You’ve probably seen the headlines. Maybe you caught a snippet of a heated Reddit thread or saw a grainy clip of a long-distance drive that seemed to defy physics. But if you think the story of Natalie Ryan disc golf is just about a set of rules or a single player, you’re missing the forest for the trees. This isn't just sports. It's a collision of civil rights, biology, and the growing pains of a sport that used to be played for fun in city parks and is now a multi-million dollar industry.
Honestly, the whole situation is a mess. It’s a tangle of legal injunctions and emotional social media posts. To understand why Natalie Ryan is the most talked-about name in the woods, you have to look past the "pro-inclusion" vs. "fairness" soundbites and look at the actual timeline of what went down.
The Performance That Changed Everything
Natalie Ryan didn't just show up and start winning. She’s been around since 2019. For a few years, she was just another pro on the tour, grinding out finishes and trying to make enough cash to get to the next town. But 2022 was different. She started winning. Big.
She took down the Discraft Great Lakes Open (DGLO) and the MVP Open. These aren't small local meets; they are the "majors" of the regular season. Suddenly, she was ranked in the top 10. That success changed the temperature of the room. People started talking. Critics argued that her physical advantages—specifically the power accrued from going through male puberty—made the competition unfair for cisgender women.
Ryan’s response? She’s been open about her medical transition since 2016. She met the PDGA’s existing hormone requirements. But as her trophy shelf got heavier, the governing bodies felt the pressure.
The 2023 Policy Shift
In December 2022, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) dropped a bombshell. They implemented a new gender eligibility policy. The most controversial part was a requirement that transgender women must have started medical transition before age 12 or the onset of puberty.
Basically, this was a "Natalie Ryan ban" in all but name. Since almost no one transitions at 11, it effectively locked her out of the Female Professional Open (FPO) division for Elite Series and Major events.
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The Legal War in the Woods
Natalie didn't just pack up her bags. She sued. And the legal battle that followed was wild. It felt like every week there was a new court ruling that either let her play or kicked her out.
- California (OTB Open): A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order, saying the PDGA policy looked like intentional discrimination. Ryan played one round, sitting in 5th place. Then, an appeals court stepped in overnight and booted her from the tournament.
- Minnesota (The Preserve): A different state, a different result. A judge there ruled in her favor.
- The DGPT Response: This was the weirdest part. To avoid lawsuits in states with strong anti-discrimination laws, the DGPT actually cancelled the FPO division at several events. They basically said, "If she plays, nobody plays." They later walked this back with a "United Series" designation, but the damage to the tour's reputation was already done.
It was a circus. Players were divided. Fans were screaming at each other in the YouTube comments. The sport felt like it was breaking apart.
The Settlement That Nobody Saw Coming
By late 2023, the PDGA was bleeding money. Legal fees were eating into their budget. They reported a net operating loss—a rarity for the organization. In December 2023, they reached a settlement with Ryan.
The terms were huge. The PDGA agreed to drop the "pre-puberty" requirement. Now, transgender women are eligible to play in the FPO if they have undergone at least two years of hormone therapy and maintain specific testosterone levels (under 2.0 nmol/L).
Natalie was back.
Life on Tour in 2024 and 2025
So, did she dominate? Not exactly. 2024 was a year of "good but not God-tier" results for Ryan. She wasn't winning every weekend. She had a 2nd place finish at the Des Moines Challenge and the LWS Open at Idlewild. She finished 5th at the World Championships.
As of July 2025, her player rating sat at 964. To give you context, the top women in the world like Kristin Tattar are often rated 990+. Natalie is elite, yes, but she isn't invincible. This has actually cooled some of the "unfair advantage" rhetoric, although the debate still simmers under the surface.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
We are now in 2026, and the dust hasn't fully settled. The PDGA recently updated the Official Rules of Disc Golf for this year, and while the 30-second rule and "group votes" are getting the most attention from casual players, the gender eligibility rules remain a focal point for the pros.
The settlement was intended to cover the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Now that we're in 2026, the sport is at another crossroads. Organizations are looking at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines and trying to figure out a permanent path forward.
What people get wrong about Natalie Ryan
Most people think she’s just out there for the money or to "prove a point." If you listen to her interviews, it’s much simpler. She just wants to play. She’s been playing since she was a kid. Disc golf is her life.
There’s also a misconception that she has the most power on tour. Statistically, players like Holyn Handley and Ella Hansen often outdrive her. The "advantage" isn't as black and white as a spreadsheet makes it look. Putting, scramble shots, and mental toughness matter just as much as raw distance.
Actionable Insights for the Disc Golf Community
If you're following this story or competing in the PDGA, here is what you actually need to know:
- Check the Tier: If you are a trans athlete, eligibility rules change based on the "tier" of the tournament (C-Tier vs. A-Tier). Always check the PDGA medical committee requirements at least 6 months in advance.
- Support Local Clubs: Much of the toxicity happens online. On the actual course, most players are just there to huck plastic. Don't let the internet ruin your local scene.
- Follow the Data: Don't rely on 10-second clips. Use sites like StatMando or the PDGA Live app to see how players are actually performing. It provides a much-needed reality check to the emotional arguments.
- Read the Rules: The 2026 rulebook has specific changes regarding how "group votes" work for rules violations. If you're playing sanctioned events, you need to know these to protect yourself and your cardmates.
The story of Natalie Ryan disc golf isn't finished. It’s a living case study in how modern sports handle identity. Whether you agree with her being on the tee pad or not, you can't deny that she has forced the sport to grow up, for better or worse.
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If you want to stay updated, keep a close eye on the PDGA Board of Directors meeting minutes. That’s where the real decisions happen, far away from the fairways.