The courses I frequent are park-style courses. In other words, disc golf is not the sole attraction. People are there for fresh air, the playground, soccer practice or some light walking or jogging.
They’re public parks.
Makes sense.
However, what’s bizarre to me about park-planted courses is how most non-disc golf people connect with the sport. It’s almost as if they’ve never had any kind of interaction with it in their lives. To them, the game is an extraterrestrial entity worthy of study under a microscope by smart guys in white lab coats. As normal, everyday people, they’re completely oblivious to it …
This sort of stuff:
- They picnic directly next to pins and teepads.
- They use baskets to help anchor tree-bound party piñatas.
- They set up volleyball nets smack-dab in the middle of fairways.
And let’s not forget about the most common of the lot …
The subject of today’s hit-piece:
They pick up discs.
And not when they’re lost or accidentally left behind – something positive. I’m talking about post-flight frisbees that have freshly touched down. They’re picked up, fiddled with and then hurled back in the direction from whence they came. Most often unsuccessfully, I might add.
Like this …
I’d expect this behavior from an over-zealous puppy, but not adults with fully developed prefrontal cortexes. However, let it be known that, most of the time, these are well-meaning park-goers who only want to be helpful – they’re not trying to mess with your rightful lie.
Still, you’ve got to open up the chest and shout at the top of your lungs without causing a scene. And all this, while trying NOT to come off as an ungrateful jerk to the person being nice …
“Just leave it there! Thank you!”
Here’s why I’m left scratching my head …
These people have been to a park before – probably the exact one you’re playing at. And dozens of times. They have to know what disc golf is, right? And even if they don’t, the broad concept of “golf” can’t be entirely lost on them. Don’t touch the frisbee or dimpled ball or whatever.
Leave it alone.
Someone’s coming to get it.
That’s kind of the point, actually.
Thank you for your (future) cooperation.
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Editor’s Suggestions:
- I’m okay with this kind of vandalism on disc golf courses
- Disc golf: The single-best place to practice throwing straight
- Disc golf: Cardmates should be allowed to inspect your discs
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Oh man, I have a good story of one of these incidents.
Hole 2 at my home course is a wooded 270 ft par 3 but if you go deep and slightly right you will find a walking path. I had one of my best (at the time) drives and sent a Roc down there that turned into a roller and disappeared deep.
As my buddy and I are walking down the fairway we see an elderly man coming from the walking path holding my blue DX Roc up in the air waving it. My first thought was “oh no… I hit someone!”
Nope… he saw it roll out of the woods (short of the walking path) and wanted to make sure I found it. Then informed me that his son was a disc golfer and he knows “how expensive those frisbees are”.
I thanked him and asked where my lie was. Grateful that I didn’t hit an innocent bystander, haha.
Hey, all’s well that ends well, right?
1. You didn’t hit anybody.
2. The guy knows the game.
3. You had your best drive.
4. He even helped you find your lie.
Sounds like a success story to me 🙂
(but it could’ve been worse – haha)
>They use baskets to help anchor tree-bound party piñatas.
HAHAHAAH.
Have you actually seen this? or is this just a brilliant joke???
YES.
Without a doubt, I’ve seen this …
But only once.
However, it made enough of an impression on my mind that I knew it’d have to make an appearance in an article.
But no, it’s not like I see this every-other weekend or anything …
That’d be insufferable. Haha.
Speaking of “leaving discs”…
How about Calvin Lonquist picking up Calvin Heimburg’s putter at DGLO R2 on hole 1???
I felt so bad for the kid!! I can’t imagine what it feels like to be on a lead card with Isaac, Simon and Calvin Heimburg.
I’ve heard of people hanging meat in the chains to roast.
It sucks when you don’t see the people pick up and take the disc. Then you don’t know if it’s out of ignorance or a rare spiteful person showing chaos on the course.
Hopefully these encounters turn into learning moments on both sides
Hanging meat on the chains is a new one …
Never seen that before, but for the story alone, I’d love to encounter it.
Is this meat that’s destined for the grill or something?
Hard not to barks at peeples who touches my preciouses.
Once I yelled FORE at a big group of mormons on a singles ward group walk in the park. I yelled loudly. When I walked by them a dude said “its just a scoopin (mormon cursing) frisbee”. I got to explain to the group that no, its not quite just a scoopin frisbee and they probably don’t wanna catch one in the ear hole.
Hey, I’m one of those “Mormons” of which you speak …
Maybe I was in the group? Haha.
I’m married, though, so unlikely …
Also, I know not to touch somebody else’s disc.
Oh this was like 16 years ago, you were probably just a puppy. A girl in that group got my number and got me to go to the singles ward for several weeks, with my mohawk and ear gauges. Good folks. Why does it always sound like a slur to say “Mormon”? lol.
Hey, it doesn’t matter what you look like – you’re always welcome at church!
And “Mormon” isn’t a slur or anything – it’s just a nickname.
Because of “The Book of Mormon,” way back when, people simply referred to members of the church as “Mormons.”
This started a long time ago.
It caught on, so people still say it today.
We prefer to be known as “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” but that’s a lengthy name …
I get it. Haha.
The reason for this is that “Mormon” isn’t a person we worship or anything – he abridged The Book of Mormon.
However, with no ill-will or anything, known as “Mormons,” people sometimes mistakenly believe that to be the case, which it’s not.
But no, it’s not offensive or anything, so no worries on that front 🙂
Ultimately, being known as a “Christian” is what I prefer most, and I imagine most members of the the church would say the same thing.
Keep on hucking that plastic, brotha!