Disc golf has experienced unprecedented economic growth over the past three years. It’s safe to say there’s more money than ever in the disc golf market, and making a living from the sport is a much more viable option than it was in the past. That said, it still pales in comparison to major sports, and competition is fierce for any individual to get a slice of the pie.
The precise amount of cash that gets funneled to pro players is difficult to measure. Contract details are rarely released to the public, and players are understandably reluctant to discuss their finances. But we can still make an educated guess. Here’s a brief look at how much pro disc golfers make.
Can You Make A Living Playing Disc Golf?
That all depends on what you consider “making a living.” If you are good enough to get onto the Pro Tour, you’ll likely earn at least enough money for food, clothes, and reliable shelter. Anything beyond that is going to be tough. The truth is most disc golf pros likely struggle to clear $40k per year in total earnings.
Only a handful of players earn more than six figures, while most touring pros barely earn what would be considered a middle-class wage. After travel costs, health insurance, and other everyday expenses, there’s not going to be a whole lot left over for retirement savings or vacations, much less raising a family or owning a home.
To earn a comfortable living as a disc golf pro you either have to be among the very best in the world, or hustle to build various revenue streams off the course through endorsements, media work, or teaching clinics. Absent that, there are always the options of having a trust fund, winning the lottery, or traveling back in time to 2015 and buying a bunch of bitcoin.
I’ve heard stories of players pulling shifts for DoorDash to earn gas money while on tour, or moonlighting in the service industry during the off-season. Some work remote jobs on the road. The struggle is real, and making a real living as a professional player is a pipe dream for 99.9% of people who ever pick up a disc.
Disc Golf Sponsorships
There are more players than ever who can call themselves a “sponsored pro.” But what exactly does that mean? For some, it is simply a handful of free discs and a promise to promote the brand on social media. For others, it’s paid entry fees and access to a touring van from an online disc golf shop. For an elite few, it’s enough cash to last a lifetime.
There is a wide range of sponsorship deals, with each individual setting their own terms.
In recent years, some of the top players have started hiring sports agents to negotiate deals. On the other end of the spectrum, the upstart company Lone Star Discs made news by setting up an application on social media and signing hundreds of players to low-level sponsorships.
Many touring pros have multiple sponsorships. For example, Nate Sexton has five different sponsors listed on his website. He also works as a commentator for Disc Golf Network and JomezPro to supplement his $10.8k in tournament winnings last year. Sexton has carved out a unique path to making a living through disc golf.
At the end of the day, disc golf is an entertainment product. Only players who can both excel on the course and successfully drive revenue for sponsors will find financial security.
Average Pro Disc Golf Salary
Only a few players disclose the value of their sponsorship deals, so it’s impossible to know the average pro player’s total compensation. Disc companies publicize a few high-end contracts and generate big headlines. Meanwhile, the average players’ deals are shrouded under a veil of secrecy.
The only number we can track with absolute certainty is tournament winnings, where the average for national touring pros in 2022 was somewhere around $20-$25k. Some notable names in this range are Ezra Aderhold, Adam Hammes, and Sarah Hokom. Mason Ford, currently ranked 20th in the PDGA’s Tour Rankings, finished 50th in earnings last year, with $19k.
For regional non-touring pros that you might see shredding up your local events, the average is probably $5k.
Who Is The Highest Paid Disc Golfer?
Paul McBeth, Ricky Wysocki, and Simon Lizotte have disclosed that they earn $1 million per year base salaries from Discraft, Dynamic Discs, and MVP Discs, respectively. These contracts all have various incentives and bonuses, so it’s likely they earn much more than that. As to who earns the most, I’d have to guess McBeth, but there is no way to know for sure.
On the female side, Paige Pierce has the largest contract. Exact details on her deal with Discraft are somewhat hazy, but Sports Illustrated reported that her base salary is $500k per year before incentives and bonuses.
Do Female Disc Golfers Make Less Money?
Yes. Purse sizes for FPO events have risen a lot over the years, but they still lag behind MPO prizes. This is generally because FPO has fewer players, leading to less money in the prize pool. And as you see above, the top female player’s sponsorship contract is half of what top male players bring home.
There are plenty of events, like last year’s World Championships, where second place in MPO ($13.5k) earns more than first place in FPO ($11k). Go back to 2010 and there is even a larger disparity, as first place in FPO ($1450) took home less than 5th place in MPO ($1500).
But progress is being made to lessen the gap. In some events, FPO purses are actually higher relative to the number of players in the field. Just look at the results of last year’s Ledgestone Open, a tour mainstay that has long had one of the best payouts.
Ricky Wysocki beat 147 players to take home the win and $10k. Missy Gannon won FPO and earned $8k, but had to beat only 49 players. 2nd in MPO won $7k, while 2nd in FPO was nearly the same: $6250. Seven male players (4.8% of the field) won at least $3k, while five female players (10% of the field) eclipsed $3k.
At last season’s Disc Golf Pro Tour Championships, the DGPT showed what true equality looks like. Payout structures were identical, with winners of both divisions taking home $35k, second place $20k, and so on. The total purse of $302k was the highest ever for a single disc golf event.
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This post brought to you by DiscSource.
Photo: iStock
