Discraft + Michigan: The Story Behind the 2026 PDGA Pro World Championships • 2026 PDGA Pro Worlds

To understand why the 2026 PDGA Pro World Championships feel like a homecoming, you have to understand Discraft.

Few brands in disc golf have roots as deep, personal, and influential in Southeast Michigan as Discraft—a company that has shaped not only the sport itself, but also the courses and communities that surround this year’s Worlds.

This region is not simply where Discraft operates.
It’s where its history lives.

Where It All Began

Founded in 1979, Discraft has been a cornerstone of the Southeast Michigan disc golf scene for more than four decades. Long before the sport’s global expansion, Discraft was designing courses, supporting local clubs, and developing discs that would define entire eras of competition.

A defining moment came in 2000, when founder Jim Kenner helped design and build the now-iconic Toboggan course specifically for the PDGA Pro World Championships. That installation marked a watershed moment for Michigan disc golf and cemented the region’s place on the world stage.

Legacy Courses & Lasting Impact

Discraft’s influence is embedded throughout Southeast Michigan’s disc golf landscape:

Designed the Black Locust South Course
Donated baskets installed across Kensington Metropark
Supported course installation and upgrades throughout the region
Primary sponsor of DGLO since its founding in 1983

The Toboggan installation also paved the way for one of the sport’s most important amateur events: the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship, hosted at Toboggan since 2002. This event has helped launch careers of players who later became household names.

Champions With Local Ties

Multiple Discraft professionals have built their careers on these fairways:

Benjamin Callaway — USADGC Champion
Ricky Wysocki — DGLO Champion
Cale Leiviska — DGLO Champion
Paul McBeth — DGLO Champion
Anthony Barela — USADGC Champion

Their history with these courses adds another layer of meaning as Worlds returns to Michigan.

Discraft’s Role in the 2026 Worlds

Discraft’s involvement in the 2026 PDGA Pro World Championships includes:

Special wholesale releases supporting Worlds
Major marketing amplification
Media and coverage support
Operational support
Staff expertise and consultation
An exclusive event-tied mold: the Sled

This support helps elevate both the scale and quality of the player and spectator experience.

From Discraft’s Bob Julio

“We’re excited to have Worlds back in Michigan. Michigan has some of the largest crowds for disc golf tournaments. We also have a long and rich history with disc golf that has led to being among the states with the most courses, while also being the home state of two of the biggest disc golf manufacturers in the world.

Michigan is a unique state that blends amazing natural beauty with diverse terrain and abundant water features. Tying disc golf back into all of that—especially with the Worlds courses—is going to be something special.”

A Partnership Built Over Decades

Discraft’s long-term commitment is a key reason Worlds has returned to Michigan at its current scale. That support spans:

More than four decades of Michigan disc golf growth
Iconic course development
Consistent investment in DGLO, USADGC, and regional events
Strengthening competitive pathways from amateur to elite levels

The 2026 Worlds aren’t just supported by Discraft—they’re built on the foundation Discraft helped create.

About Discraft

Discraft is a pioneer in disc sports, committed to building the future of disc golf through quality craftsmanship, player support, and grassroots investment. Since 1979, the Michigan-based company has been known for producing dependable, high-performance discs while contributing meaningfully to the sport’s growth.

Inspired by decades of pushing the limits of what flight can be, Discraft partners with athletes, events, and communities worldwide to expand access, elevate competition, and help shape and celebrate disc golf culture.