After nine years, a Major event is returning to the Czech Republic, and it’s heading nowhere else than the beloved Konopiště. While the spotlight has traditionally been on the pros, next year, junior and amateur categories will take center stage.
The European branch of the PDGA has officially announced the launch of a new tournament: the PDGA Europa Cup. This project aims to bring the experience of Major championships to the European community. The pilot edition will take place in 2026 in Alutaguse, Estonia (as an A-Tier), and a year later, it will debut as a PDGA Major at Konopiště.
While the U.S. has long established divisional Majors such as the US Amateur Championship or the Tim Selinske US Masters Championship, Europe has lacked such an event until now. The introduction of these Majors in Europe is the result of years of effort by PDGA Europe to foster independence and growth within the local scene. Their goal is to establish a tradition that could eventually expand into dedicated championships for Masters, Women, and other divisions.
Konopiště Back on the Disc Golf Map
The local castle park has hosted numerous international tournaments, from the Disc Golf World Tour (2016 and 2017) and the professional PDGA Major (2018) to the European Championships (2021), the PDGA Euro Tour (2023), and last year’s Disc Golf Pro Tour. In the upcoming season, the fairways of the Franz Ferdinand course will open to hundreds of enthusiastic amateur players.
Kryštof Novák, Tournament Director, comments:
“We are especially excited to host a PDGA Major at the Konopiště Open, allowing us to continue the legacy of the first Major ever held here, back in 2018 – an event that many newer players may not be familiar with.
I would also like to highlight the significant organizational effort required for a tournament of this magnitude. On one hand, the majority of the organizing team comes from another region of Czechia, making personal, family, and vacation-time sacrifices to deliver an event of this scale.
On the other hand, the fact that this is a temporary course built specifically for the tournament, set within the extraordinary gardens of the Franz Ferdinand Castle, adds an additional layer of logistical complexity. For this reason, we are truly delighted with the creation of this new Junior and Amateur Major, as it will allow hundreds of amateur players to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime playing experience that, until now, was reserved almost exclusively for elite professionals.”
Matěj Verl from PDGA Europe explains the background of this move:
“Bringing divisional Majors to Europe has been a paramount goal for PDGA Europe for several years now. Since moving on from the PDGA Euro Tour and steadily building our personnel and financial capabilities, we have been paving the way for the future. That future becomes a reality in 2026.
While the PDGA Europa Cup will formally debut as a sanctioned Major in 2027 – giving players ample time to prepare, register, and fight for that Major title – the 2026 inaugural ‘year zero’ iteration will receive the full resources, promotion, and spotlight of a PDGA Major. It will be a go-to event for all Junior and Amateur players around Europe and beyond. I can’t wait to share more news about this cornerstone event in the coming weeks.”
What does this mean for players?
A unique opportunity is opening up for Czech and European amateurs and juniors (including those with Pro status). They will get to play on one of the most beautiful courses in the world with the attention and prestige worthy of the biggest tournaments.
The PDGA Europa Cup 2027 at Konopiště will be a celebration of disc golf, a vision we first aimed to bring to life through the Konopiště Amateur Open. The success of that concept and its atmosphere confirmed that this path is the right one. We are excited to once again show Europe that the Czech Republic firmly belongs on the disc golf map.
Cover photo: Marika Salmi, DGPT
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