What's Holding Disc Golf Back

[simpletwist]

Speaking of serious sports, minature golf has professional tournaments, never see them on the tube. Its been around a lot longer than disc golf. Most folks don't take their mini golf seriously, but those pros do.

Now its way past 420 and I'm not sure what my point was...

 

[prerube]

The dude said that there wasn't hippy/stoners on the MD courses any more!

I have played with several, but actually I do not see as much illegal activities in MD than I do in NY and FL

 

[thrembo]

I have played with several, but actually I do not see as much illegal activities in MD than I do in NY and FL

Alot of the old "stereotypical disc golfers" are definately in Florida now.

 

[craftsman]

....And they all came from MI

 

[thrembo]

....And they all came from MI

Yup, and MD too aparently.

 

[Star Shark]

Even most disc golfers often don't like to watch disc golf. They'd rather play it themselves. Those of us who are here online and paying attention to the pro tour are a fairly small minority in the larger picture of disc golf. Think of how many players you see out on the course who you never see at tournaments, don't look into dg online or anything else. They own a few pieces of plastic and toss 'em around once in a while and that's as far as it goes for most of them. If you can't market a sport to its own players, how are you going to get random people to watch?

 

[craftsman]

I buy the dvd's but will no longer buy the "smokers are bad people world's dvds".
....So one less now.

 

[sidewinder22]

Even most disc golfers often don't like to watch disc golf. They'd rather play it themselves. Those of us who are here online and paying attention to the pro tour are a fairly small minority in the larger picture of disc golf. Think of how many players you see out on the course who you never see at tournaments, don't look into dg online or anything else. They own a few pieces of plastic and toss 'em around once in a while and that's as far as it goes for most of them. If you can't market a sport to its own players, how are you going to get random people to watch?

I know some tourney players that won't even watch it. The other part about getting good coverage on TV is its really tough to produce right on camera because of the woods. When a disc kicks off a tree it can be very hard to follow on camera. When a disc is thrown high into the un-tree'd sky, it almost always blinds the camera. In Bolf the light is almost always constant and the ball travels a predictable path and hardly ever goes into the woods and takes crazy bounces off trees.

 

[trifocal]

Blimp coverage of DG. Thats what I'dlike to see. Overhead shots.

 

[SomeChump]

Maybe I am impatient. The sport has been around for 40 years and we still can't get past the general perception of the public that disc golf is a hobby for lazy pot-smoking hippies. Worse yet, after 40 years of growth, 90% of people still have never heard of it.

What do you mean perception? I can't remember the last time I played a round with someone I wasn't related to and they didn't light up.

 

[prerube]

What do you mean perception? I can't remember the last time I played a round with someone I wasn't related to and they didn't light up.

But you did not because that would be illegal

this thread is a tight rope walk along the rule about not discussing illegal activities and drug discussion.

 

[Martin Dewgarita]

Hot chicks, dg would be more entertaining to watch if it were more like sand volleyball.

 

[Emoney]

I think just the lack of respect for the sport in general. Most ppl that i see playing disc golf only play locally and play as a game or to hang out with buddies. Most dont understand the rules. There is no other sport i see where ppl ,smoke medication, drink, vandalize,litter, and risk injuring someone ( by throwing at them), all at the same time.

There needs to be more respect for the sport before it can get huge.

 

[FredVegasDGC]

It all comes down to money....

How much did the winner of the PDGA Worlds get?

Until a pro disc golfer can earn 100k+ in prize money a year playing disc golf it's going to be just another curious sport. The payouts are probably bigger now than 20 years ago.

The only way there is ever going to be big $$$ is if it ever gets on TV. I don't see that happening. Most DG courses aren't designed for that.

Unless one day...

 

[smyith]

Hot chicks, dg would be more entertaining to watch if it were more like sand volleyball.

more of this would make me happier too

 

[newhuck]

I forget which Worlds DVD I was watching, but they interviewed the players about what it would take to get the sport bigger and more popular. Feldberg chimed in that there should be fewer events with larger payouts, the other players agreed. The number he quoted for PDGA events was something like 800+ per year, and while the PDGA may get some nice coin off all those events, Feldberg said their job was to promote disc golf to the masses. What would happen if there were only 13 PDGA events per year, with bigger payouts? I don't know if any of the players can even afford to fly to events, most of them seem to share motor homes and tour the country by highway. With bigger payouts, more talent will be discovered and the sport may grow more mainstream. Just an idea, but I think there is merit in this thought. How many PGA major events are there in a year, that seems to be a pretty successful model and one that should be explored. Even if you have to charge a larger entry fee for these infrequent events, it just might work.

Regarding legal issues, most of us in California are legal, so don't you worry about us engaging in any illegal activities. If you get caught with a beer on most courses, it is a much bigger deal and fine versus partaking.

 

[thrembo]

They used to, and probably still have the Super Tour. The top 10 or so tournaments with the highest payouts. I don't think less tournaments is the answer, but mabye a little more focus on the big events, with better payouts, so the best players would only have to play in less tournaments to make a living out of it. Sorta like the Majors in ball golf. They could still play in other tournaments too, to make extra cash, practice for the big ones or whatever.

 

[atl scott]

How many PGA major events are there in a year

There were 47 PGA events in 2009, almost 1 every weekend. In comparison, there were 59 NT and A-tier events (combined) in the PDGA in 2009, 9 of which were NT's. Basically the rest of the events are AM based and don't figure into this argument so the point is moot.

 

[DaRoc]

Whats funny is the perception that disc golf is being held back but in the reality of things is that it is slowly growing as a hobby, sport, game, or exerise for the regular working joes of this world. How many of thes regular chuckers have heard of Nikko, Feldberg, Avery, etc...

Its an illussion and opinion that people think that the drinkers, non-dress code,smokers, hippies, chuckers, etc are holding back the sport. Nothing is holding it back because more courses are popping up, tournies are having bigger purses, more signature discs are coming out, more companies are being formed from discs to clothing lines,and some areas have disc golf on public access TV. There ar no true facts what holds disc golf back but just opinions. Only change will show what works and what doesnt.

I dont look-up to the touring pros either but respect their passion for the game. Its what they enjoy doing and what they want to make money at but are trying to find ways to bring their income up with expsure with sponsors and tv coverage. One mans dreams can be another mans nightmare.

 

[Kaijinbo]

Interesting thread.

I've noticed a big jump in the number of disc golfers in MN over the years. The sport seems to be growing here by all appearances; more and more stores stock discs, a good number of clubs and leagues to choose from and the sheer volume of players out and about. It may seem slow but the sport grows year by year.