[PDGA Major] Champions Cup 2024

[@CD-]

2024 PDGA Champions Cup
25-Apr to 28-Apr-2024
4 rounds at Northwood Black course @ Northwood Park in Morton, IL
PDGA event page
Caddy book

Field size of 144 (96 MPO, 48 FPO) with an invite list based on 2023 Elite series finishes. This makes Champions Cup one of the most difficult tournaments to get registered for. Lowest current registered is ~990 for MPO and ~875 for FPO.

Usually the tour visits Peoria/Morton for Ledgestone later in the summer Midwest swing of the Pro tour so I'm curious what the Northwood Black course will look like in mid Spring. [COLOR=var(--text)]Uncertain of any changes to the course from the Ledgestone '23 layout at this time. Missy Gannon and Cole Redalen each won Ledgestone '23 and each shot a hot round at Northwood Black for their respective divisions.[/COLOR]

Historically, Northwood Black DGC has some of the largest backups on tour due to the challenging woods holes and rough off the fairways with MPO/FPO fields playing on different days for Ledgestone. With the limited field all playing the same course the same days this may still be an issue even with FPO playing a shorter layout ahead of MPO. There was no field cut made in the 2023 Champions Cup.

2023 Champions Cup was the same weekend but at the W.R. Jackson Course @ IDGC
FPO Winner: Kristin Tattar
MPO Winner: Isaac Robinson

 

[@CD-]

Some additional detail on the mixed Black/Gold layout being used for Champions Cup. It will not be the standard Black layout used for Ledgestone the past years

 

[BuiltTooLong]

Some additional detail on the mixed Black/Gold layout being used for Champions Cup. It will not be the standard Black layout used for Ledgestone the past years

cliff notes? assuming they are changing layout to allow more spectators.

 

[Flick Maniac]

Is this the course that has the only good par 5 I know of?

Change my mind.

 

[biscoe]

Is this the course that has the only good par 5 I know of?

Change my mind.

You mean the par 6 with the kind of random shot off the tee and a bunch of OB in the woods?

 

[TheOtherBill]

IMO it's nice to see the pros play a hole that has them kicking their bags too. Sure beats another 2 dozen hyzers.

 

[@CD-]

cliff notes? assuming they are changing layout to allow more spectators.

first 3 minutes goes over the layout which is what I heard from a FB post and tracked down the full podcast. Listening later to the full 20 minutes

 

[biscoe]

IMO it's nice to see the pros play a hole that has them kicking their bags too. Sure beats another 2 dozen hyzers.

I agree with this. 80% of the hole is great.

 

[elmexdela]

You mean the par 6 with the kind of random shot off the tee and a bunch of OB in the woods?

you referencing hole 12 or 18

 

[Dcinmd]

you referencing hole 12 or 18

18 is listed as a par 4. Hole 12 has for a bit been referred to as the hardest hole in disc golf.

 

[helix_rider]

As an MA40 player, I had a C2 look (I missed) for 4 from the short tees with a perfect drive, flex to the top of the hill, then mediocre upshot that faded a little too much so was in the trees on the left. IMHO, a par 5 for the pros from the longs isn't crazy, but is only doable IF the tee shot traverses the significantly challenging initial gaps. I'm still unsure if 'averages' should be used to establish changes to par.

 

[elmexdela]

18 is listed as a par 4. Hole 12 has for a bit been referred to as the hardest hole in disc golf.

18 listed as par 5 according to 2024 caddiebook

 

[Dcinmd]

18 listed as par 5 according to 2024 caddiebook

I just looked at U-disc. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Flick Maniac]

Its a par 6? I dunno. Yet to see a good par 5 I guess...

 

[@CD-]

cliff notes? assuming they are changing layout to allow more spectators.

4 holes from the Northwood Gold layout from the '19 Peoria Worlds in place of 4 holes from the Northwood Black layout. Holes 3-5 Black replaced due to springtime wetness/muddy conditions in the woods sloping near a creek. Hole 18 Black replaced with the more open hole 18 from the Gold layout to allow more spectators & maybe mud as well for hole 18 Black.

The Upshot podcast interviewed Heinold as well here with some added details/questions

 

[Dcinmd]

Its a par 6? I dunno. Yet to see a good par 5 I guess...

2023 Ledgestone

https://udisclive.com/live/ledgestone2023/3?t=courseStats&d=MPO
R2 - Hole 12 = 6.15
R3 - Hole 12 = 6.68 - 26% of the field got a +3 or more on the hole, 24% +2. Half the field scored at least a 7.

2022 Ledgestone
https://udisclive.com/live/ledgestone2022/2?t=courseStats&d=MPO
R2 - 6.37
R3 - 6.18

2019 Worlds
https://udisclive.com/live/proworlds2019/4?t=courseStats&d=MPO
R2 - Hole 12 - 6.62 - 52% with a score of 7 or higher.
R2 - Hole 12 - 6.48 48% with a score of 7 or higher.

 

[DanJon]

Looks like rain for sure on Friday and Saturday has a good chance.

Better shoot good on Thursday and Sunday.

 

[Jolt]

Sad to hear Simon will not play . .

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Sad to hear Simon will not play . .

...but I'm glad he's prioritizing his family.

 

[geebob]

I'll be heading over there tonight. I plan to catch an early FPO card to get the feel of the course, but might skip the MPO action tomorrow and play one of the local courses in the afternoon. I have the rain gear and umbrella, so will be out there rain or shine. Any idea when the cards will be announced?