How Do You Deal with Defiant Pedestrians?

[dwalk77]

It seems I've been encountering more of this lately. Pedestrians are stationary and standing or sitting in the middle of the fairway. I yell "fore!". They clearly hear me b/c they look up and see me on the teebox, getting ready to swing with a disc in my hand. But then they look back to their friend and continue a conversation, as if nothing happened and disc golf doesn't exist. They're not going to move.

What do you do?

 

[R-Ogre]

Play a different course.

 

[oldmandiscer]

If they are not near the landing area and they are lower risk I will throw anyways. If they did happen to stay where I will probably nail them in the skull then I would just skip the hole.

 

[markmcc]

Simply skip the hole. It is not worth the risk of hitting someone, or antagonizing other park users.

 

[DavidSauls]

Are you sure they know what "Four!" means? Or which way you're throwing? Some people are defiant; some are merely clueless.

I've walked up and explained it -- that I (and others who will follow) will be throwing this way and if they get hit by a disc it really hurts and my control isn't that great, and that if they're going to stay there, they should watch the disc and avoid getting hit. Sometimes it works.

Yes, I know, you're yelling "Fore!", but the uninitiated are hearing you yell "Four!"

 

[Aces Galore]

I vote to skip.

 

[thrembo]

I aim right at them. Pretty much guarantees that I won't hit them. Just kidding.

 

[foxdawg10]

It seems I've been encountering more of this lately. Pedestrians are stationary and standing or sitting in the middle of the fairway. I yell "fore!". They clearly hear me b/c they look up and see me on the teebox, getting ready to swing with a disc in my hand. But then they look back to their friend and continue a conversation, as if nothing happened and disc golf doesn't exist. They're not going to move.

What do you do?

Don't assume they have any idea what disc golf is, or how sharp that thing in your hand is or how fast it goes. Most people still think of frisbees. Just skip the hole if they refuse to move.

 

[glassila]

The responsibility is on the player.
If it's a public park it doesn't matter how much the people are being jerks...if you throw and hit someone you potentially risk having the course pulled as well as getting sued personally. It may seem cool or funny at the time, but DO NOT throw at, over or towards other people.

Plaintiff: "Me and my friend were in the park talking about world peace when this evil man threw this plastic weapon at me!"
Judge: Did this plastic weapon have a name?
Plaintiff: It was called a DESTROYER!!!
Judge: Judgement on behalf of the plaintiff. Next case!"

 

[tbird888]

You skip the hole. Throwing on other park goers, whether they're on a course or not, is an easy way to get courses pulled. Don't let someone else's hard work in getting the course installed get pissed away because you can't be the bigger person. Maybe even give them a heads up about where they are and the dangers of flying discs (in a kind and respectful way) as you pass them on your way to the next tee.

 

[Steve West]

Are you sure they know what "Four!" means? Or which way you're throwing? Some people are defiant; some are merely clueless.

I've walked up and explained it -- that I (and others who will follow) will be throwing this way and if they get hit by a disc it really hurts and my control isn't that great, and that if they're going to stay there, they should watch the disc and avoid getting hit. Sometimes it works.

Yes, I know, you're yelling "Fore!", but the uninitiated are hearing you yell "Four!"

A greater concern is the players who don't know what "fore" means.

Some players think "Fore" gives them the right-of-way. It does not. Nothing does.

Yelling "Fore" means you already threw and there might be a disc heading their way. If you are playing correctly, you should never have a need to shout it.

"Fore!" is an emergency warning, not a request for permission.

YOU don't throw at them. (By rule.) They are not required to - and are not expected to - get out of YOUR way.

No matter what you yell.

 

[notapro]

I chose option three, only because I've been able to do it before. Like, wide open field, throw 45 degrees offline twice instead of straight once.

But, if that isn't an option, skip the hole for sure.

 

[ru4por]

Plenty of disc golf holes on planet Earth. Plenty of rounds left to be played. Just no need to think my need to play one hole, is more important than some rando park user, enjoying nature in my world. Skip the hole, stop to say hi on the way by. Maybe warn them that douchbags are everywhere and they are potentially in harms way. Give yourself a 2 on the hole for instant personal karma. :hfive:

 

[BogeyNoMore]

You skip the hole. Throwing on other park goers, whether they're on a course or not, is an easy way to get courses pulled. Don't let someone else's hard work in getting the course installed get pissed away because you can't be the bigger person. Maybe even give them a heads up about where they are and the dangers of flying discs (in a kind and respectful way) as you pass them on your way to the next tee.

This. If we handle it properly, and kindly explain they are walking on the course, will leave a much better impression than if we act like jerks that come across like we own the place.

Being the bigger person might just make them feel small enough, to not take more strolls in that spot.

Even if you take a selfish attitude, why would you ever want to do anything that might result in getting a course pulled?

 

[ThrowBot]

Where's Thugnificent when you need him?

 

[txmxer]

Covered by others. Public park. You gotta share.

Yes it's annoying when it happens.

 

[rhatton1]

All options in the poll are poor ones.

Walk up the fairway with a smile on your face (important bit) and talk to them. In 15 years of playing that has worked everytime but once. In the occasion of that once skip the hole. If it's a shared use park they have every right to be there and probably don't have a clue what you're doing.

 

[Mr. Butlertron]

An option I use sometimes instead of skipping the hole is to have a player walk up the fairway to talk to the pedestrians. Said person will also act as their fairway de facto bodyguard if they choose to stay, but are okay with the group teeing off.

 

[DiscgolfStu]

All options in the poll are poor ones.

Walk up the fairway with a smile on your face (important bit) and talk to them. In 15 years of playing that has worked everytime but once. In the occasion of that once skip the hole. If it's a shared use park they have every right to be there and probably don't have a clue what you're doing.

Couldn't agree with this more. Usually the response is something like, "oh, I had no idea, sure we'll move over" and then they watch as we hit the first tree and promise them that it's actually a fun game when you throw it right.

Edit to add: It also depends on what the people are doing. If they clearly went out of their way to set up an entire picnic or activity, I'll skip and kindly let them know that they are set up in a fairway and that more people will be coming through throwing discs. Again, they are usually surprised and happy to move or even if they don't, they've been warned.

 

[ray1970]

When I can I usually try and avoid playing courses in multi use parks.

But, pretty much 98% of the time when there are non golfers in the fairway they honestly don't realize the situation. Always approach them and kindly explain what we're doing and the potential risk to their safety and I've never had anyone refuse to move or at least keep an eye out for our shots.