The New Zealand Disc Golf Association (NZDG) is the national and governing body of the sport.
We are an incorporated not-for-profit society. Directors and Non-Executives are unpaid volunteers.
We have some 400 active Members (and growing). Membership is granted to disc golfers who play in sanctioned NZ tournaments.
There are an estimated 20,000 recreational disc golfers in New Zealand (also growing). There are some 46 disc golf courses in the country.
NZDG is affiliated to two international bodies, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF). In turn, the 18 local disc golf clubs in New Zealand are affiliated to NZDG.
NZDG Board of Directors
Meet the team.
Allen Gorthy
Chairman
Longtime disc golfer from Oregon, Allen has been playing in New Zealand for the past 7 years. The first half of that time in Cromwell. Enjoying the great courses around Central Otago and friendly players. The other half in the Auckland area. He and his partner currently live on Waiheke Island. When not throwing discs, he works as a Farmer growing, grapes, olives, and market vegetables..
​
Chris Smith
Chris has been playing since March 2018 and has quickly developed a passion for the sport. He is the founder of South Canterbury Disc golf Club and is steadily growing the player base and number of playable spaces in the region. Chris brings a youthful, approachable and positive aspect to his role on the board.
​
Mat Prichard
Treasurer
After completing his Chartered Accountancy qualification, Mat embarked on his OE and discovered disc golf in Canada. After then moving to Wanaka and eventually getting involved with Disc Golf Wanaka, Mat has formed a passion for the sport. As Finance Manager for Snow Sports NZ, Mat has a professional understanding of sport administration in NZ and has developed an effective strategy for sports fundraising. His goals are to fine tune NZDG’s financial system and enhance our sport’s professionalism, then to raise funds for course development around the country.
​
Martin Galley
Secretary / Tour Director
Martin has been involved with disc golf in some way or form for the last 20 years. He part owns a Disc Golf sales and course design company and is the chairman of his local club, Disc Golf Wanaka. Suffice to say, he continues to be passionate about the sport and is excited about the recent rapid growth in NZ.
​
Treasurer / Outreach Director
Chris Smith
Chris Davies
Communications Director
Chris has been playing since March 2018 and has quickly developed a passion for the sport. He is the founder of South Canterbury Disc golf Club and is steadily growing the player base and number of playable spaces in the region. Chris brings a youthful, approachable and positive aspect to his role on the board.
​
Born and raised in Christchurch, Chris taught skiing and paragliding in Queenstown where he became addicted to Frisbee golf beginning in December 1988, throwing an NZ-made Ultimate disc. He helped install the country’s first official DGC there in 1996. Moving back to Christchurch in 2000 for a diploma and a decade of IT and international Account Management work, he then joined long-time friend Martin Galley as partner in Vortica Disc Golf in 2013. Subsequently he designed and installed multiple courses in Christchurch City (Otautahi) and regularly writes NZ’s only instructional disc golf blog.
​
He's hosted countless NZDG Tour events and assisted with many others.
​
These days his main goal in disc golf is teaching, but he is also committed to continue working hard for the overall future of disc golf in NZ, and in faithfully executing the responsibilities and duties conferred upon him by the membership of NZDG.
​
Outreach Director
Non-Executives
Meet the team.
Mario Cerniar
Membership Secretary
Hails from Switzerland, but mostly calls NZ his home. A long time top level competitor on the NZDG tour
and the brains behind our tour points scoring system
​
Simon Feasey
PDGA NZ Rep
Simon lives at Bella Rakha with his wife Yvette and two girls Talia and Caitlin. Simon started playing Disc Golf in 1999 and fell in love with the game. In 2000 he was involved in starting the NZDG tour and remained on the NZDG board until 2019. Over the past 20 years Simon has played competitive disc golf both nationally and internationally, represented the Flying kiwis and attending many pro PDGA sanctioned events. Simon is the cofounder of RPM Discs and several years ago took on the role as the NZ PDGA representative.
​
Cooper Sollis
Assistant Tour Director
After playing his first round at Lismore Park in Wanaka 2018 with a Piwakawaka, the beauty of a flying disc latched on to Cooper. Little did he know, these after work sessions would turn into a game that has changed his life for the better. Mate-ship, community, competition and a love for the game are a few reasons why he likes to play. As somewhat of a newbie, Cooper is stoked to be learning more about the tour and helping where he can.
Chris Rae
Website Consultant
Chris is a keen disc golfer and outdoorsman that hails from Queenstown. He runs a small software firm and regularly misses putts from inside of the circle.
​
Working groups
From time to time, the New Zealand Disc Golf Board sets up various 'Working Groups' to work on projects and then to report back to the board.
​
** The board would like to invite our members to take part in relevant working groups. Please contact our Communications Director, Chris Davies if you are interested!
​
Since May 2019, we have formed the following working groups:
​
1. Website Working Group
Chris Rae, Martin Galley, Chris Davies
- Ongoing
​
2. Tour Working Group
Martin Galley, Chris Smith, Simon Feasey,
Allen Gorthy
- Ongoing
​
3. Fundraising Working Group
Mat Prichard, David Keene, Allen Gorthy
- Ongoing
​
4. Medical Working Group
Brian Stout, Nicola Stout, Martin Galley
- Ongoing
​
5. Membership Working Group
Mario Cerniar, Chris Smith, Chris Davies.
- Ongoing
​
6. Outreach Working Group
Chris Smith, Chris Davies
- Ongoing
​
7. Sponsorship Working Group
Allen Gorthy + interested members?
- Ongoing
​
