Whats the next evolution of the game?

[rd.bittle]

This. And you get stroked if you're standing closer to the basket than the thrower.

I would love the risk/reward of costing a stroke if your disc doesn't touch their's. Hard decision whether or not to "defend."

 

[New013]

Will there be an ability by the offensive player to destroy the defense with a firebird? Might give the defensive player some pause if at any moment the guy might turn and chuck one of those at you.

That's why I like the idea of the guy just being able to block it, maybe the guy putting holds two discs. One to throw at the defense and then his putter.

 

[SteezeOG]

Getting more people to play tournaments, getting a better amateur/pro division system, and finding ways to incorporate cheap gps chip technology to sync your bag of discs and smartphone for distance tracking, locating, and wear indicators that can show you weak spots in the plastic over time. I'd settle for shoes that last more than one year of heavy playing, lighter bags, and better glow plastic.

 

[knettles]

discs with a small GPS chip would be awesome. could track a lost disc and show exact distances of throw. would integrate with phone. I envision it kind of like the running shoes you can plug in after your run to load data.

Yes! ever since the April Fools joke, I've been seriously wanting this. It would just be a small bump on the middle of the underside of the flight plate. You could just buy one in a general straight flying driver (or whatever you wanted) for shots over water or with a dangerously high rough off to the side. Since you would only really need one, the high cost wouldn't be that big of a deal. Also, this could make a great way to measure distance on a hilly hole since it would track the straight line flight and not the hills (assuming it's a hole you can park).

 

[knettles]

Also wanted to mention, I'd like to see a rise in popularity of speed golf. You don't keep score on a hole, everyone is frantically throwing and running to be first in the basket. If you're first in the basket you get a 1, if you're second you get a 2, and so on. Lowest score at the end of the round wins. Sure, it's biased against fat disc golfers, but that's just an incentive to get in shape.

 

[Royal Hill]

David Sauls was right on with Scholastic/college level boom. (ok, a slow rumble... not a loud boom)

Growth in smaller colleges, community colleges, lower division NCAA. Trickle down to some high school leagues.

Rise of fee use disc golf - which in turn will allow us to overcome the track record that clearly tells us why "we can't handle nice things"

 

[Dthunderchicken]

Shoes

The problems I see with shoes are that courses are so varied in terrain. There are courses near me where I can play in flip flops and others that hiking boots are more appropriate.

The best thing I've found in an all around footwear are off road running shoes worn with summer hiking socks. However there are times when I wear heavy full leather hiking boots.

 

[New013]

Trail Running shoes are probably the best out there right now, however the problem with shoes of that ilk is the tread grinds off to easy. If they can beef up the bond between the tread and the shoe on those types of shoes we'll be in business.

 

[Agricolae]

A boom in scholastic competitions.

Collegiate disc golf is small but growing quite rapidly now. High schools to come, as a club-level sport.

And youth leagues.

A major shake-up in the PDGA, or the emergence of a parallel organization, to promote, guide, and officiate what DavidSauls said.

 

[New013]

will the defense have to S&D?

 

[scarpfish]

Also wanted to mention, I'd like to see a rise in popularity of speed golf. You don't keep score on a hole, everyone is frantically throwing and running to be first in the basket. If you're first in the basket you get a 1, if you're second you get a 2, and so on.

Multiple man relays where we could see how fast that a single disc could travel through a course would be cool.

 

[DavidSauls]

A major shake-up in the PDGA, or the emergence of a parallel organization, to promote, guide, and officiate what DavidSauls said.

The National Collegiate Disc Golf Union is working towards this:

www.ncdgc.com

 

[DavidSauls]

I would love the risk/reward of costing a stroke if your disc doesn't touch their's. Hard decision whether or not to "defend."

Chasing down your missed missiles might be enough punishment. This is a fast-paced game in which order-of-play is abandoned; if you're closer to the basket, you want hurry and throw while your opponent, and his defensive discs, are still behind you.

 

[Halcón]

The biggest change will be in growth, like David said. Growth, and legitimizing the sport. Disc golf may catch fire in areas of the world where it is currently non-existent. Broadcasting will also play a major roal in this, as has been mentioned.

I don't think any equipment changes will matter much, in the grand scheme of things.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I'm still campaigning for the exciting "defense with a disc" version, where you can play defense but only by throwing a disc at your opponent's disc, ground-to-air-missile style.

This would require taking accuracy to new levels. :thmbup:

 

[drblam]

A boom in scholastic competitions.

Collegiate disc golf is small but growing quite rapidly now. High schools to come, as a club-level sport.

And youth leagues.

Thomas Worthington, a High school in my area is building an on site course. With the schools here, once someone does something, the rest do it too. I see actual high school teams happening sooner than later. Perhaps doubles style and singles.

 

[ZAMson]

David Sauls was right on with Scholastic/college level boom. (ok, a slow rumble... not a loud boom)

Growth in smaller colleges, community colleges, lower division NCAA. Trickle down to some high school leagues.

Rise of fee use disc golf - which in turn will allow us to overcome the track record that clearly tells us why "we can't handle nice things"

A major shake-up in the PDGA, or the emergence of a parallel organization, to promote, guide, and officiate what DavidSauls said.

The biggest change will be in growth, like David said. Growth, and legitimizing the sport. Disc golf may catch fire in areas of the world where it is currently non-existent. Broadcasting will also play a major roal in this, as has been mentioned.

I don't think any equipment changes will matter much, in the grand scheme of things.

Great stuff!

Exposing more people to something they'd love. Scholastic engagement, better marketing to people who don't already play. More ways and venues to appreciate disc golf on a casual level, on a competitive level, and as a social/multimedia sport.

To BigSky's point about equipment changes -- I think the presentation could make more difference than the finer points of gear design. Right now we're selling to the adult competitive crowd. Put flowers on 'em, sell 'em in a pink purse... 10 years later, insanely competitive collegiate female scene.

Me and my fat marketing friends are the key to more hotties playing.

 

[DavidSauls]

Scholastic play also exposes disc golf to the non-disc-golfing public such as college alumni and fans, and high school parents. Not necessarily people who will ever play disc golf, but the increased awareness in the general population can't hurt.

There must be a hundred colleges with teams now, a number of competitions around the country, and a fair number of colleges that have courses on campus. There are already some places with high school competitions as well. All very much in its infancy.

The general growth of disc golf certain, at least for a while, but I'm not sure it counts as the "next big thing". Scholastic and youth leagues mean expansion of disc golf into new territory, culture-wise.

 

[Steve West]

The next big thing will be organized leagues for youth, whether inter-school play or like Little League or First Tee.

The next thing after the next thing: Course design will be absorbed into just one aspect of Landscape Architecture and done exclusively by big-money park planning consultants. More rigid adherence to more detailed standards, availability of college courses or technical training in design, and legal certification.

 

[Johnny Depth]

Disc golf driving ranges.