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What Is The PDC Qualifying School? (And How It Works)

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The Professional Darts Association, or PDC as it is more commonly known, holds coveted player rankings, awards the sport’s highest honors, and oversees the world’s major darts tournaments and competitions. 

One of the most popular, highly anticipated, and exciting of these tournaments is the PDC Qualifying School.

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What is the PDC Qualifying School?

The PDC Qualifying School is an important event in the world of darts where just about everyone, including amateur dart players, can compete to qualify for a spot on the professional PDC Tour and a chance to earn the sport’s top prizes.

But what makes this tournament so special?

Follow me after the break to learn more about what the PDC Qualifying School is and how it works!

History Of The PDC Qualifying School

The PDC Qualifying School was created by the PDC in 2011 following that year’s World Championship. Since then, the Q-School, as it is commonly called, has served as an opportunity for amateur players and former ranking professionals to gain the ability to compete at the professional level of play for the next two years.

The Q-School is held over a few days every January, and the top performers are awarded what is known as a Tour Card, which entitles Tour Cardholders to compete in all player championships and open qualifiers.

When And Where is Q-School Held?

The Q-School is held at the beginning of each calendar year over a 4 day period. Due to the increasing popularity of the competition, and the sport itself, the Q-School is now held in two different locations:

• UK Q-SChool is held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Before 2021, Q-School was held in Wigan.
• European Q-school is held at the H+ Hotel in Niedernhausen. European Q-School is for players hailing from all European nations, except the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Gibraltar.

It is worthy of note that players coming from outside the European continent can choose in which Q-School they’d like to compete.

The qualifying process behind Q-School is rather complex; however, I’ll do my best to explain it in straightforward terms.

Here Is How the PDC Qualifying School Works

A First Stage is set, where up to 128 players in the UK Q-School and 128 players in the Europe Q-School compete for their right to pass to the Final Stage.

32 players are exempt from the Final Stage in the UK Q-School and 19 players from the European Q-School. These players are chosen based on which players lost their Tour Cards the previous year, and the top 8 players from each region’s Challenge and Development Tours.

All other players play through a preliminary round that is used to allocate the remaining spots for the Final Stage. Only 8 players per day are able to make this jump from the First Stage to the Final Stage.

All further places are awarded to players from the First Stage Order of Merit held in each region.

The Final Stage offers participants a chance to win up to 32 Tour Cards, with each daily winner automatically receiving their card. The remaining 24 cards are split between the total participants of both regions.

Who Can Participate in Q-School?

Just about anyone can participate in the PDC Qualifying School, as long as they are 16 years old or older on the date of the opening round of the competition.

The entry fee for Q-School is £450, or just under $600. If a player wins a Tour Card, he or she must pay an additional fee of £100.

Any player who competes in Q-School but does not manage to qualify for a Tour Card will earn the PDPA Associate Member classification, which will allow them to compete in the following events for the year:

• PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour
• UK Open Qualifiers
• European Tour Qualifiers
• Players Championship Events 

Is Qualifying School Easy?

No. Even though everyone can sign up for the PDC Qualifying school, it doesn’t mean that the competition is easy pickings. Qualifying School can be a brutal tournament, with some very high-level competitors battling it out for their Tour Card.

Besides amateurs with big dreams and young up-and-coming talent, the PDC Qualifying School is home to a ton of seasoned professionals who lost their Tour Cards by dropping below the top 64 rankings.

This means that for all intents and purposes, the PDC Qualifying School is a tournament with professional-level play. Only the very best players will find success in the Q-School.

Nevertheless, very few other sports provide amateur players a chance as significant as the one accessible to dart players by the PDC Qualifying School.

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Explanation PDC Q-School 2024: What do you have to do to win a PDC Tour Card and what can you do with it?

The fourteenth edition of the PDC Q-School will take place from Monday, January 8 to Sunday, January 14, 2024. At venues in Kalkar (Germany) and Milton Keynes (England), nearly nine hundred participants will compete for a PDC Tour Card.

A total of thirty PDC Tour Cards are on hand for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The number of Tour Cards per venue has been determined based on the number of entries. Seventeen Tour Cards are expected to be distributed through the European Q-School and thirteen through the UK Q-School.

UK Q-School Order of Merit after the first day of play of the final stage

Q-school divided into two phases.

The Q-School is divided into two phases as in the past two years. The first phase will occur from January 8 to 10, followed by the final phase from January 11 to 14.

Players who lost their PDC Tour Card last season or finished in the top eight on the Challenge Tour and Development Tour are immediately qualified for the final stage.

The remaining participants must start in the first stage. Placement for the final stage is possible by reaching the last eight on one of the three playing days in Kalkar or Milton Keynes. Should that fail, players must ensure that as many pots as possible are won. Each win in a full round (without byes) earns one point. Via the Q-School Order of Merit of the first stage, players also advance to the final stage.

Steve Lennon regains PDC Tour Card at the first attempt on opening day of final phase at UK Q-School

Tour card distribution during final stage.

During the final stage, the Tour Cards are actually distributed. Of the thirty available Tour Cards, eight will be distributed immediately. Four days of play will be completed during the final phase at the British and European Q-Schools. The eight direct cards will go to all daily winners at the tournaments.

The remaining 22 Tour Cards can be earned through the Q-School Order of Merit. Each victory (not counting preliminaries, ed.) earns points at both events. Thirteen Tour Cards are available via the European Q-School Order of Merit, and nine via the UK Q-School Order of Merit.

With multiple consistent results, this way players can still get a Tour Card without achieving daily success.

Snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan gives word of warning to Luke Littler: "I’d definitely choose to do things differently"

What can you do with a tour card.

Players who hold a Tour Card may enter the Pro Tour tournaments. In addition, you may participate in the qualifying tournaments for the Euro Tour events, the qualifiers for the Grand Slam of Darts and World Series of Darts Finals and the very last World Championship qualifying tournament.

Without a Tour Card, can you still play on the PDC circuit?

Especially for players who have missed out on a Tour Card, the PDC Challenge Tour has been set up. That's 24 tournaments, each with a top prize of 2,500 pounds. Players can also participate in Associate Qualifiers for the Euro Tours and, in addition, there is a Development Tour circuit for players under the age of 24.

Max Hopp will take part in the Q-School despite injury: "I've already put other things behind me"

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Article: PDC Q-School Rules - How does it work?

PDC Q-School Rules - How does it work?

Written by Red Dragon Darts

PDC UK Q-School in Numbers

This week promises to yield high pressure and drama where over 300 players and rising look to fight for the coveted playing privileges of the PDC’s 2019 global tour. Here are some of the key facts...

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Description of all tournament series

Find out all about the history and rules of the different tournaments

In the tournament series, the PDC distinguishes between the big major events that are broadcast on television and the events of the Pro Tour. The PDC Premier League Darts, the World Cup of Darts, the Champions League of Darts, The Masters and the World Series of Darts are invitational tournaments, the prize money is not included in the Order of Merit.

World Darts Championship The World Darts Championship has been held since 1994 and is the largest darts event in the world. From 1994 to 2007 the “Circus Tavern” in Purfleet was the home of the World Championship. 2008 followed the move to the “Alexandra Palace” in London, which is also affectionately called “Ally Pally”.

Participants: 96 32 players qualify via the Order of Merit and are seeded. 32 additional players qualify via the Pro-Tour Order of Merit. The 32 free seats will be played in worldwide qualifying tournaments. The PDC Europe awards five starting places for the first main round of the World Cup. The German starting place goes to the winner of the Superleague. Further places via PDC Europe will be played in Spain, the Netherlands, Austria and Eastern Europe.

World Matchplay The World Matchplay has the biggest tradition next to the World Championship. The Summer World Cup has been held since 1994 in the impressive “Empress Ballroom” in the “Winter Gardens” in Blackpool. In 2002 Phil Taylor threw the first 9-Darter in the match against Chris Mason, which was broadcast live on TV.

Participants: 32 The top 16 of the Order of Merit is set. There are also 16 other players via the Pro-Tour Order of Merit.

World Grand Prix The World Grand Prix has been held since 1998 and is the only darts event in the world where double-in, double-out is played. In 1998 and 1999 the event took place in Rochester, England. In 2000 the change to Ireland took place. After one year in Rosslare the “Citywest Hotel” in Dublin became the new home of the WGP.

Participants: 32 The top 16 of the Order of Merit is automatically qualified, seeded players are only the top 8, plus 14 additional players via the Pro-Tour Order of Merit and the two best Irish or Northern Irish players in the Order of Merit who are not already qualified.

UK Open Finals The UK Open is also called the “FA Cup of Darts” because of the way it is played and is the only major tournament where several boards are played in the first rounds. There is no seed list and each round is drawn by lot. The UK Open has been held since 2003, until 2013 the “Reebok Stadium” in Bolton was the venue. Since 2014 the “Butlins Resort” in Minehead is the venue.

Participants: 160 For the UK Open Finals there have been no separate qualifying tournaments since 2019. All 128 Tour Card holders are automatically qualified, plus 32 players who can play their way into the main draw via regional tournaments. Players placed higher in the rankings will not enter the tournament until the second, third or fourth round.

European Darts Championship The EDC was created in 2008 to give mainland European players the chance to compete against the best darts players in the world. The EDC is hosted by PDC Europe in cooperation with the PDC. The first event took place in 2008 in Frankfurt am Main.

Participants: 32 The Top 32 of the European Order of Merit qualify for the EDC. There is no draw, the tournament schedule is based on the ranking position (1-32, 2-31 etc.). The European Order of Merit only includes the prize money of the European Tour events.

World Cup of Darts The World Cup of Darts is the only team event in the tournament calendar and is hosted by PDC Europe in cooperation with PDC. The first WCoD took place in England in 2010. In 2012, the second Team World Championship took place for the first time in Germany. The event was played for three years in the “Alsterdorfer Sporthalle” in Hamburg. From 2015, the “Eissporthalle” in Frankfurt am Main was home to the World Cup of Darts for four years. In 2019, the event returned to Hamburg, where it now plays in the “Barclaycard Arena”.

Participants: 32 32 nations with two players each will be invited to the WCoD by the PDC. The eight best nations will be seeded according to the rankings of the two invited players. Grand Slam of Darts The Grand Slam of Darts is the only major event where professionals from the PDC and BDO (British Darts Organisation) participate. Home of the GSoD since 2007 is the “Civic Hall” in Wolverhampton. The Aldersley Leisure Village is the venue in 2018 and 2019 due to renovation work.

Participants: 32 The Top 8 of the PDC Order of Merit is set. The first round is played in eight groups of four, one seeded player is drawn in each group. The two best players of each group advance, from the second round on the KO system is played. Up to 16 additional places will go to the finalists of the PDC Major Events. Free places will be played in a separate qualification tournament. 8 starting places will go to BDO players, one BDO player will be drawn in each group.

Players Championship Finals Since 2009, the Players Championship Finals are a final tournament for the best players of the PDC Pro Tour. In the first two years was played in the “Circus Tavern”. In 2011 the Players Championship Finals took place twice. The first three editions of the finals took place at the beginning of a year according to the final ranking of the previous year. Since 2011, the Players Championship Finals have been held at the end of the season. Since 2012, the “Butlins Resort” in Minehead has been the only venue home to two PDC Major events.

Participants: 64 In 2016 the number of participants in the Players Championship Finals was doubled. The Players Championship Order of Merit will only include the prize money from the Players Championship events. The 64 best players in this ranking will qualify for the final round. There will be no draw, the tournament schedule will be based on the ranking position (1-64, 2-63 etc.).

The Masters The Masters is one of the PDC’s more recent events and is an invitation tournament at the beginning of a year. 2013 and 2014 were played in Edinburgh, 2015 followed the move to the “Arena MK” in Milton Keynes.

Participants: 16 The Top 16 of the PDC will be invited. There is no draw, the tournament schedule is based on the ranking position (1-16, 2-15 etc.).

World Series of Darts The World Series of Darts was launched in 2013 to make darts more popular around the world. The first event in the series was the Dubai Darts Masters in 2013. 2016 the World Series made station in Dubai, Auckland, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Perth. In 2017, the PDC returns to the USA with an event as part of the World Series. Since 2017 there has also been a World Series event in Germany.

Participants: 8 to 16 Six players qualify via the Order of Merit, two additional starting places are awarded via wildcards. These eight players compete in all World Series events of a year. In some events, the eight PDC pros face eight local players.

World Series of Darts Finals In 2015 a World Series of Darts Final was held for the first time. Since 2018 the event is organized by PDC Europe in cooperation with PDC.

Participants: 24 The top eight players of the separate World Series Order of Merit are seeded and will enter the final in the second round. In addition, four more players will be entered via the Order of Merit, and eight participants will be invited by the PDC. Four more places will be played in a separate qualifier.

Premier League Darts The Premier League Darts is the biggest road show of the PDC. On 15 match days, the four participants in the final of the Premier League are determined. The Premier League is played in Great Britain and Ireland, since 2016 there is also a matchday in Rotterdam. 2018 was the first time the event was played in Germany, since then the “Mercedes-Benz Arena” in Berlin has been part of the Premier League.

In 2005 and 2006, 7 players took part in the Premier League, from 2007 to 2012 there were 8 participants. Since 2013, the Premier League has comprised 10 participants. After nine match days (Judgement Night), the last two players in the table are eliminated. The top 4 after fifteen match days qualify for the final. The Top 4 of the Order of Merit after the World Cup is automatically qualified. Six additional starting places will be awarded with wildcards.

PDC Pro Tour Events The PDC Pro-Tour includes the Players Championship Events and the European Tour Events. The prize money from these events will all go towards the Pro-Tour Order of Merit. While the events of the European Tour will be held in front of spectators, the Players Championship Events will be held without public audiance.

Players Championship Events The Players Championship Events will be held in Great Britain. Since 2019 there are also events in Germany. The field of participants is limited to 128 holders of a PDC Pro-Tour-Card. Free places due to cancellations by players will be filled according to the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

European Tour Events The European Tour has been organised since 2012 and is the tournament series of the PDC Europe with events in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Gibraltar.

Participants: 48 The top 16 of the Pro-Tour Order of Merit is set. 32 additional starting places will be played in various qualifying tournaments. In the first main round, the 32 qualifiers determine the opponents of the top 16 who will enter the tournament on the second day.

Development Tour The Development Tour is the newcomer series of the PDC. The minimum age for participation is 16 years. Players who were under 24 years of age on 02 January are also eligible. Each season, 20 tournaments will be held on five weekends as part of the Development Tour. In 2016, the Development Tour made its first stop in Germany. The top 72 of the Development Tour Order of Merit as well as 24 other qualifiers determine the World Youth Champion. In the final round of the 96 best players, the finalists will be determined. The final of the World Youth Championship will take place in the Players Championship Finals.

Challenge Tour The Challenge Tour is the perfect foundation for the Players Championship events. Ambitious players can gain valuable competition experience here, while former top players have the opportunity to play their way back. Each season, 20 tournaments are held on five weekends as part of the Challenge Tour. Every participant of the Q-School is entitled to participate in the Challenge Tour, Tour Card holders are not allowed to participate.

PDC Qualifying School The Q-School is the ticket to the professional darts sport. At the beginning of a new season all free PDC Tour-Cards will be played on four days. The four semi-finalists have a Tour-Card for sure. All other available Tour Cards will be issued on the basis of the separate Q-School Order of Merit. Any player who participated in the Q-School and did not receive a Pro Tour Card is eligible for the Challenge Tour. In addition to the Q-School in England, there has been a European Q-School in Hildesheim since 2018. All players who are not from Great Britain or Ireland are allowed to participate.

PDC Tour-Card Only holders of a PDC Tour-Card may participate in the Players Championship Events. The top 64 of the Order of Merit after the World Cup will automatically receive a Tour-Card. The Tour Card is valid for two years, so players who have dropped out of the top 64 will be allowed to enter the Players Championship for another year. Additional Tour Cards will be awarded to the best players on the Development and Challenge Tour. All available seats will be played through the Q-School. Only 128 Tour Cards will be awarded each year.

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PDC Nordic & Baltic

• Tournament Rules

Darts Regulation Authority (DRA)

All events organized by PDC Nordic & Baltic are governed by the rules of Darts Regulation Authority (DRA). By entering any event or tournament, players commit to these rules.

The DRA Rules Book can be viewed at the DRA website

All entries for PDCNB events must be paid in advance of the deadline for the registration to be valid. Deadlines will be posted with the events.

Pro Tour Events

• 08:30 Doors will open to players and their guests
• 08:30 -10:00 Registration – any player not registered by 10:00 will not be be entered into the draw
• 11:00 Toe The Oche
• 19:00 (Approx) Play Concluded

As the draw for these events will be conducted on the day, all players must register on the day or they will not be included in the draw

Although players will be allowed to bring guests into the venue, should the Tournament Director deem that the playing area is too crowded players, guests or spectators may be asked to leave the playing area.

Please note that no-one wearing football shirts of any kind or children under 11 years old will be admitted.

Pro Tour events each have a prize fund of €5,000, split as follows:

• 16 x 50 euro = 800 euro Last 32**
• 8 x 125 euro = 1,000 euro Last 16
• 4 x 200 euro = 800 euro Q F
• 2 x 300 euro = 600 euro S F
• 1 x 600 euro = 600 euro Runner-up
• 1 x 1,200 euro = 1,200 euro Winner

Prize monies will also count as ranking points on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit.**

**Players that receive a bye directly into the Round of 32 MUST win their match to be awarded ranking points. They will however receive the prize money despite losing.

The Order of Merit is a seasonal table and will be reset at the start of every season. Seeds for the first PRO Tour of each season will be based on previous seasons Ranking final standings.

• At Event 1 player 1 wins 1200 €, player 2 wins 600 €, player 3 wins nothing
• At Event 2 player 3 wins 1200 €, player 2 wins 600 €, player 1 wins nothing
• Player 3 (best result in last event)
• Player 2 (second best result in last event)

PDC Europe Tour Qualification

For PDC Europe Tour Qual. registration opens approx 2 hrs before scheduled play and closes 1 hrs before scheduled play. The draw is made on the day by the tournament director and all players must register to be included in the draw.

Each PDC Europe Tour qualification offers the winner one invite to the corresponding ET event.

The runner-up will receive 120€ The two semi-finalists will get 60€ The four quarter-finalists will get 30€ (Min. 40 participants)

Note that non-PDPA members must pay a 15€ PDPA Day Membership per event.

Qualification Criterias

Prize money won at any Pro Tour event will count as points on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit. The table runs for one year and the top two players will get an invite to the World Championship located at Alexandre Palace in London.

If one or both of the players that finish in top 2 also qualify as seeds from the top 32 on the main PDC Order of Merit, the next placed player or players on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit will be invited.

The 2024 PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit winner exempt to Final Stage at Q-School 2025 and receives free entry. Should this player reject the invitation or is otherwise not eligible, the runner-up shall be invited. If they reject the invitation or are otherwise not eligible, the invitation shall be withdrawn.

Players 2-8 from 2024 PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit receive free entry to First Stage. Should any player reject the invitation or be otherwise not eligible, this would not be offered further down the rankings.

For the 2024 Nordic Darts Masters (World Series), the three Tour Card holders in Madars Razma, Benjamin Drue Reus and Jeffrey de Graaf will be invited.

Top five non-qualified players from PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit after Sweden on April 7, based on a 12-month Order of Merit and minimum six events played * , will get the last five spots.

*Any player that was unable to participate on the PDCNB Tour due to their Top 64 ranking as a PDC Tour Card holder during 2023 will be exempt from the minimum 6 PRO Tour event ruling.

For the World Cup of Darts 2024 Denmark, Latvia and Sweden are already secured nations due to their Tour Cards, meaning Madars Razma, Benjamin Drue Reus and Jeffrey de Graaf are already qualified.

The Tour Card holders will be joined by the best placed players from each nation respectively on the PDC Order of Merit.

If no other player from these nations has a PDC Order of Merit ranking, then the highest ranked player on PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit after PDCNB Finland on June 2 will be selected based on previous 12-month PDCNB OOM and minimum six events played*.

In addition the Nordic & Baltic region will be represented by a further three nations:

These nations will be selected primarily through being represented by a player or players on PDC Order of Merit as of May 27. Selection will be based on lowest cumulative ranking of the top two players (if there is only one player on PDC Order of Merit, then the second player will be selected by being the nation’s highest placed on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit player after PDCNB Finland. A minimum 6 PRO Tours over previous 12 months applies here also*)

The remaining spots, if any, will be chosen from PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit after PDCNB Finland, the nation or nations will be selected based on lowest cumulative ranking of each nation’s top two players that have participated in a minimum of 6 PDCNB Pro Tour events prior to cut off date.*

The draws will be made by the Tournament Director following the procedure agreed between the PDC and PDCNB and finalised at the deadline for registration on the day of each event.

Darts Regulation Authority rules and regulations will be in place for these tournaments, including dress code of: no jeans, trainers, t-shirts or shorts etc.

Players are required to wear trousers, collared shirts and shoes – no training shoes allowed.

As these events do not have Volunteer Markers, the event will operate on a ‘loser marks’ basis. Additionally, the first game on each board will be marked by the last player drawn onto that board. PDCNB players who do not mark are subject to disciplinary action by the DRA.

At some events there will be a marker service available, but it is still the responsibility of the losing player.

Smoke & Drinking

Players are not permitted to smoke, or drink anything but water during play.

This includes having a drink from the table behind you whilst your opponent is throwing or between legs. This rule must be strictly observed.

Should any player have any queries whatsoever about these events please contact the Tournament Director.

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• PDCNB Iceland
• PDCNB Finland
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Five things to know: Castle Pines Golf Club

Need to Know

PGA TOUR returns to mile-high course for this week’s BMW Championship

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The top 50 in the FedExCup arrive at this week’s BMW Championship knowing that their spots in next year’s Signature Events are secure. Now they have their sights on the 30 spots in the TOUR Championship and the opportunity to claim the PGA TOUR’s season-long prize.

The BMW is returning to Colorado for the first time in a decade, after previously being played at nearby Cherry Hills in 2014. Castle Pines Golf Club is returning to the PGA TOUR schedule for the first time since 2006 after a two-decade run hosting The International, a Stableford event that featured winners like Ernie Els, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, David Toms, Jose Maria Olazabal and Phil Mickelson.

This week’s field will need to make a quick adjustment to Colorado’s altitude after competing last week in the heat and humidity of Memphis, Tennessee. To get you prepared, here are five things to know about Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado:

1. Familiar venue

Castle Pines GC is one of the most coveted addresses, golf or otherwise, in the Denver-metro area, and one of the most prominent and luxurious real estate golf developments in the country. Located just 27 miles due south of downtown Denver, Castle Pines hosted The International, a modified Stableford event on the PGA TOUR, from 1986 to 2006.

Rod Pampling during the fourth and final round of The INTERNATIONAL held at Castle Pines Golf Club in 2006. (Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)

The BMW Championship, which traces its lineage to the Western Open in 1922, returns to the Denver area for the first time since 2014, when Billy Horschel won at Cherry Hills Country Club. The Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation is the tournament’s chief charitable beneficiary.

Former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning made a hole-in-one in his first round as a Castle Pines member. John Elway also is a member at the club that boasts on its website to offer “the best day of golf in America.”

2. Augusta in the mountains

Castle Pines ranks among the best of Nicklaus Design’s approximately 400 projects. Dense ponderosa pines frame holes set into the rolling terrain of the Rocky Mountain Front Range. The course makes use of 325 feet of elevation change, with platform tees that showcase the landing areas in the foreground and the dramatic, towering landscape in the background. Few courses offer such theater, with long views of both the course and the scenic Mountain West.

It's often said that given the choice between a good owner and a good piece of land, an architect would opt for the good client. At Castle Pines, Nicklaus had both. Jack Vickers, who made his money in the oil and gas business, was the developer of Castle Pines.

A look at the 11th hole at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Courtesy WGA)

A look at the 12th hole at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Courtesy WGA)

He moved to Denver in 1969 and was driving around his new hometown when he stumbled across the land that would become Castle Pines. On a whim, he turned down Happy Canyon Road, according to the club’s history. He stopped halfway up the drive, hiked to the top of a rocky ridge and discovered a panoramic view of the mountainous terrain.

It took him 12 years to acquire the property from the various landowners. As the Denver metro area spread south, the roads and services arrived for a high-end housing development.

With the land acquired, he turned to Jack Nicklaus to design his new course. Vickers and Nicklaus toured the land both by foot and helicopter, joking that though they rarely agreed, they were able to produce one of the best courses in the country. Construction began in 1979 and Castle Pines Golf Club officially opened to instant acclaim in October 1981.

A photo from the PGA TOUR archives of hole No. 18 at Castle Pines. (Sam Greenwood/PGA TOUR)

Its ponds, flowery gardens and carefully crafted views evoke the spirit of the kind of place Vickers set out to create – a western version of Augusta National.

From the high point of the first tee looking south, the opening three holes take you steadily downward, 300 feet in all. From there, the course turns uphill to form a neat symmetry of nines: the front looping counterclockwise, the back clockwise. For all of the topography it covers, the elevation changes take place gradually, allowing the course to be very walkable and amenable to one of the largest caddie programs in the Mountain West.

3. Thin air thickens the plot

At an average altitude of 6,200 feet, the ball flies a lot farther at Castle Pines than at sea level. You’ll hear many say that the increased altitude adds 10% to the distance of shots, based on a general ratio that states that the thin air adds 1.7% of distance per 1,000 feet of elevation. Myriad other factors impact a shot’s distance, however, especially at altitude. They include a player’s launch angle, the loft of the club and the heat and humidity levels.

But the general rule says that a 300-yard drive at sea level travels 332 yards at Castle Pines and a stock 7-iron shot of 180 yards goes nearly 200. In other words, it’s about a club-and-a-half difference from sea level. Add in the dramatic elevation changes at Castle Pines, and caddies will have their hands full this week.

A look at the 16th hole at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Courtesy WGA)

A look at the 13th hole at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Courtesy WGA)

Castle Pines will be the longest course in PGA TOUR history, measuring 8,130 yards. While it’s an eye-popping number, it’s worth remembering that it’s approximately equivalent to 7,350 yards at sea level. That’s fairly standard for the PGA TOUR. For the amateurs, Castle Pines plays to a 79.1 rating and 155 slope, meaning even your scratch handicap would have trouble breaking 80 there in everyday conditions, let alone when the course is primed for PGA TOUR competition.

The first hole provides the perfect example of how the scorecard can be deceiving. It’s listed as a 659-yard par 5, but it should be reachable for much of the field. It’s the equivalent of a 599-yard hole at sea level, and that doesn’t factor in the 100-foot drop from tee to green.

4. Three holes to watch

Every hole counts the same, of course, but three in particular merit close watching at Castle Pines:

No. 4: 254 yards, par 3

• At a low point of the property and in the southwest corner of the routing, this elegant hole requires a controlled, left-to-right tee shot into a green flanked on the right by a steep barranca. The tee sits 30 feet above the green, offering a great view of both the putting surface and the distant mountains. A left or right miss to this fairly narrow green will mean trouble – there are two bunkers on either side of the green, plus that steep-faced wash on the right. A new back tee has been installed left of the old one, and this brings the danger right of the green even more into play than before.

No. 14: 655 yards, par 5

• Along the long par-5 opening hole, this one plays downhill, with a 100-foot drop from tee to green, making it reachable in two for players who find the fairway. The landing zone is only 25 yards wide and framed tightly on both sides by pines, so hitting the short grass won’t be easy. Recent renovation work moved a lovely diagonal cross-stream 40 yards closer to the green and more into play on the second shot; it now feeds into a pond that guards the left side of the green. With the fairway canted modestly right to left and thus forcing a hook stance for most players, the goal here is not to overcook a long approach. The stream’s repositioning will also become a factor for anyone missing the fairway, since they will be forced to lay up. For right-handed players hitting a power draw off the tee, this hole will be a green-light special and offer a distinct advantage.

A look at the 14th hole at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Courtesy WGA)

No. 17: 532 yards, par 5

• Everyone will have a go at this green in two, often with a short iron, if they can hold the fairway off the tee. At only 532 yards (481 effective sea level yardage), it plays uphill, some 100 feet from tee to green. It’s also a hard dogleg left, requiring proper positioning. The hole was always an eagle-fest during The International and will be the easiest in relation to par for the BMW. Still, players will need to keep it in play off the tee – a hallmark of Nicklaus for decades as both a champion golfer and a noted course designer.

5. Arid climate, pristine conditions

Castle Pines stays in stunningly pristine shape in part because of its arid climate. There was no rain in June and July, but August brings “monsoon season,” with afternoon rains that can add up – as much as 2 inches through the first two weeks.

Maintenance is in good hands. Director of Golf Course and Grounds Scott Pavalko, who’s been on Castle Pines’ staff for two years, has eight editions of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and the 2011 BMW Championship on his resume. Course superintendents Trevor Meints and Brandon Wollesen are part of a 56-person crew that will be aided by 45 tournament volunteers. The bentgrass greens, averaging 5,600 square feet, will be cut down to 1/10 inch for the tournament and roll at around 13.5 on the Stimpmeter. That will emphasize precise approach shots on greens that offer all sorts of subtle contours. There are false fronts and closely cropped peripheral areas that lead to bunkers, ponds and steep falloffs.

With 27 acres of fairway, the landing areas are not expansive and will require precise tee shots to narrow landing areas 300-330 yards from the back tees. Streams, ravines, ponds, steep fairway bunkers and the occasional signature tree further intrude upon driving lanes and give long hitters reason to gear back and use caution.

Bradley S. Klein is a veteran golf writer and author of 10 books on course design. A former PGA TOUR caddie, he was architecture editor of Golfweek for over two decades and is now a freelance journalist and course design consultant. Follow Bradley S. Klein on Twitter .

ET13 Seeds & Tour Card Holder qualifier entries confirmed

Player entries for October's Czech Darts Open have been confirmed ahead of next week's Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Milton Keynes.

The year's 13th and final PDC European Tour event will take place in Prague from October 18-20, as the sport's biggest names battle it out for silverware in the Czech capital.

In a change to the qualifying format from previous years, the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit qualify by right for each European Tour event.

They will be joined by the top 16 non-qualified players from the ProTour Order of Merit at the entry deadline.

Each event will see the top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit seeded for the draw, entering in the second round, with the remaining 32 players drawn at random in the first round.

Invited players who are exempted to the last 32 and lose in their first match of the event shall not be credited with prize money on the Order of Merit, ProTour Order of Merit or European Tour Order of Merit, however they shall still receive full prize money payment.

The 16 seeded players for the Czech Darts Open (ET13) have been confirmed and are listed below, alongside the 16 pre-qualified players.

The ET13 Tour Card Holder Qualifier will take place at Milton Keynes' Marshall Arena on Friday August 23, with entries also listed below.

Ten players will come through next week's Tour Card Holder Qualifier, while the 48-player fields on the European Tour will feature four Host Nation Qualifiers, a Nordic & Baltic Qualifier and an East Europe Qualifier.

Czech Darts Open (ET13) PVA EXPO, Prague October 18-20 2024

ET13 Seeded Players 1. Dave Chisnall 2. Ross Smith 3. Luke Humphries 4. Josh Rock 5. Gerwyn Price 6. Gary Anderson 7. Danny Noppert 8. Damon Heta 9. Stephen Bunting 10. Ryan Searle 11. Luke Littler 12. Martin Schindler 13. Chris Dobey 14. Rob Cross 15. Gian van Veen 16. Michael van Gerwen

Pre-Qualified Players Ricardo Pietreczko Daryl Gurney Jonny Clayton Michael Smith Ryan Joyce Raymond van Barneveld Peter Wright Krzysztof Ratajski Mike de Decker Ritchie Edhouse Brendan Dolan Joe Cullen Luke Woodhouse Cameron Menzies Dimitri Van den Bergh Nathan Aspinall

ET13 Tour Card Holder Qualifier Entries Andy Baetens Keane Barry Owen Bates Steve Beaton Darren Beveridge William Borland Keegan Brown Stephen Burton Matt Campbell Brett Claydon Gabriel Clemens Jeffrey de Graaf Jose de Sousa Jeffrey De Zwaan Matthew Dennant Kevin Doets Martijn Dragt Lee Evans Ricky Evans Adam Gawlas Patrick Geeraets Andrew Gilding Callum Goffin Rhys Griffin Robert Grundy Graham Hall Florian Hempel Jamie Hughes Adam Hunt James Hurrell Kim Huybrechts Ronny Huybrechts Nick Kenny George Killington Mervyn King Jelle Klaasen Daniel Klose Robbie Knops Boris Krcmar Paul Krohne Maik Kuivenhoven Chris Landman Danny Lauby Steve Lennon Martin Lukeman Mickey Mansell Ryan Meikle Arron Monk Geert Nentjes Wessel Nijman William O'Connor Robert Owen Josh Payne Christian Perez Nathan Rafferty Madars Razma Benjamin Reus Joshua Richardson Rowby-John Rodriguez Owen Roelofs Pascal Rupprecht Callan Rydz Karel Sedlacek Dylan Slevin Alan Soutar Jeffrey Sparidaans Mensur Suljovic Radek Szaganski Dom Taylor Thibault Tricole Michele Turetta Graham Usher Jurjen van der Velde Vincent van der Voort Jitse Van der Wal Jules van Dongen Dirk van Duijvenbode Berry van Peer Danny van Trijp Mario Vandenbogaerde Richard Veenstra James Wade Adam Warner Jermaine Wattimena Lukas Wenig Ian White Simon Whitlock Jim Williams Scott Williams Tim Wolters Niels Zonneveld

European Tour