Remember disc golf during COVID?
For manufacturers, them’s were the glory days.
The game was booming.
So “booming,” in fact, Wikipedia has an entire page dedicated to it …
* Note: I’m not yanking your chain, either. Click here to see for yourself.
Courses were crowded. Discs flew (pun intended) off shelves. Sponsorship deals dropped jaws. In the four years since, the game’s popularity has somewhat come back down to earth. But something not-so-positive remains as a dumb byproduct of disc golf’s heyday …
The belief that COVID-era disc golfers are second-class disc golfers.
There are no ifs, ands or buts about it …
This is wrong.
Still, I have a theory as to why this belief took off in the first place. And why some disc golfers continue to turn their snooty noses up at those who discovered disc golf amidst a pandemic …
Ready?
It makes disc golf look like the “ugly girl” at the dance.
When I was in high school, I got asked to Sadie Hawkins by a girl WAY out of my league. Naturally, I was stoked out of my mind. We had a great time together that evening.
Only later did I learn I was (literally) her fourth choice for the event with the three guys in front of me all part of my regular friend group. Years on, this dance remains a fond memory …
But not that fond of a memory.
I’m the ugly girl.
I’m happily married; I’m at peace with it.
If global terror was all it took for you to resort to frisbees over more popular, ball-based sports, it’s great to have you. But it was clearly an outlying (and horrific) circumstance that appears to have dragged you – kicking and screaming, perhaps – to our community’s game of choice.
- Disc golf was open.
- It was socially-distanced.
- By default, it was the only option.
So you took it.
To that line of thinking, I say …
“So what?”
If most disc golfers declare they want the game to grow, and something, for as unfortunate as it was, brings about that growth, gratitude should be the bookend emotion – not snobbery.
It doesn’t matter what brought you to disc golf …
You’re here.
And we’re happy to have you.
Have anything to add? Take to X to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- Disc golf: That one disc that simply doesn’t work …
- Disc golf: The most annoying part of a staggered-stance putt
- One of the luckiest breaks in disc golf (it’s not what you’re thinking)
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What about post Covid era disc golfers?? lol
I got my first roc n aviar December 2022 at the tail end of Covid after talking to a coworker about disc golf. It was a great time of year to start playing as courses really die down during our rainy western Washington winters. Maybe I’m lucky but I haven’t experienced much prejudice for being a “newb” disc golfer. I already knew some basic etiquette from when I tried to be a ball golfer in my late teens and early 20’s. I think most of the people in my club are grateful for the boom. Our city added a championship level course to one of their struggling ball golf courses. And the club also took stewardship of a neglected 20 acre parcel next to our mall that was basically a homeless encampment drug den. So while more people have been getting into disc golf we’ve been blessed with more courses and more dues paying members.
As far as the ugly girl thing… I was always interested in disc golf but had no idea how to get started. I’ve lived a mile away from my city’s oldest course (est. 1996) for 11 years, but never played. I also had a hyper Labrador mutt who if I were to try to play a round she would eagerly retrieve any disc before I got 10 ft off the tee pad. We had to put her down last September and that was when disc golf went from a new hobby to absolute addiction for me. I’m kicking myself for not getting started 10 years ago, but on the bright side I’ve got two kids who have started throwing plastic. Who knows maybe one of them will be on the FPO DGPT one day?
A guy can hope 😊
Heck, yeah!
Outside of the “COVID bubble,” I don’t think new disc golfers get much hate …
That’s been my observation, at least.
These comments are limited to those who found the sport during the pandemic.
Also, what’s the name of your Championship-level course?
I’d be interested in checking it out on Disc Golf Course review 🙂
Lake Padden DGC. I still haven’t played it yet. It’s only open to disc golfers two days a week and considering it’s the only course in my county that’s pay to play if I have enough time for a round I’m not coughing up $15 to play.
Hahahaha …
Fair enough, Kurt!
Makes sense, and I’d do the same thing.
When it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.
Looks like it’s actually $18.50 for a round so more like $20 after tax. That’s more than a round at kayak point and you don’t have to deal with ball golfers down there.
Ouch …
But championship-level is championship-level.
I mean …
You have to.
(at least once)
I’m not sure what category I fall in. Nor do I care but here goes.
Played casually in the early 2000s. Had 4 discs, carried them in a plastic bag cuz I thought it was cool to be decent but look like a hack.
Got heavy into racquetball. Some of the pro guys I played with said they use disc golf to cross train their backhands. Develop arm speed. So I got back into it for a little bit. Same 4 discs. Same plastic bag.
But ball golf was always my golf. Then kids hit and nobody had time for a 6 hour round. Or 100 bucks a round. Played once a year.
Then COVID hit and it was impossible to play ball golf, impossible to get tee times. So I talked a couple buddies into hucking plastic with me. Now I play 2 to 3x a week for past 3 years.
Am I a COVID player?
Do I care?
Nah, you don’t fit the mold …
You knew disc golf before COVID, so I don’t think so.
Again, it doesn’t matter, but you’re safe from the label. Haha.
Also, it’s funny you mention the whole “plastic bag” thing …
When I started playing circa 2005, I couldn’t believe how stupid it was that people carried bags of discs around with ’em …
Look at me now?
My how time changes us …
I’ve accepted it.
I think the stigma of being a covid player is that they didn’t fall in love with the sport because it intrigued them, they decided to play because they were bored and there was nothing else to do. So for a lot of those players there was no understanding of the game or desire to learn thus the increase of the ever annoying chuckers. That being said I’ve never seen anyone asking or treating a player differently if they were a covid newbie. Although I’m sure it’s in the back of their minds LOL
Yeah, I don’t think much of this manifests itself out on the course, per se …
The “COVID-bashing” is more of an online thing.
(which is pretty lame, but hey – welcome to the internet)
I am THE definition of a COVID golfer.
Four years in, turned 58 last month, playing weekly, and had the great luck of meeting a group of guys ( all 10+ yr golfers) who immediately took me in.
I love the game and playing solo ( used to be avid cyclist) but the positive vibes of new friends opened my mind as to why it’s an addictive sport.
Salute to all you lifers who just said Let’s go throw.
Very cool, Jason!
Also, you’re a fellow cyclist?
Do you still follow the sport?
I’ve been a cyclist all my life …
Hope you’re finding some time to watch La Vuelta right now – even with Worlds this past weekend and everything 🙂