skill and value of a player to the team.
Does disc golf make money?
Does a professional disc golfer earn decent money for a living? The answer is yes. However, it may not as big as the other sport but the future looks bright for professional disc golfers. With the sport’s increasing popularity, more and more companies will be interested and will pour money on sponsorship deals and prize money which is beneficial to all professional disc golfers.
Who was the top earner in 1988 disc golf?
John Ahart ended 1988 as the top earner at $5,677, with David Greenwell in 2nd with $5,163. The top players are starting to play in over 20 tournaments each year. The 1988 PDGA Disc Golf World Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio offered the largest prize of the year with a purse of $26,657.
How much does Paul make in Discraft?
With Paul making $57,880 during the 2018 season, this means he makes four times that in sponsorship from Discraft now. If every pro player received four times their tournament winnings in sponsorship, that would mean only the top 100 players in the world made over $30,000 in 2018.
How much did David Feldberg make in 2005?
Out of nowhere, a youngster by the name of David Feldberg ran away with the 2005 season with top earnings of $29,608. His 1st place win at the United States Disc Golf Championship is what propelled his earns to the top of 2005. It remains the most lucrative tournament for players.
How much did Avery Jenkins make in 2008?
Avery Jenkins put together an impressive year with $33,610 of earnings. Also as the runner up to the United States Disc Golf Championship, behind Nate Doss.
Who was the top player in the world in 2001?
Cameron Todd, a player we haven’t seen before, made a huge push since going pro in 1999. Be 2001, he was the top player in the world with total earnings of $24,748 and a 1st place finish at the 2001 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships. By all standards, Climo had a great year as well.
Where was the first disc golf tournament?
The first tournament of modern day disc golf was the WHAM-O $50k Frisbee Disc Golf Invitational. It was put on by Steady Ed Headrick in Huntington Beach, California with 70 total participants. This was a tournament put on to showcase disc golf in all its glory.
Is disc golf a main stream sport?
I think this trend is very exciting for the sport of disc golf. The sport has definitely developed over the last ten years. When you attend a professional event in 2019, it definitely has the feel of a main stream sporting event. Opposed to maybe 20 or 30 years ago it felt more like a family reunion.
Which begs the question: How much do Pro disc golfers make?
For starters, let's take a look at the top of the career earnings chart where we find pro disc golfer Paul McBeth.
How do Pro disc golfers make money?
Obviously, tournament winnings is one way pro players make their money, but there are other ways as well.
How Can I Earn Money Playing Disc Golf?
Any player can potentially make some money playing disc golf with hard work and dedication, but few will make a living doing so, as these players are the best in the world.
Professional Disc Golf Salary Tournament Pay Scale
Depending on which source you believe, the average first-place winner at a disc golf tournament is about $3,500. Most tournaments have a sliding scale of pay-out for placement. When it’s all said and done most above-average competitors win about ten percent of that amount. Do the math and that is about $350.00.
Expenses of a Professional Disc Golfer
Now, $57,000 would be a nice chunk of change. However, there are other expenditures a player will incur.
Final Thoughts on Salaries of Professional Disc Golfers
There is no telling how much money a pro at any sport can make. If they were good at the sport, probably enough to carve out a decent living. The real money comes away from the court or field, by way of companies who have a vested interest in the game. It is no longer a sport, it’s a business.
Professional Disc Golf Pay Scale
According to the website Paysa, Professional Disc Golfers made an average of $116,037.00 in 2018. This pay scale ranged from the lowest 25% of disc golfer professionals making less than $62,970.00 annually and the highest 75% making more than $145,198.00 in the same year. The top 10% of pros made more than $213,198.
How Do Professional Disc Golfers Make Money?
The most obvious way professional disc golf earn money is by playing in and hopefully winning disc golf events and tournaments. Players that win or place high can come away with some considerable cash and the higher the caliber of the event, the more money there is to win.
Final Thoughts
If you are dreaming of becoming a disc golf star, I hope this article has inspired you to pursue your dream. You can make a living playing disc golf and a lot of players are doing it right now. If you aren’t in that camp, I hope you learned something about the business of disc golf.
How much does a Disc Golf Professional make?
As of Jan 5, 2022, the average annual pay for a Disc Golf Professional in the United States is $39,209 a year.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Disc Golf Professional Jobs
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Disc Golf Professional job is above the national average. Topping the list is Lakes, AK, with San Francisco, CA and Santa Clara, CA close behind in the second and third positions.
How Much Do Pro Disc Golfers Make?
PDGA golfers earn an average of $116,037 which takes into account a lot of things but if you look at the chart below from Paysa you will see that there is a wide range of salaries earned. Just like with any other sport, performance plays a large deal into what you make because you don’t get paid just to play.
Can You Make Money Playing Disc Golf?
So the real question is, can you make money playing disc golf? The answer is YES, ABSOLUTELY! There are many ways to make money playing disc golf that include winning tournaments, gaining sponsors, and selling merchandise but it is not easy to reach the top.
How Do Professional Disc Golfers Make Money?
If you want to start your path toward a pro disc golf career, then make sure you have all the right gear and understand the mechanics of the discs and how they fly.
How Many Professional Disc Golfers Are There?
A total of 261 PDGA members have qualified as 2020 PDGA Premier Pros. Qualification requirements must be met prior to becoming a PDGA member and the applicant must meet one or more of the following criteria and have been current PDGA members in 2019.
PDGA Qualification Criteria
PDGA World Champions for 2015-2019 (last 5 years) in Pro Divisions (Singles Events Only)
How much does a caddie make on the PGA Tour?
A caddie on the PGA Tour receives a base salary — usually around $1,000 to $2,000 — to cover travel expenses. He will earn 5% of the winnings if his golfer finishes outside of the top 10 and 7% of the winnings for a top-10 finish. The caddie earns 10% of winnings when his golfer wins a tournament.
What does a caddie look for in a golf course?
The caddie looks for changed conditions like whether the course has become softer or firmer. He also checks the pin locations and watches other golfers to see how the ball reacts on the green. So, as you can see, caddying for a professional golfer involves more than just carrying clubs.
What is a caddie in golf?
A caddie has several duties that are critical to a golfer’s success. For a typical PGA Tour event that runs from Thursday to Sunday, a caddie’s work starts on Monday, when he’ll walk the course alone with a range finder and level to chart the greens.
How early can a caddie go to the golf course?
The caddie will get to the course before the pro — as much as four or five hours earlier for a late-afternoon round — to see if anything about the course has changed. This way he can relay that information to the golfer before he tees off.
How much did Brooks Koepka win?
When Brooks Koepka won the 2017 U.S. Open, he took home $2.16 million in prize money, the most ever for a tournament win at the time. His caddie, Ricky Elliott, likely received about $200,000 of that amount — more than what 98% of Americans earn in a year, let alone a week.
Do caddies pay taxes?
It’s not all profit for the caddie, though, as he’s responsible for paying for his own travel and accommodations most of the time. As independent contractors, caddies must pay self-employment taxes and health care costs, even if it’s subsidized by the PGA Tour.
Is golf a lucrative sport?
on October 20, 2019. Golf is a lucrative sport for the top players on the PGA Tour. They can take home millions by winning a single tournament. A golfer’s caddie plays a major role in that success, which means that professional golf can also be lucrative for them.
Top Professional Disc Golf Sponsorship Contracts
Where Do Pro Earnings Come from?
- Signature Disc Sales
Pro earnings come from a variety of tournament payouts and sponsorship deals. For many pro players, the bulk of their income comes from the sale of fundraiser and signature discs. Professional disc golfers generally receive $2-$5 for each signature disc sold. You can support t… - Sponsor Bonuses for Winning Major Tournaments
Companies like Innova, pay their professional players bonus’s for winning tournaments while representing their brand. The bigger the event, the more money they get. A sponsored pro may get an additional $500 from their bonus for winning a PDGA sanctioned B Tier event, $1000 for winn…
Tournament Payout
- At most disc golf tournaments, the top 40% of the field receive “payout.” Some sponsors will pay for professional players tournament entry fees but for most disc golfers, if you don’t finish in the top 40% you lose money by playing professional disc golf tournaments. Compared with traditional ball golf, the actual payout for tournament winnings is diminutive. The first prize purse for the av…
Can You Make Money Playing Disc Golf?
- With the increase in media coverage and the growth of disc golf sales and sponsorship there is actually more money to be made through professional disc golf than ever before. Of course, not everyone is going to be sign a lucrative business contract like Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki, but if you can compete at a high level, you’ll be able to bring home some extra cash on any given we…