PFDS Pittsburgh Challenge Ladder

The Pittsburgh Challenge Ladder is a head to head match play tournament that runs throughout the year until play-offs commence. Each player pays an entry fee ($15) and receives a numbered bag tag for competition. The aim for all players is to obtain the lowest possible number which will signify their current standing in the challenge ladder (1 is the lowest number). Players challenge other bag tag holders for their position on the ladder, and if they win, either hold their ranking if they defend ...
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The Pittsburgh Challenge Ladder is a head to head match play tournament that runs throughout the year until play-offs commence. Each player pays an entry fee ($15) and receives a numbered bag tag for competition. The aim for all players is to obtain the lowest possible number which will signify their current standing in the challenge ladder (1 is the lowest number). Players challenge other bag tag holders for their position on the ladder, and if they win, either hold their ranking if they defend their number by winning, or advance by defeating the player with the lower number.

League Fees:
Players may join the league by paying a $15 entry fee per year. Players will then receive a bag tag after submitting valid email and phone number. League Fees will cover the cost of the bag tag, trophies, prizes, and supporting the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society. Please contact [email redacted] to obtain your bag tag.

The league fees will be allocated as follows:
• $6 towards cost of the bag tags
• $3 towards the PFDS
• $6 towards play-off payouts

Conduct
1. Everyone is on their honor to conduct themselves according to the rules and within the spirit of competition.
2. In order for the Bag Tag Challenge to work, all challenges must be accepted.
3. Each player must have their Bag Tag at all times. Bag Tags must be plainly visible and cannot be hidden.
4. Challenges are to be made by choosing times and courses that are reasonable.
5. Friendly side wagers of any kind can be made at the discretion of the participants, but are NOT required.
Challenges
1. Challenges will run throughout the year until the play-offs commence in November.
2. Lower numbered players can challenge any higher number as they wish.
3. Higher number players can only challenge 10 numbers lower on the ladder for a challenge to be obligatorily accepted. But a lower number player can choose to accept outside of the 10 rule if they desire.
4. All players are to provide a valid email address and phone number in order to facilitate in an efficient challenge process.
5. Challenges can be made in person, via email, or phone call/text. A challenge must be acknowledged by both parties in order to be valid (good faith applies).
6. The challenged player must give the challenger two (2) times to meet in the next two (2) weeks or they must forfeit the tag. If the challenger cannot meet that timeline, the challenge is void. Not showing up for a match results in a forfeit. (20 minute leeway)
7. The challenged player picks the course, tees and format. Format choices include: match play. PDGA rules apply. If the challenger wins the round, the tags are exchanged.
8. For doubles events, teams with 2 valid bag tag holders can challenge another team with 2 bag tag holders. The lowest bag tag is used to determine if the rule of 10 applies. In double formats, the lower ranked bag tag holder always plays for the lower ranked bag tag of the opposing team, and the higher plays for the higher number of the opposing team. All players from both teams must agree to the challenge prior to the match.
9. Ties are won by the holder of the lower bag tag at the beginning of the round. However, if ALL players agree before the round starts; a play-off hole(s) can be used as a tie-breaker using sudden death rules.
10. You don't have to play back-to-back challenge rounds against the same player or in a multi-player match with the exact same opponents. A player can't challenge you, lose to you, and immediately challenge you again for another round. However, if ALL parties agree, consecutive round challenges are allowed. Challenges MUST be verbally agreed upon at the beginning of EACH round.
11. Incomplete round: If a player does not complete a bag tag challenge round, the exiting player should trade tags with the player with the highest tag number. If play is stopped by all players before the round is complete, no tags are exchanged. This could be due to hazardous weather, physical emergency or mutual agreement.
12. Multiple people at the same course at the same time can have a group challenge with 5 or less playing in the group. If more than 5 are present the group must split into cards of at least 3 and play proceeds as if it were a tournament/league.
13. TOURNAMENTS/LEAGUES: Players can engage in challenge matches during tournament or league events, but must follow the format and rules of the event.

Match Play: Match play is a skins event where players compete to win each individual hole. The player with the lowest score on the hole wins the hole. If the players tie the hole, no points will be allocated for that hole. The player who wins the most holes is the winner.

Ranking:
1. Tags will be issued as players sign up. Playoff results will determine bag tag ranking for the following year. All players wishing to participate in the following year Challenge Ladder, and receiving the bag tag based on Playoff ranking, must pay the following year’s entry fee at the beginning of the playoffs commencing. Players joining after the Year End will receive the lowest available tag.

Playoffs:
1. Playoffs will begin in October (preliminary) and will last for approximately one month and end with a final tournament event (Match Play)
2. During the month, playoff challenges will be assigned in flights consisting of a 1 week period where participation is mandatory. A Player failing to finalize their challenge will forfeit. Players in challenges where the opponent forfeits will be assigned the win. Disputes will be decided by the league commissioner.
3. All players participating in the challenge ladder are eligible for the playoffs.
4. Players holding bag tag numbers 1 – 8 will receive an automatic bye until the final week of the playoffs
5. Players ranked 9 – 25 will participate in single elimination match play challenges throughout the first 3 weeks until the final 8 players remain.
6. The Playoffs will end with a 2 day, 4 round tournaments, consisting of the top 8 ranked players from the regular season, and the final 8 players from the initial playoff weeks.

Reporting
1. Players holding tags must update the club with the results of each challenge.
2. The winner of the challenge is responsible for reporting the results of the challenge.
3. To report a completed challenge, please send results to [email redacted]
1. Please submit:
1. Both players plus the number before the challenge
2. The final score for each challenge
3. Winner of challenge
4. Date of Challenge
5. Location of Challenge
4. Players wishing to get information as to who holds each tag may check at www.pfds.org
5. Alternatively, the website for tracking and reporting results may be implemented and all members will be updated accordingly.

Lost Tags
1. When a tag is lost, it must be reported to the commissioner, the number is dropped from the standings until a replacement tag is obtained.
2. Members can purchase a new tag for $15.00 and will receive the lowest numbered tag available.
3. Players may not challenge any other players until a replacement tag is obtained.
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