Turn Your Flagstaff Rounds into Relief

Turn Your Flagstaff Rounds into Relief: Running a Charity Disc Golf Event Year-Round

While October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month have come to a close, the drive to give back never stops in the Flagstaff disc golf community. Whether you were inspired by the recent Throw Pink campaigns or have another local 501(c)(3) organization close to your heart, hosting a charity tournament is a fantastic way to make an impact in the upcoming Northern Arizona season—and it’s easier than you might think.

Through the PDGA’s Competition Endowment Program (CEP), local Tournament Directors in Northern Arizona can transform a standard C-tier event at iconic Flagstaff disc golf courses—like McPherson Park, Fort Tuthill County Park, or the NAU course—into a powerful fundraising engine. If you’re looking to host an Arizona disc golf tournament that gives back to Coconino County, the CEP is your best tool for year-round philanthropy.

What are the Perks of a Flagstaff CEP Charity Event?

The PDGA CEP program removes typical financial barriers to maximize your charitable impact right here in Northern Arizona:

• Waived Non-Member Fees: You can waive the standard $15 temporary member fee, making it the perfect gateway to introduce new local players to the Flagstaff tournament scene. Alternatively, you can collect the fee and add it straight to your Arizona charity’s donation pool.
• Redirected PDGA Fees: The PDGA automatically puts your $3 per-player fee directly toward your chosen charity.
• Flexible Payouts: You are permitted to deviate from the standard payout schedules, allowing a larger chunk of the registration fees to stay local and go straight to the cause.

6 Steps to Run Your Own Northern Arizona Fundraiser

1. Sanction Your Event: Register your Flagstaff-based C-tier tournament through the PDGA just like normal.
2. Apply for the CEP: Review the CEP guidelines for charity events and submit the application form. Approval is typically fast, provided you are partnering with an official 501(c)(3) organization. (Pro tip: Partnering with a recognized Flagstaff community non-profit is a great way to boost local registration).
3. Set Up Disc Golf Scene: Build your registration page. Under your settings, handle the $15 temporary fee (waive it or donate it). Calculate your expected per-player donation and publicize this clearly on the page so Arizona players know exactly how they are helping.
4. Promote and Play: Open registration, share it across the Flagstaff Disc Golf Club Facebook group and local Arizona disc golf networks, and host an amazing event in the pines.
5. Submit the Funds: Within 30 days of the tournament’s completion, send the raised funds to your charity and forward a copy of the receipt to the PDGA event support team.
6. Celebrate: You’ve successfully grown the sport in Northern Arizona while making a tangible community difference.

A Legacy of Giving Back

When the disc golf community rallies together, the numbers speak for themselves. The impact of female and gender-based division participation every October has driven incredible charitable growth over the years on a national level, setting a great example for our local Flagstaff events year-round:

• 2013: 625 female participants raised $1,250 for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), which was matched by Prodigy through special edition pink discs for a total of $2,500.
• 2014: 682 participants raised $1,364 in player fees, plus $612 from a USWDGC raffle, benefiting the YSC.
• 2015: Growth to 866 participants increased the player fee donation to the YSC to $1,732.
• 2016: With 1,345 women and girls competing, the community raised $2,690. This was supplemented by events like the Magnolia Open and USWDGC for a massive $5,310 total donation to the Dempsey Center.
• 2017: 1,341 players drove an aggregate donation of over $11,780 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
• 2024: 3,731 players in gender-based divisions led to a proud $7,462 PDGA donation to Throw Pink.
• 2025: 3,255 participants kept the momentum going, generating a $6,510 donation to Throw Pink.

This article was adapted for the Flagstaff disc golf community. To read the original PDGA announcement and learn more about national fundraising efforts, visit the original article here: Throw Pink & Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Want to run your own event?

Download the step-by-step guide and reach out if you have any questions.