Lynchburg Named Host City for 2024 Professional Disc Golf Association World Championships
Ledgestone Group, in conjunction with the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), announced today, December 21, that the 2024 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships will be located in the City of Lynchburg and Bedford County, Virginia.
This will be the first PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship held in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Former Lynchburg resident and six-time PDGA World Champion, Paul McBeth was the initial inspiration for an event of this caliber to be held in Lynchburg and worked with Ledgestone Open CEO, Nate Heinold and the City of Lynchburg to make it happen.
“One day, I called up Heinold and told him that Lynchburg could host [the PDGA World Championship]. I told him that Lynchburg had a lot to offer for activities and courses, and he quickly flew out to Lynchburg,” said McBeth.
Heinold spent three days in Lynchburg visiting courses, hotels and venues and laying out a design for the showcase course, Ivy Hill Golf Club. Ivy Hill Golf Club will be a new course that is owned by the Runk & Pratt group, one of the event partners. “This bid would not have happened without the significant support of Chris Runk and the Runk & Pratt group. We are excited to be working closely with them to execute this event,” Heinold said. In addition to Ivy Hill Golf Club, the event will also feature the New London Tech Disc Golf Course.
“The City of Lynchburg is thrilled to partner with the Professional Disc Golf Association and the Ledgestone Group to host the 2024 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships,” said Marjette Upshur, Director of Economic Development & Tourism for the City of Lynchburg.
“We are proud to work with the PDGA and Ledgestone on this multi-day sporting event and even more proud to be selected to host more than 300 athletes from 15 different countries. We expect this event will attract nearly 20,000 spectators throughout the course of the competition, generating direct business spending of $6.4 million in the City of Lynchburg. Sports tourism is a critical economic driver, and we are excited to be on the world stage to showcase the City of Lynchburg and drive spending in our hotels, attractions, restaurants and retailers,” Upshur said.
“The PDGA is thrilled to bring the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships to Lynchburg, Virginia and Bedford County in 2024. The local community has been building something very special, and we are excited to partner with them to host the first-ever PDGA Pro Worlds in the Old Dominion State. We have no doubt that Nate Heinold and his team of disc golf event organizers will work tirelessly with the local organizing committee to produce a memorable experience for all involved,” said Michael Downes, PDGA Director of Operations.
For more information, please contact Emelyn Gwynn, Office of Economic Development & Tourism at (434) 426-3856.
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