The majority of people I encounter in the real world have little or no knowledge of the sport. On the other hand when I do run into a fellow disc golfer it's immediate friendship.
And the product they put out sucks. Sorry but when they told fans no cell phones at worlds so they can stream better was puss poor. Dgpt and dgn are slowly killing pro disc golf....I hope Paul starts his own tour (liv style). We know he will bring a better product to the fans.
It ain't a paywall, it's operating costs. A paywall is when a media body makes you pay for information we should all have free access to. What they are doing is outlaying money to produce live coverage (I do it, for disc golf, I can run you through the costs) and asking for an amount to watch it. Saying it's behind a paywall is like saying Toyota hide their cars behind a paywall before they let you drive it.
Did you know dgpt makes no money. They don't even break even. Disc golf is because people are willing to work for nothing. To invest in something we're They will not get there money back. How I know this, they posted it few months back. But nobody cares they just rip on the people trying to keep the sport alive.
Man. Jomez having almost 500k is crazy. I miss when I was just getting into watching disc golf in 2017-18. Watching Jomez was the best and they still are my favorite way. But the PDGA stepped in hard and started eating up production companies and changing rules and most importantly, digging in your wallets. And I know, these things need money to grow and show. It’s just sad when it seems to be the main concern. Anyway, P McB is the goat! He needs to come back and show the kids how it’s done. Haha
As a guy who jumped in with both feet about 6 years ago, I think we win no matter what happens with the sport. Either it continues to grow and is exciting to be along for the ride, or it plateaus and we still enjoy our niche sport without being crowded in. The sport is here to stay for all who love it!
Been working day and night to get disc golf to be popular in my area. And when I say my area, I mean very rural towns. There isn't a course near where I live. Nearest is 2 hours away. Not sure what compelled me to pick up a disc, but once I did, I am now 950 rated golfer after 2 years of competitive play. Managed to get one 1000 rated round in. And I'm pushing 40 years old! To me its picking up in my area where I grew up. With that being said, the 3 courses that are 2 hours away, its PACKED almost every single day since I started back in 2022. MAYBE on a Tuesday its empty finally, but after 1pm every other day, Queue's all around. It may seem like its dying elsewhere, but here. We're just getting started.
The sport found me in May of this year and I have been playing non-stop. It's the perfect way to experience the outdoors ,it's accessible, and there is a high skill ceiling so you can never stop learning
7:20 At 46, I am a wild fanatic, sometimes in the warmer days I'll be bagging my 1st disc. 2nd Elite Z Orange Buzzz, which I bought from our state park in 2004 So here is my reason that I stopped my PDGA membership. #84308 (2015 era) I'm thrilled when I can feel loose enough to participate in or dubs leagues. I have shoulder issues that have demanded me to DNF on a few of my last singed up tournaments. (My last one, I thought I was ready, just the practice round the day before, it was best that I dropped) I have scoliosis and sometimes it flares up and I shoot +4 on the short Home course layout. Next time, Body is feeling good and I shoot -9 on the short to long layout.
To one of your points, if I ask 100 random folks I know whether they’ve heard of Gannon Buhr or Paul McBeth, approximately 100 would respond with “who?”. Heck, it took a James Conrad throw in to get 30 seconds of the 2021 World Championship onto ESPN. When I started on 2020 it seemed that the sport was huge and popular discs could rarely be found at the local shop. Now I don’t even need to go to the local shop because folks are selling hoards of new or near-new discs on marketplace for less (shipping included) that the local shop, so there’s no need to go there any more. I’ve heard “grow the sport” since I’ve started, and maybe it’s because I started at the COVID peak, but lately it seems more “slow the sport”. As for what constitutes mainstream, I’d say that when ESPN starts covering Elite Series tournaments. Until then, I get more coverage of darts, pickle ball, billiards, and bowling.
9:45 I discovered disc golf because Buccaneer State Park installed a 18 hole course in 1997. It was our spot to go watch meteor since 1995, took me years to finally ask a ranger about the "yellow deer feeders" that's my assumption. I thought they were helping feed the wildlife 😂 It is also a very cool swap and wilderness trail system, that I had ventured since riding a bike at 12. (Free admitting back then, except for the wave pool)
I think a lot of responsibility can be placed on the shoulders of the younger players. Everyone I talked to at junior worlds was passionate about growing the sport. However, so much needs to come from efforts to share disc golf with friends and community.
I think you're exactly right. It will get there but, although winning a gold medal in disc golf would be awesome, that's not the indicator that the sport is mainstream. Just look at how many current olympic sports there are that aren't mainstream. "Curling"? No, you're right on that it's the youth that will take it there.
I agree that growth of disc golf will be through youth. More money should be spent on outreach to kids in schools rather than on Pro players if you want to grow the sport. You can have both but the more youths you have playing the sport the more money you’ll have to pay pro’s
Great video and good observations. I think one of the things that inhibits Disc Golf adoption on a larger scale is spectator participation. Some of the venues where these pro tour events occur are not very conducive for fans watching. That is one aspect. PDGA membership isn’t very important to the average player. I think the sport is still growing. It’s just growing more slowly. I also think you’re right about youth adoption of the sport and them growing it with their friends. It will take a while, but it will become more mainstream.
Two things for me….less pro courses and more beginner courses….the most played course in NC is Kentwood…it’s an old course no hole over 300 ft….lots of casual players and hot shots throwing ace runs….also….playing tournaments and having every round kept as a permanent record keeps casual players away…I’m 72…I’m not going to turn pro…but I like playing with guys my age….we should go back too paper cards or….put an opt out on pdga electronic scorning….score just goes away after the tournament… no rating which in my case is pretty embarrassing…in short….keep it about fun with your friends
There are 4 Colleges in my area that offer Disc Golf Scholarships. I have attempted to bring it to the attention or sports directors at the local highschool. Im told you will have to convince the coaches....i told i really dont want to convince anyone of anything, that they should be onboard to help these kids get a Sports Scholarship in Disc Golf... None of there players ever get a sports scholarship, they are all academic because no one cares about a town of 400 ppl and their highschool sports teams. So.. .ppl just dont understand or care to look into deeper aspects of Disc Golf ..... college disc golf needs more Support So these colleges can offer scholarships to the generation that can bring the sport to the Mainstream.
I think targeting kids is going to be tough. While I think disc golf is the best thing ever, it has slow spots, like waiting for others to find their disc and throw. Many kids today need constant stimulation, but disc golf can sometimes lack that. I've seen this myself with my nephews. But of course not all kids are the same and it's great to see kinds like Landon Brooks killing it out there. MVP announced they will have a new program for schools, so that will be interesting to see what that is.
True. Coming from ultimate frisbee I said we should target college kids and post college age players. For me, I played club hockey and baseball growing until I was 19. During university I was looking for a new sport.
I feel like disc golf can grow like pickleball. Like you said it’s something people already know how to do so there’s not much of a transition into that sport but everyone can say they at least have tossed around a disc with someone. So I see it the same way like you said in your video.
Build up the Recreation players in order to support the Pro players. To become mainstream you need more people playing it! Put more money and time in getting recreational players in the sport than you do with the Pro’s! The more people who play the more money there will be in the sport.
Think about it, all your mainstream sports have teams in every school across America. If someone gets a movement going across the country getting teams started in high schools at least will catapult the sport.
You don't even necessarily need teams, just exposure at schools to disc golf could make a difference. I'm from Finland and we seem to be sprouting DG courses everywhere, and some of those are right next to schools. That means there's an opportunity for gym class disc golf. Our kids' school doesn't have a course but they do have a practise basket in the school yard.
Quit playing on ball golf courses in pro tourneys would be a good start, it's not relatable to average disc golfers. Most people can't bomb 600 feet. Greetings from Ludington, Mi. BTW, we have tons of great courses in the area, most are a dollar a day to play! Definitley check it out if you're in the area.
Here are the negatives that need to be addressed. Grow the sport was a euphemism for monetize my hobby. Disc prices have doubled in the last several years. Jomez was a far superior product to DGN and almost free. Excessive ticket prices for spectators. Disc golf is a great recreation, but tournaments are a drag. We may have far more courses, but what percentage of them are good courses? Most still lack bathrooms and amenities. Too many new courses are designed for distance throwers and don't accomodate children, women, seniors and the noodlearms who make up most players. Most disc golfers have all the visual appeal of a homeless guy pushing a stolen shopping cart and that's not great for public perception.
Playing on and off three decades. There are always bubbles, but in the end it's a slippery niche sport/activity to rally advertising support around.' I enjoy that aspect. Last thing we need are kids doing 'roids to get jacked for disc lol
Disc golf manufacturers dont have their finger on the pulse of disc buyers. If they did, they wouldnt have 1000's of disc sitting on shelves that will likely never be bought. Thats on them. Itd be no different than a chef making a special no one wants everyday and then wondering why they end up throwing away so much food.
If you play disc golf, you know how amazingly popular the sport is becoming. I appreciate the content here, but I disagree with this assessment. Kids DO NOT watch television anymore.You cannot use that as a barometer. Its all online. CBS and friends will never cover it. The sport is growing massively and the media is just catching up.
I'm poor. It's not the leagues fault. I'm not interested in watching events live. That's a personal preference of mine. I miss Jomez coverages. That's been expressed by others too. I get that money taints the good things in life... and I have no easy answer for this. But I will say, doing things for the love come out better than doing things for the money... people can enjoy, rather worry.
12 year player, course designer and builder here and huge thumbs down for the PDGA and what the have done to the sport, especially since COVID. Also players think they are celebrities and it's comical, y'all throw plastic frisbees and expect more pay? How does that really benefit society in any way??
Unfortunately in today's society entertainment is important. However, when the economy does likely crash under trumplican regime we shall see how important disc golf and the players are hahaha
Disc golf has a pretty high barrier to entry. You can get a basketball at walmart for $10 bucks and use that 1 ball to play endless games at the local park. As your skill improves it is still just that 1 ball. Disc golf requires multiple discs and learning what each disc does (until you hit the first tree and then the disc flies different). Where I grew up the only people that played DG were well-to-do kids that needed something to do while their parents were playin tennis or ball golf. Additionally when you pay for a sporting event like boxing or basketball or football you get a return of good quality footage. When you pay for DG coverage it looks like crap a majority of the time. The best way for DG to become mainstream is better quality coverage that networks want to show. Perhaps a push for the Olympics to consider it (its def better than Breakdancing). Also getting rid of the PDGA after they have destroyed the sport. You need a visionary to push the sport...think Vince McMahon and WWE brand.
Disc golf use to be very inexpensive, and paying to play a course was almost unheard of. The sport sold out, now the average Joe beginner gets to pay for it.
Disc golf use to be very inexpensive, and paying to play a course was almost unheard of. The sport sold out, now the average Joe beginner gets to pay for it.
The majority of people I encounter in the real world have little or no knowledge of the sport. On the other hand when I do run into a fellow disc golfer it's immediate friendship.
I'd rather it not go mainstream. I like the courses to myself.
Hiding Live broadcasts throughout the season behind a paywall really "helps" to get new and current players engaged ;) wink wink DGPT
100% They gotta make their money but it really hurts the growth when maybe 5k-20k viewers are checking in on DGN
And the product they put out sucks. Sorry but when they told fans no cell phones at worlds so they can stream better was puss poor. Dgpt and dgn are slowly killing pro disc golf....I hope Paul starts his own tour (liv style). We know he will bring a better product to the fans.
It ain't a paywall, it's operating costs. A paywall is when a media body makes you pay for information we should all have free access to. What they are doing is outlaying money to produce live coverage (I do it, for disc golf, I can run you through the costs) and asking for an amount to watch it. Saying it's behind a paywall is like saying Toyota hide their cars behind a paywall before they let you drive it.
^ 1000000% this is a big hurdle
Did you know dgpt makes no money. They don't even break even. Disc golf is because people are willing to work for nothing. To invest in something we're They will not get there money back. How I know this, they posted it few months back. But nobody cares they just rip on the people trying to keep the sport alive.
They play sports like golf, football, baseball, etc. in junior high and high schools. That's where you get a solid base of fans.
when I play at the local course, there's almost nobody playing. However, the pickleball court is always packed.
Finally visited NW Arkansas for a gravel bike race in May. That area is just ripe for some top tier courses!
Man. Jomez having almost 500k is crazy. I miss when I was just getting into watching disc golf in 2017-18. Watching Jomez was the best and they still are my favorite way. But the PDGA stepped in hard and started eating up production companies and changing rules and most importantly, digging in your wallets. And I know, these things need money to grow and show. It’s just sad when it seems to be the main concern. Anyway, P McB is the goat! He needs to come back and show the kids how it’s done. Haha
As a guy who jumped in with both feet about 6 years ago, I think we win no matter what happens with the sport. Either it continues to grow and is exciting to be along for the ride, or it plateaus and we still enjoy our niche sport without being crowded in. The sport is here to stay for all who love it!
Been working day and night to get disc golf to be popular in my area. And when I say my area, I mean very rural towns. There isn't a course near where I live. Nearest is 2 hours away. Not sure what compelled me to pick up a disc, but once I did, I am now 950 rated golfer after 2 years of competitive play. Managed to get one 1000 rated round in. And I'm pushing 40 years old!
To me its picking up in my area where I grew up. With that being said, the 3 courses that are 2 hours away, its PACKED almost every single day since I started back in 2022. MAYBE on a Tuesday its empty finally, but after 1pm every other day, Queue's all around.
It may seem like its dying elsewhere, but here. We're just getting started.
The sport found me in May of this year and I have been playing non-stop. It's the perfect way to experience the outdoors ,it's accessible, and there is a high skill ceiling so you can never stop learning
7:20 At 46, I am a wild fanatic, sometimes in the warmer days I'll be bagging my 1st disc. 2nd Elite Z Orange Buzzz, which I bought from our state park in 2004
So here is my reason that I stopped my PDGA membership. #84308 (2015 era) I'm thrilled when I can feel loose enough to participate in or dubs leagues.
I have shoulder issues that have demanded me to DNF on a few of my last singed up tournaments. (My last one, I thought I was ready, just the practice round the day before, it was best that I dropped)
I have scoliosis and sometimes it flares up and I shoot +4 on the short Home course layout.
Next time, Body is feeling good and I shoot -9 on the short to long layout.
To one of your points, if I ask 100 random folks I know whether they’ve heard of Gannon Buhr or Paul McBeth, approximately 100 would respond with “who?”. Heck, it took a James Conrad throw in to get 30 seconds of the 2021 World Championship onto ESPN.
When I started on 2020 it seemed that the sport was huge and popular discs could rarely be found at the local shop. Now I don’t even need to go to the local shop because folks are selling hoards of new or near-new discs on marketplace for less (shipping included) that the local shop, so there’s no need to go there any more.
I’ve heard “grow the sport” since I’ve started, and maybe it’s because I started at the COVID peak, but lately it seems more “slow the sport”.
As for what constitutes mainstream, I’d say that when ESPN starts covering Elite Series tournaments. Until then, I get more coverage of darts, pickle ball, billiards, and bowling.
9:45
I discovered disc golf because Buccaneer State Park installed a 18 hole course in 1997.
It was our spot to go watch meteor since 1995, took me years to finally ask a ranger about the "yellow deer feeders" that's my assumption. I thought they were helping feed the wildlife 😂
It is also a very cool swap and wilderness trail system, that I had ventured since riding a bike at 12. (Free admitting back then, except for the wave pool)
The people who watch cable TV is 56... is that what we want and how we attract new younger players and spectators?
I think a lot of responsibility can be placed on the shoulders of the younger players. Everyone I talked to at junior worlds was passionate about growing the sport. However, so much needs to come from efforts to share disc golf with friends and community.
I think you're exactly right. It will get there but, although winning a gold medal in disc golf would be awesome, that's not the indicator that the sport is mainstream. Just look at how many current olympic sports there are that aren't mainstream. "Curling"?
No, you're right on that it's the youth that will take it there.
The down fall is trying to make it a network/cable sport. Keep to its roots and dominate the internet and push its social media presence.
Yooo that Zach Melton stray was hella uncalled for
Still a good point tho. Ezra Aderhold and Tristan Tanner are good examples of athletes on the Pro Tour who people look at and respect their physique
You're in NW AR? I'm in Tulsa, not super far. Are there any must play courses out your way that Tulsa people could visit with a reasonable drive?
I agree that growth of disc golf will be through youth. More money should be spent on outreach to kids in schools rather than on Pro players if you want to grow the sport. You can have both but the more youths you have playing the sport the more money you’ll have to pay pro’s
Great video and good observations. I think one of the things that inhibits Disc Golf adoption on a larger scale is spectator participation. Some of the venues where these pro tour events occur are not very conducive for fans watching. That is one aspect. PDGA membership isn’t very important to the average player. I think the sport is still growing. It’s just growing more slowly. I also think you’re right about youth adoption of the sport and them growing it with their friends. It will take a while, but it will become more mainstream.
Two things for me….less pro courses and more beginner courses….the most played course in NC is Kentwood…it’s an old course no hole over 300 ft….lots of casual players and hot shots throwing ace runs….also….playing tournaments and having every round kept as a permanent record keeps casual players away…I’m 72…I’m not going to turn pro…but I like playing with guys my age….we should go back too paper cards or….put an opt out on pdga electronic scorning….score just goes away after the tournament… no rating which in my case is pretty embarrassing…in short….keep it about fun with your friends
There are 4 Colleges in my area that offer Disc Golf Scholarships. I have attempted to bring it to the attention or sports directors at the local highschool. Im told you will have to convince the coaches....i told i really dont want to convince anyone of anything, that they should be onboard to help these kids get a Sports Scholarship in Disc Golf...
None of there players ever get a sports scholarship, they are all academic because no one cares about a town of 400 ppl and their highschool sports teams. So.. .ppl just dont understand or care to look into deeper aspects of Disc Golf ..... college disc golf needs more Support So these colleges can offer scholarships to the generation that can bring the sport to the Mainstream.
Ive tried to watch the CBS broadcast and could never find and gave up pretty quick. 😂
A GHIN style handicap system would make disc golf much more enjoyable for the masses.
I already know that you and Zach Melton are cool.
Zach, do you have additional comments?
disc golf being on cbs sports is HUGE. saying net neutral is crazy talk,
Great video
I like it, i just got a mint flat top 2016 Star Firebird for 20$ on the bay.
Omg that is sick!
I think targeting kids is going to be tough. While I think disc golf is the best thing ever, it has slow spots, like waiting for others to find their disc and throw. Many kids today need constant stimulation, but disc golf can sometimes lack that. I've seen this myself with my nephews. But of course not all kids are the same and it's great to see kinds like Landon Brooks killing it out there. MVP announced they will have a new program for schools, so that will be interesting to see what that is.
True.
Coming from ultimate frisbee I said we should target college kids and post college age players.
For me, I played club hockey and baseball growing until I was 19.
During university I was looking for a new sport.
I feel like disc golf can grow like pickleball. Like you said it’s something people already know how to do so there’s not much of a transition into that sport but everyone can say they at least have tossed around a disc with someone. So I see it the same way like you said in your video.
Build up the Recreation players in order to support the Pro players. To become mainstream you need more people playing it! Put more money and time in getting recreational players in the sport than you do with the Pro’s! The more people who play the more money there will be in the sport.
Think about it, all your mainstream sports have teams in every school across America. If someone gets a movement going across the country getting teams started in high schools at least will catapult the sport.
You don't even necessarily need teams, just exposure at schools to disc golf could make a difference. I'm from Finland and we seem to be sprouting DG courses everywhere, and some of those are right next to schools. That means there's an opportunity for gym class disc golf. Our kids' school doesn't have a course but they do have a practise basket in the school yard.
Quit playing on ball golf courses in pro tourneys would be a good start, it's not relatable to average disc golfers. Most people can't bomb 600 feet. Greetings from Ludington, Mi. BTW, we have tons of great courses in the area, most are a dollar a day to play! Definitley check it out if you're in the area.
Here are the negatives that need to be addressed. Grow the sport was a euphemism for monetize my hobby. Disc prices have doubled in the last several years. Jomez was a far superior product to DGN and almost free. Excessive ticket prices for spectators. Disc golf is a great recreation, but tournaments are a drag. We may have far more courses, but what percentage of them are good courses? Most still lack bathrooms and amenities. Too many new courses are designed for distance throwers and don't accomodate children, women, seniors and the noodlearms who make up most players. Most disc golfers have all the visual appeal of a homeless guy pushing a stolen shopping cart and that's not great for public perception.
Playing on and off three decades. There are always bubbles, but in the end it's a slippery niche sport/activity to rally advertising support around.' I enjoy that aspect. Last thing we need are kids doing 'roids to get jacked for disc lol
Disc golf manufacturers dont have their finger on the pulse of disc buyers. If they did, they wouldnt have 1000's of disc sitting on shelves that will likely never be bought. Thats on them. Itd be no different than a chef making a special no one wants everyday and then wondering why they end up throwing away so much food.
Come play McClelland dude!
#frisbeespirit will always be alive and well.
Did mcbeth ever look like a top tier "athlete"? asking for a friend
good video
Playing disc golf is like owning Bitcoin, most people don't know anything about it
If you play disc golf, you know how amazingly popular the sport is becoming. I appreciate the content here, but I disagree with this assessment. Kids DO NOT watch television anymore.You cannot use that as a barometer. Its all online. CBS and friends will never cover it. The sport is growing massively and the media is just catching up.
I'm poor. It's not the leagues fault. I'm not interested in watching events live. That's a personal preference of mine. I miss Jomez coverages. That's been expressed by others too. I get that money taints the good things in life... and I have no easy answer for this. But I will say, doing things for the love come out better than doing things for the money... people can enjoy, rather worry.
12 year player, course designer and builder here and huge thumbs down for the PDGA and what the have done to the sport, especially since COVID. Also players think they are celebrities and it's comical, y'all throw plastic frisbees and expect more pay? How does that really benefit society in any way??
Totally agree!
I would say it benefits society as much as any form of entertainment.
Unfortunately in today's society entertainment is important. However, when the economy does likely crash under trumplican regime we shall see how important disc golf and the players are hahaha
How does throwing a ball into a net do anything different? Oh you can hold a pigskin and run, you've saved America.
My thoughts exactly!
Honestly dgn killed my interest in watching the sport.
Disc golf has a pretty high barrier to entry. You can get a basketball at walmart for $10 bucks and use that 1 ball to play endless games at the local park. As your skill improves it is still just that 1 ball. Disc golf requires multiple discs and learning what each disc does (until you hit the first tree and then the disc flies different). Where I grew up the only people that played DG were well-to-do kids that needed something to do while their parents were playin tennis or ball golf. Additionally when you pay for a sporting event like boxing or basketball or football you get a return of good quality footage. When you pay for DG coverage it looks like crap a majority of the time. The best way for DG to become mainstream is better quality coverage that networks want to show. Perhaps a push for the Olympics to consider it (its def better than Breakdancing). Also getting rid of the PDGA after they have destroyed the sport. You need a visionary to push the sport...think Vince McMahon and WWE brand.
Disc golf use to be very inexpensive, and paying to play a course was almost unheard of. The sport sold out, now the average Joe beginner gets to pay for it.
Disc golf use to be very inexpensive, and paying to play a course was almost unheard of. The sport sold out, now the average Joe beginner gets to pay for it.
If you don't think being on CBS will increase the draw, you're a numb digger.