ZAMson
^Has PhD in Disc-Artistry
ThreePutt and joecoin have cracked the code on a deep level.
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Growth of DG?
- Thread starter RK311
- Start date
That is the best idea I've heard all day. Although there is a section of disc golfers that would rather us quit talking about it because "it makes the sport look bad"
When that happens, disc golf will have jumped the shark.
That comes from the huge demographic we encompass. We have people who want the sport to be more elite and expensive. We have people who want to embrace the stoner/slacker stereotype. We have a little bit of everything in-between. We are so many different types of people that getting us all on the same page is impossible.
Halcón
Free At Last
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I actually just read your big post on the previous page. You basically said the same thing (about variety) but in a much more eloquent, Uncle Three Putt way.
I remember seeing a guy show up for a tournament that had been missing for a year. I said "Hey, where have you been." He replied "Jail."
I was late 20's at the time. Grew up middle class, went to college, got a white collar job. I didn't know anyone who had been arrested for more than a minor in possession or some other misdemeanor that was just going to get you a fine, much less somebody who had done time. So here is this guy I knew from disc golf, who I had been friendly with but didn't really know, and he's been in jail. Turns out most of the regular players knew he was in jail, and he got a nice welcome back from people. He was one of us. I'd never been part of a group where "us" included felons before.
I learned through that group of guys in St. Louis that disc golf was different. We were a small band of guy from many different backgrounds, all with our different failings that had to be forgiven. That is what it was like back then. Everything was smaller; everybody hung together. There was room for dope fiends and drunks and whatever else. All you had to do was throw Frisbees at trees. I learned a lot about acceptance of human failings from that group. Despite our various weaknesses, it was a Hell of a group of guys.
I'm not sure it's like that anymore. As things get bigger, you lose that camaraderie. People become disposable. You have to conform to the social norms. It becomes a business, and dope fiends and drunks are bad for business.
Really, trying to embrace a "bad-boy stoner" image pushes you back toward that small group mentality. I think going that way will shrink the game rather than grow it. I know the core of the group we have here in Rolla is very conservative and religious. I think if the sport really made a push toward the stoner image there would be a mass exodus of those guys away from disc golf. I'm not sure why we would want to run people off in the name of "growing" the sport.
I miss the "good old days" sometimes. In the good old days there were seven courses in the entire state, though. The Genie is out of the bottle, and we can't put it back in. You can argue that the sport has "stoner roots," but I don't see any way we can go back to that.
My Dad always said "Anything worth saying is worth telling an hour long story to illustrate." :|I actually just read your big post on the previous page. You basically said the same thing (about variety) but in a much more eloquent, Uncle Three Putt way.
Really, he does say that. When I go over to his house I have to block out like four hours in case he wants to talk.
Mabuku1
Double Eagle Member
It's funny because if given a choice stoners want to play with stoners, and non smokers would rather play with non smokers. It's almost like we have two main demographics to the sport and you can see it on every course. There's never going to be growth unless we can separate the two into two separate subgroups. Football has Arena football, Baseball has softball, Basketball has And1 and wnba, ans so on...
Legitimate disc golf taken seriously gets the nice courses and stoners get the small unkept pitch & putts. Problem solved, and disc golf will grow faster.
Legitimate disc golf taken seriously gets the nice courses and stoners get the small unkept pitch & putts. Problem solved, and disc golf will grow faster.
Except I think that given who in our sport fits that stereotype it's more like stoners get the rough, challenging wooded courses and "legitimate" disc golf gets the nicely maintained grassy pitch n putts.
I'd still end up hanging out at the pitch and putt. I like to be difficult. :|
Mabuku1
Double Eagle Member
Lol. I was infering that the pitch &putts would turn to crap.
Saskatchewon
Newbie
Some of you guys seem pretty content with things in the US, but what about other countries? Here in the Canadian prairies, my town has a 9 hole course. Nearest course aside from that one? Three hours. My province of Saskatchewan is larger than the country of Sweden, has around 2 million people and a grand total of 3, largely unused disc golf courses (the best being maybe a 3 and a half out of 5). I have to order all discs online, there are none in stores. This area is perfect for disc golf in the summer! Massive amounts of unused land, and outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, ball golfing and camping are all very popular here. We have everything we need except nobody here knows about what disc golf is, and it's frustrating.
Star Shark
* Ace Member *
Skateboarding also does well because the athleticism of it is apparent and appreciable to anyone watching it. In terms of watchability, disc golf is much like regular golf in that it is slower paced, strategic and far more of the game lies in the subtleties which joe average can't possibly appreciate. You also have to factor in that the vast majority of people who play disc golf aren't interested in watching others play the game. They'd rather be out playing it themselves. This makes marketing the game extremely difficult.
Mabuku1
Double Eagle Member
Blame Canada. You beady eyed people sent Justin Bieber here to wreak havoc. You don't get disc golf anymore.
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Halcón
Free At Last
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It looks like Saskatoon and Regina could support decent DG clubs. The rest of the province seems pretty sparse. Is the course you play busy at all? Or is it that DG is just plain unknown up there.
Improbably
Eagle Member
Growth in supportive involement is what's needed.
Disc golf needs the kind of growth that makes mediocre courses better. Players becoming involved to move dead-fall, mow grass, and trim back picker bushes. Disc golf needs the kind of fundraising to improve tees and put in multiple positions not to attract pros to travel a thousand miles to win a purse then move on.
Growth defined as a better experience for the common player I fully support. Growth defined as television coverage and pro players becoming household names sounds like why I have no interest in other sports.
Disc golf needs the kind of growth that makes mediocre courses better. Players becoming involved to move dead-fall, mow grass, and trim back picker bushes. Disc golf needs the kind of fundraising to improve tees and put in multiple positions not to attract pros to travel a thousand miles to win a purse then move on.
Growth defined as a better experience for the common player I fully support. Growth defined as television coverage and pro players becoming household names sounds like why I have no interest in other sports.
I'd actually rather the kind of growth where we're a real part of park planning and maintenance rather than doing our own thing.
Improbably
Eagle Member
Agreed. Didn't want to make my statement more run on than it already was, but yeah communicating with the land administration is part of it. Typical problem is one person communicates successfully and gets permission to do a three to ten man job. That one person either works their ass off to complete the job themselves or gives up in frustration for lack of assistance.
TheC-Hill
Bogey Member
This ^ is well put. A grassroots following where the common player contributes to course maintenance and improvement could really strengthen the sport. Seems better to improve the live experience (playing dg and attending events ) rather than the virtual experience (veiwing on tv and other media sources). That being said, I am longing for a big-time disc golf video game for my winter withdrawals.
When it comes down to it, if everyone pitches in, the sport will evolve positively
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