INTERVIEW: "We set out to organize the best tournament in the world" — Matthias Vutt, 2029 Worlds Head of Operations

The exciting news has just been announced: Estonia has secured the hosting rights for the 2029 Disc Golf World Championships. We sat down with Matthias Vutt, the event's Head of Operations, to discuss how this historic moment came to be, the road leading up to it, and what it means for the future of disc golf in Estonia and Europe. 

In our conversation, Matthias shares how a wild idea grew into a world-class achievement, why emotions run high behind the scenes, and how even the toughest moments have only strengthened their team's determination. He also reveals how Estonia’s bold vision could help reshape the future of disc golf worldwide.

Image: Matthias Vutt

How did the idea and process of bringing the 2029 Disc Golf World Championships to Tallinn come about?

If we go back a bit, around 2022, Silver Kütt – one of the founders of Rally Estonia, who also knew Ralf Rogov and Silver Leetma – came up with a crazy idea: to organize the Disc Golf World Championships around Tallinn’s Old Town. At that time, he knew nothing about the world of disc golf.

The others quickly dismissed the idea as unrealistic, but the seed was planted — that something big could and should be organized in Estonia.

Later that year, a bid opened for hosting the European Championships, and we successfully brought it to Estonia.

Around that time, I messaged Silver Leetma, telling him to let me know if they needed help. Eventually, he did, and that’s how I became part of the team.

Initially, Silver Kütt wasn't officially involved in the European Championships organizing team; he observed from the sidelines, and afterward gave us a nine-page feedback report on what could be improved. We then decided to fully integrate him into the team.

Coincidentally, we had also started bidding to host a Disc Golf Pro Tour event. That’s when we formally shaped a longer-term plan — a five-year vision.

How difficult was it to secure the World Championships, and what were the biggest challenges?

The process was definitely tough. Finland had already secured the hosting rights for the World Championships, and they also held the rights to the European Major. That’s when PDGA offered us the chance to host the Major instead — which we are now organizing this year. At that point, we hadn’t even entered the bidding for the Worlds yet.

Since our previous event went so well, we immediately entered the bidding for the 2026 and 2027 Worlds, adding a clause that if we didn’t get the Worlds, we would at least host another Major.

In early January, we received the news — we got nothing.

That triggered a real crisis. We seriously discussed making this year’s event our last and then walking away. Those were tough conversations.

But we decided to try once more — this time by reaching out directly to the top decision-makers. We told them honestly: here’s a team that just organized the best event in the world, a country that lives and breathes disc golf, and now you’re risking losing it all.

It wasn’t a threat, just an honest and emotional conversation. That’s when the international federation realized the seriousness of the situation.

Finally, just yesterday, we signed the 4-year deal. Now, we have secured Majors in 2026 and 2028, a likely DGPT event in 2027, and the World Championships in 2029.

Did Silver Kütt’s experience in bringing the WRC Rally to Estonia help with securing the Disc Golf World Championships? Are there parallels between the two?

Yes, it definitely helped. Since Silver had already gone through the whole process with Rally Estonia, he knew exactly how important it is to have consistency. When you organize something big every year, it becomes easier to get government support, municipal support, and sponsorships.

You can also create materials that can be sustainably reused, and the whole system becomes more efficient.

Silver’s experience also gave us a clear plan: to set a five-year perspective and move steadily toward hosting the World Championships.

Silver Kütt, Ralf Rogov,Urmo Saareoja, Matthias Vutt and Silver Leetma

What are the plans for the Kadriorg Park course? Will it open earlier?

As part of our agreement, the World Championships must have two courses. We will need to test the second course for the first time during the 2028 Major.

Our first preference is Kadriorg Park. We have started early discussions with the park’s management and the City of Tallinn. We’ve received some positive signals, but at this point, I wouldn’t want to say 100% that it will happen there — no contract has been signed yet.

The second course will be in Tallinn. If not in Kadriorg, we will look at alternatives, like Pirita or Järve. But the Song Festival Grounds and Kadriorg Park would also offer the best experience for spectators.

The Presidents Cup will take place in 2026 — will the format stay the same? Is there hope that the European team can finally win?

There are no immediate plans to change it, but honestly, while this format works great in golf, the Presidents Cup format doesn’t work as well in disc golf.

The main issue for us is that the Presidents Cup takes place two days before the main event. This means that one of the most important tournaments of the year starts with a side event that isn’t a top priority for many players. In golf, the Ryder Cup has its own separate week and is a huge standalone event — in disc golf, it’s not treated that way yet.

We definitely plan to offer new ideas. For example, our “Superstars Challenge” last year was a big success, and now we are upgrading it. Our hypothesis is that today’s Presidents Cup format isn’t engaging enough for the audience and feels exhausting for players right before the main competition.

We’re brainstorming ways to make it more attractive — like hosting it at the Presidential Palace, adding digital elements, or combining it with a concert.

In our contract, we have the right to discuss the format, but ultimately, the final decision rests with the PDGA.

How will the experience from previous events be used in preparing for the World Championships?

It’s definitely connected, at least indirectly. Since the World Championships is such a huge event — with a large number of partners, a big budget, and a massive time commitment — every big event gives us valuable experience. Each time we look back at what we did well, what went wrong, what we should change, and what we should carry forward.

The World Championships is like a unicorn at the end that we are chasing. All the previous years are essentially preparation.

The international federations also expect you to have proven experience — they don’t just hand out the right to organize a Worlds. You have to demonstrate over several years that you are capable of handling something this big.

Image: Matthias Vutt

After the World Championships are held in 2029 — what’s next?

It’s hard to say what exactly will happen by 2029. A lot can change over the years — new people may come in with fresh energy, and the team might evolve in ways we can't fully predict. 

In the sports world, there are plenty of examples where someone reaches the top, and then motivation becomes a real challenge. 

It happened with the Finns — when they handed over the hosting rights to us for 2026, they still had a contract for a Major the following year, but they turned it down because they felt they were simply exhausted.

When you work for years to reach the World Championships and finally achieve it, you are likely completely drained for a while.

It’s hard to predict what will happen after 2029. Right now, the goal is simply to make it through to 2025 and then see where we are.

What long-term impact do you hope the 2029 World Championships will have on disc golf in Estonia and Europe?

We actually have a very simple goal — we want to organize the best tournament in the world, period.

Last year, most top players left Estonia, saying it was the best event they had ever attended. At the same time, we ourselves saw many things we could have done better. This year, again, we aim to organize the best event in the world.

If we manage to pull off the 2029 Worlds successfully and build on the experience we've gained, it could definitely inspire the next generation. It's been proven across different sports — whether in basketball or football — that hosting major events leads to growth and new talent.

In addition, if the Worlds are held on a large scale with massive media attention, both in Estonia and internationally, it would give the entire sport a strong boost.

Today, Europe’s disc golf scene is growing faster than the U.S. The fact that the Worlds is taking place in Europe after four years instead of five shows that the ice is starting to break.

If we can successfully deliver the lead-up events and the Worlds at a very high level, it will show the level of Europe, and that will help move the whole sport forward. For example, last year we introduced a Formula 1-style podium — and now we're seeing similar solutions around the world. 

Our role is to keep pushing the pace, stay innovative, and come up with new ideas. As a small country, we have to be smarter and more creative.

In many parts of the disc golf world, there’s still a strong “old-school” mindset — one that sees the sport as something that belongs in the forest, built around simplicity, and the purity of play rather than commercial values or spectator experience. Our vision doesn’t dismiss that heritage, but aims to complement it: we want to bring disc golf into city centers, make it more accessible to broader audiences, energize the format, add digital layers, and raise the overall level of professionalism.

How do you personally feel — what does this project mean to you, and what emotions does it bring?

I get to combine my hobby and work — supposedly the best combination, although sometimes it can be a curse if you get too caught up in it.

But from a self-fulfillment perspective, this project is truly amazing. Just four guys managed to create one of the biggest events in the world; they get to do it their way, and the whole world is watching.

Today, the feeling is mostly calm. I know what our team is capable of. Last year, we organized the best event in the world, and I wouldn't say there's any major fear now. There’s less nervousness because there’s more experience.

Of course, it’s tough — especially the last week or week and a half before the event. It’s extremely exhausting for your body, mind, sleep, and even your family. But once it’s over, the feeling inside is a mix of happiness, gratitude, relief, and emotional release.

There have been moments when grown men — including myself — have broken down and cried for half an hour after the event. That’s how powerful and overwhelming the emotions are.

When you put your heart and soul into something like this, those emotions are real and raw.