OK, lets take care of Donovan first. Sign up as an AM, preferably the REC (recreational) or newly added NOVICE class. It does not matter how long you have played or how good you are. You are new to the PDGA so you can start and should start at the bottom. You will receive a rating after playing in your first sanctioned tournament. Your rating will be based on several things.......how hard the course is (SSA, Scratch scoring average) how well YOU shoot compared to the SSA, and what the conditions are like that day. This is all kinda irrelevant considering you have to be an accountant to figure it all out, but that is how it works. If you want to look more into this here is a link:
http://www.pdga.com/competition/ratings/index.php
Now with that being said the reason I say start at the bottom is, you can really get in over your head. I have tried playing outside of my rating, most recently OPEN (pro) at the Charlie Vettiner Open. I came in dead last and kinda screwed my rating. The class you play in will also dictate your rating. It is all based on the guy in first and his score. So I was 30+ strokes out of first and that is not good. You are better off climbing the ladder from the bottom up. As far as prizes go take the plastic. Once you accept CASH you are PRO for life. So if you place last in the money and excepted $50(just an example) $50 will now make you PRO from here on out. Now they just changed the rule so that PRO's can play AM. The drawback is that you are playing for nothing except a place. You can't except a prize. So there is no need in screwing yourself. I am rated 879, I should honestly be playing in the REC divison because I am below a 900. However I have been playing for 15 years so I feel it would be unfair to those who have just started. So I play Intermediate which is 900 - 935. The ratings chart is at this address:
http://www.pdga.com/rules/index.php (click on player divisions and eligibility) this should just about explain everything, if you have more questions ask and I will try and get back with you.
Now for the question from edge3281.................
It is $50 with the magazine
$40 without.
This is a one year membership, however if you sign up now it is only good until Dec 31st. This is for everyone. As of Jan. 1st every year you are no longer a member until you renew.
Here are a few more links to help you guys out. Also tour the PDGA site from top to bottom, look in every area. The site is full of great info and most of it easy to find. Also sometime this year a new site will go up that is supposed to be way better, so keep your eyes peeled.
THE LINKS: RULES...
http://www.pdga.com/rules/index.php
MEMBERS....
http://www.pdga.com/members.php
TOUR/ SCHEDULE....
http://www.pdga.com/schedule/index.php
GENERAL INFO.....
http://www.pdga.com/information.php
PRO SHOP....
http://www.pdgastore.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi
COURSE DIRECTORY.....
http://www.pdga.com/course/index.php
One more thing, If you would like to see how the ratings work visit my ratings page. I am #26401 or just click on this link:
http://www.pdga.com/tournament/playerstats.php
Than click on my Ratings detail and Ratings history. Hope this helps you guys out, now go sign up!!!!!!!