Berth Process

Ver: 2.3           Amended on 1/10/2026

  • BERTH ACUISITION
    1. Berths are an invitation (and award package) to the Michigan Amateur Disc Golf State Championships.
    2. Berths are available to clubs/entities promoting disc golf and hosting events in Michigan.
    3. The number of berths is determined by available spots in the State Championships.
      1. Currently 720 are available (11/20/22):
        1. 396 berths are held for Feature Events.
        1. 4 berths are awarded to major sponsors.
        1. 36 berths are awarded to the Michigan Masters Series
        1. 36 berths are awarded to the Michigan Women’s Series.
        1. 248 berths are split up to clubs/entities in Michigan.
    4. Berths are distributed to clubs/entities by prior years of involvement with the MDGO and in the berth process.
    5. Criteria and awarded berths may vary due to supply and/or demand.
      1. Criteria changes must be made by the MDGO berth committee and approved by the MDGO group.
    6. Berths are awarded to clubs/entities based on the following tier guide:
      1. Tier 1: 1 year – 1 berth
      1. Tier 2: 2 years – 2 berths
      1. Tier 3: 3 years – 3 berths
      1. Tier 4: 4 years – 4 berths
      1. Tier 5: 5 years – 5 berths
      1. Tier 6: 6+ years – 6 berths
    7. Club/entities may also request up to 2 additional berths to be awarded in a masters division and a women’s division.
      1. These additional berths MUST be awarded in the divisions they are requested for.
      1. If a club/entity is unable to award these additional berths at one of their own events than they may award it at another club/entities events. The club/entity that owns the additional berth is still responsible for reporting the berth.
      1. If a club/entity is unable to award their additional berths and as a result do not report them they will not face any disciplinary action.
    8. Feature Event berths are given to clubs/entities that bid for them and are awarded by the MDGO group.
      1. More information on featured events can be found in its own documents.
    9. Berths are $23 each and include a hot stamp disc along with the berth package.
      1. Exception: major sponsor berths, masters/womens series berths, feature event berths, LCQ berths.
      1. Berth package must be given to the winning player, all other items may be used at the club/entities discretion.
    10. Berths must be requested at berths@mdgo.org
      1. Requesting for berths will open up on November 1st and go until November 21st.
        1. There will be a 10 day grace period after November 21st for clubs/entities to still request their berths but it will incur an additional $10 penalty fee per berth.
        1. Any club/entity that requests their berths after December 1st will not be awarded berths.
      1. Request must be made by the deadline set by the MDGO Group.
      1. One person may only request for one club/entity; you may not request for multiple clubs/entities.
    • BERTH PICK UP AND PAYMENT
    1. Berths must be paid for and picked at the annual disc distribution meeting held on the Saturday before the NFL Super Bowl.
      1. The MDGO will not send reminders or make arrangements for you.
      1. This is your responsibility to make arrangements to pick up berths and any other items you ordered.
    2. Options for Payment:
      1. Cash or check on the day of pick up.
      1. Paypal in advance or on the day of pick up.
    3. Options for Pickup:
      1. *All orders must be paid in full prior to pick up*
      1. Pick up in person.
      1. Make arrangements to have someone else pick up for you (this is the responsibility of the individual requesting berths to make all arrangements).
    • BERTH DISTRIBUTION
    1. A berth must be awarded according to how well a person played in an event and CANNOT be awarded in any side games such as CTPs, longest drive, raffle, etc.
      1. If there’s any questions about a way a club/entity would like to distribute a berth please reach out to the Berth Committee MDGOBerthComm@gmail.com and Berth Wizard norky_p@yahoo.com for approval.
    2. Berths are NOT transferable once it is awarded to, and accepted by a player.
    3. Berths may not be awarded from 1 week before the start of the Michigan Amateur Disc Golf State Championship to December 31st.
    • BERTH REPORTING
    1. Berths must be reported by the individual who had made the request.
      1. It is still the responsibility of an individual to report their berth(s) even if they transfer them to another entity for them to award.
      1. An individual must report all berths they are awarded even if they are unable to distribute them to a player.
    2. Berths must be reported 4 weeks before the State Championship.
      1. If a league or tournament completes after the 4 week deadline you have 48 hours from completion of event to report distributed berths.
    3. Berths must be reported by using the provided link at mdgo.org.
      1. The link can be found under the tabs “Berths” then “Report a berth”.
    • SPECIAL NOTES
    1. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in measures covered under the disciplinary guidelines and/or other measures set forth by the MDGO berth committee and agreed upon by the MDGO group.
      1. Offences by the club/entity as well as individual TDs will be logged and recorded.
    2. The MDGO berth process is to be considered a living document that could see changes for its longevity and for the benefit of all those who participate within the berth process.
      1. Any and all changes must be approved by the MDGO group.
    3. Years of involvement with the MDGO is the only factor we have been able to apply to regulate the number of berths given. In the past factors such as helping at MDGO events, and dollars spent on MDGO orders have had an impact, but with current demand we cannot even apply factors beyond years involved.
    4. All deadlines will be posted in the Yahoo Groups message board.
    5. An “event” is defined as a tournament/league round that plays no less than 13 holes of disc golf.
      1. An “event” cannot be an ace race style tournament.

    MDGO Berth Process Disciplinary Guidelines

      • Did not pick up
        • Loss of 1 tier of seniority
      • Did not report winners at all or improperly
        • Loss of 2 tiers of seniority
      • Did not report berths that were not awarded
        • Loss of 1 tier of seniority
      • Awarded berth in improper manor
        • Loss of berths for 1 year
        • Loss of 2 tiers of seniority