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Info for Ace Race Tournament Directors
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Who can run an Ace Race? Anyone!
No previous experience as a disc golf Tournament Director is needed to run a successful Ace Race.
How it works
Event window: Your event must be scheduled in August, September or October. The earlier you schedule, the sooner you can begin to promote your Ace Race and build your field of players.
TD package: We provide everything you need: player packs, a grand prize, promotional posters, scorecards, registration sheets, tee flags, pencils, and an event banner... all FREE except player packs and shipping costs. To get started, all you need to do is get registered and start promoting your event to bring the players out!
Make money: Ace Race is set up to allow you to make money from each player who attends... after all, you're doing much of the work! You can then use that profit for your club, a partner charity, course improvements, buy your players lunch... whatever you like.
Free baskets for the top events! The top three events with the most players win a free Chainstar basket from Discraft. See additional details in your TD info pack.
Please note that all TD information -- including TD pack contents, player pack contents and costs -- is subject to change without notice.
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Common TD Questions and Answers:
Click for the answers
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Q: How do I order my player packages, and when do I need to pay?
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A: US events: Events within the US must order online.
Password: runit
You will need a valid credit card to order. Orders cannot be processed until payment is received.
International orders cannot be processed online. Please contact us and we will process your order via email.
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Q: When should I order my player packages?
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A: Two weeks before your event for orders from the continental United States. International Ace Races should order three weeks ahead. We also suggest that events being held on military bases provide us with an off-base address for shipping purposes to ensure prompt delivery.
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Q: What is the minimum number of player packages I can order?
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A: Fifteen.
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Q: What will my costs be?
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A: The TD package is free (including banner, tee flags, pencils and grand prize). Your costs are $18 US per player package plus shipping costs (approximately $1 per player pack). Player entry fees are $25 US, so the remainder is profit for you, your club or your charity… or use the extra to provide additional prizes or other player perks.
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Q: How do I determine how many player packages I should order?
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A: The easiest way is to pre-register your players. Many Ace Race events will order a 'cushion' amount of additional packages to cover players who show up the day of the event. Depending on how much you've promoted, ordering an additional ten to twenty player packages is generally considered safe.
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Q: If I order more player packages than I use, can I return the unused packs?
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A: TDs are responsible for all player packages ordered, returns will not be accepted. However, if you do end up with more than you use, it is very easy to get your investment back, since the package is worth $55. You could sell one of the discs for $15, and have the rest of a package available for club giveaways, etc.
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Q: Can I order specific colors and weights on my player pack discs?
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A: No. We will do our best to ship you the widest selection of weights and colors as possible, but variations ultimately depend on what is in stock at the time of your order.
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Q: Can I order (XX) number of player packages now, and more later if I need to?
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A: Yes, as long as each additional order is at least ten packages. Keep in mind that you are also paying shipping costs, and these costs will go up if you're ordering multiple shipments.
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Q: Is my Ace Race sanctioned by the PDGA?
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A: No. As a result, anyone may participate regardless of PDGA membership.
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Q: There is already an Ace Race scheduled in my area. Can I still run one?
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A: When potential conflicts arise between Ace Races, we first ask the TDs to talk with each other and try to resolve any issues on their own. If that fails, Discraft reserves the right to defer to the initially scheduled event, and may request either date and/or location changes to the second event, or to deny that event from participating. We typically prefer a 30-mile buffer between potentially competing events.
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Q: What if I need to change my event date?
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A: That isn't a problem, as long as your new date is within Aug, Sep or Oct. To change your date, you must contact Ace Race HQ so adjustments can be made to the master calendar.
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Q: Can I run more than one event?
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A: Yes, although they must be at least 30 miles apart, except for special arrangements with Ace Race HQ.
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Q: Discraft is giving away baskets to the top events. How does Discraft determine how many players attend my event… can't I just make up a number to report?
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A: The number of players per event will be based solely on the number of player packages shipped to that event. 2009 Ace Race Event Directors are eligible to win a Chainstar basket, which will be awarded to the top three events worldwide with the most players. "An Ace Race event' is considered to be 1) held on one or two consecutive days, and 2) held on a maximum of two separate courses within a five mile radius.
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Q: Discraft recommends I shorten the holes on my course to between 180 and 250 feet for the Ace Race. Can I go shorter? How do I best shorten up some of my course's long holes?
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A: You may shorten your holes to give more players a chance. Remember that the more aces hit during your event, the more fun it is! Discraft will provide you with free flags that you can use to create Ace Race tee areas on the day of the event. You can order these (limit 48 flags per event) when ordering your player packages.
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Q: Can I bring in additional sponsors?
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Q: I want to create separate divisions. Can I break up the Grand Prize between them?
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A: No. You may create separate divisions if you like (some events like to create a junior's and/or a women's division), but the Grand Prize must be awarded to your top division, and cannot be broken up. If you make separate divisions, you must generate prizes for additional divisions on your own through sponsorships or club donations.
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Q: I want to serve lunch to my players. Is it okay to increase my entry fee to $30 to cover the cost?
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A: No. All Ace Race entry fees must be $25 (or equivalent for international events). If you want to offer additional side games or other benefits such as lunch, these must be optional for all players and not mandatory.
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Q: What is the name of the 2009 Ace Race disc, and is it PDGA approved?
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A: 2009's prototype turned out to be a huge hit with players. It is now available as the Pro D Focus and Elite X Soft Focus. Both are PDGA approved.
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TD Step-By-Step Checklist
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1) Choose your date.
It must be within August, September or October. Check the calendar to make sure you won't conflict with a previously scheduled Ace Race in your area. If you find one, contact the TD to find out if he or she minds you scheduling another local event. It is also courteous to make sure you aren't scheduling over another local disc golf tournament, so check with the local club(s).
2) Register your event.
This will get you onto the event calendar and lock in your local area. Register here. If you have a web site to help promote your event, be prepared to give us the address during registration and we will help you to promote it. Once registered you will receive the complete TD info kit via email.
3) Promote.
Getting the word out can help you grow a bigger field of players -- and bigger profits for yourself, your club or your charity. Spread the word via the Web. Get listed on your local, state and regional events calendars. Put up posters (we will send you several of these for free beginning in June or shortly after you register) at your local courses.
4) Pre-register your players.
By signing up and collecting player entry fees ahead of time, you will help yourself in two ways: it will give you a good idea of how many player packs to order as your event nears, and it will help defray any initial out-of-pocket costs to you before the event, since you can then order your player packs using player entry fees instead of your own funds.
5) Order your player packs.
To ensure timely delivery, we strongly suggest you send your order two weeks before your event, or three weeks for events outside of the continental US. It is also a good idea to order 10 to 20 extra packs extra to accommodate players who show up to play but never pre-registered. You will need a valid credit card at the time of your order. Your player pack shipment will also include your grand prize, banner, pencils and tee flags.
5) Event day!
Get to the course plenty early to shorten holes as needed and other set up chores. Bring a camera and video camera to share your event with us, and have a great time!
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tips for a
Bigger, Better Ace Race
Scott Papa of Olalla, Washington has run the largest Ace Races for the past three years, hosting 203 players in 2008 and 225 in '09. We asked how he draws such a big crowd:
"The thought of tournaments -- that is, competition -- scares off a ton of casual players. Ace Race is built for casuals, so I go to a lot of effort to let them know that it's NOT a tournament, but just for fun."
"We promote early and emphasize what a great deal it is. We make the holes really short to encourage a lot of aces. We also allow people to play during a larger time frame, so they can show up at 10am or 2pm or whenever and still play."
"Finally, we incorporate other fun stuff like putting contests, optional lunch, and a ton of prizes for wacky categories like youngest player, farthest traveled, tallest player, etc. It's always a blast!"
Professional disc golfer Scott Papa is the Instructional Editor for Disc Golfer Magazine, and a longtime member of Team Discraft.
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>BAM!< Easy Ways To Spice Up Your Ace Race
Create an optional cash side-pot for aces, and let players buy into it if they like (for example: pay $2 to buy in, and all aces for the day or round split the pot).
Schedule optional side events. Possibilities include putting contest, jumbo toss/ring of fire, bocce disc games, distance contest, maximum time aloft contest, mini games, etc.
Give prizes for wacky categories such as farthest traveled, youngest player, shortest drive, etc.
Post-race doubles: you could make it with Ace Race discs only, or each team member must use Ace Race disc for at least one shot per hole, or team players alternate using only Ace Race disc on each hole.
Schedule a potluck lunch: make a huge pot of chili or grill some burgers and ask players to bring a dish to pass. Or make it a chili cook-off!
Sell mulligans as a fundraiser. A mulligan is a second chance to drive on the hole of the player's choice. This popular idea puts the 'fun' in 'fundraiser!' Example: one mulligan for $2, or six for $10. Purchased from the TD before the round, the TD then marks the player's card with the number of mulligans, and the player must indicate on what holes he or she threw an extra drive.
Encourage car pooling by announcing a "green driving" prize: anyone who shows up in a vehicle with four players or more will have their names put into a lottery to win a free Ace Race entry.
Remember this important key to success: the more fun players have, the more likely it is that they will return the following year and bring additional friends with them.
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