It’s not hard to come up with daily blog topics for Green Splatter. I’ve got a running list on my desktop computer. Whenever a new idea pops into my head, I add it to the document. Then, when I sit down to write, assuming nothing pressing’s on the table, my fingers start flying.
Occasionally, however, I’ll see a conversation gaining traction on social media that coincides with something I wrote on my list forever ago. I take this as a sign from the disc golf gods that it’s time for the subject to be covered. Only recently, this happened with the below X post …
You’re about to read my take on the matter:
Just why?? What are you expecting someone to do here? Great, we can see your pdga profile. Now what? Am I missing something here? I assume they don't want it back. I just left it. pic.twitter.com/QCCIaP3gQw
— Disc Golf Questions (@DGQuestions) December 16, 2023
I can’t even begin to tell you how many discs I’ve stumbled across on disc golf courses with a similar pen job. The previous example has nothing more than a name and PDGA number. I’ve seen other versions of this, too. There will be a logo, an illegible signature or a rando drawing.
Whatever the Sharpied mess that’s been made, the bottom line is this …
You’re not getting your disc back.
Armed with nothing more than the above, there’s not much I can do. I want to help, but only to a certain point. Eventually, my generosity runs out of steam. Where I stop caring about reuniting you with your wayward flier is when it involves work for me – and I mean like actual work.
I’m cool to send a text. Placing a phone call doesn’t fill me with anxiety. Heck, if you’d like me to hide the disc for you to come and retrieve at a later date, I’m totally down for the challenge. I’m not paying for postage, though. I’m not driving somewhere strange to meet you, either.
And you know what else I’m NOT willing to do?
I’m not reverse-engineering your mother-freaking PDGA profile until I’m on the phone with an employee to nab the contact information you were too absent-minded to write on the disc in the first place. And yes, that’s really how this situation plays out, if you’re bonkers enough to try.
Now before readers jump down my throat, let it be known that not all disc golfers want (or expect) their lost, missing or left-behind discs returned. For them, it’s one of those hippie-centric, “the-game-giveth, the-game-taketh” sort of things. As I see it, that’s complete and total hogwash, but hey …
You do you.
Furthermore, the PDGA requires all discs used in sanctioned play to be “identifiably marked.” So if you disc golf competitively and don’t mind your gear not being returned when it goes missing, this would explain the idiotic marking strategy that’s far too often employed.
If this is NOT you, however …
Help me help you.
Jot down the following:
- Write your name. It can even be a fake name, but you should respond to it.
- Write your contact info. Your phone number is best, but an email will suffice.
That’s it.
Now if you want to add your PDGA number, be my guest. Many disc golfers have an unhealthy infatuation with theirs, going as far as tattooing them on their bodies. So yes, if you feel an itch, scratch it. And while you’re at it, grab a nearby crayon to add your social security digits.
*** Sarcasm ***
Listen, just because the pros write next to nothing on their discs, doesn’t mean you should, too. Remember: They have the backing of a full-blown disc factory at their disposal. Meanwhile, you have to ask your wife for permission to throw nine holes after the kiddos go to bed.
There’s a difference.
Let the way you mark your frisbees reflect it.
Have anything to add? Take to X to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
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I’ll add an example I recently ran into. When a disc is marked with more then one name and number. I usually attempt to return a disc in the same manor as yourself….a call or text to see about hiding or leaving at a local store, but if they didn’t care enough to cross off the former owners name why should I have to play a game of “who done it” to return your property?!?!
Also I think it should be illegal to mark a see-through disc. That’s an abomination!
Woah, Andy …
These are both VERY good points.
Appreciate the comment 🙂
To mark a clear disc, perhaps on the inside of the rim would be best?
Thanks again!
Typing the name in the search bar at facebook and then sending a DM is not a lot of effort. Try that sometime.
Fair point.
It’s almost like the same amount of effort as …
Writing a phone number on a disc 😉
Assuming you have facebook.
Yeah, not worth it …
Sucks, but true!
Most people doing this are just adding their signature to the disc and don’t care if they get it back. Like carving your name in a tree. Assuming these people want their disc back seems foolish
Check one of the comments on this post …
Some (not all) of “these people” want this disc back, regardless of what’s been written on it.
Weird, right?
I only write my pdga number on my discs because I have to for tournaments. Otherwise I’d leave them blank.
I think as a finder of a pdga-only marked disc you should look at it as if it’s blank and don’t assume the person wants you to track them down. For me I’ve had so many disappointing no-returns of discs lost, or pictures of my disc placed on a practice basket only to be stolen by the time I get there. The disappointment and hassle of trying to reclaim a disc is no longer worth it. Now if it’s lost, it’s lost. No more hope and disappointment. And it has a PDGA number on it because tournaments make me.
See this is a perspective I hadn’t considered, but might be valuable …
It’s easier to just forget about it and move on – so do it.
Not for me, but I can understand that logic.
Maybe a hint of “pay it forward” in there, too.
Thanks for sharing, B.J.!
Same here. Never had FB. I won’t be tracking you down, but I’ll text a phone number. I’d even pay postage if you’re not a jerk about it. But if there’s no contact info, I have a new disc. I feel like it’s almost a thing of the past though. I haven’t had a disc returned in years.
Ink your disc’s. I have had lost disc’s returned far more often than someone just bagging it. It’s etiquette for crying out loud. Don’t be that person that doesn’t call. There can be a lot of memories tied to disc’s that someone has had in their bag for decades. Do the right thing and take the minute to text or call the number.
Amen to that, Kev-O!
But if you don’t mark ’em, the “good guys” of disc golf can’t do their part in returning it …
As outlined in the post, help them help you, you know?
It takes one Sharpie and five seconds.
Easy enough.
I have no strong emotions over how people mark up their own stuff, but.. I play with lots of people who outright tell me “I don’t even bother putting my name on it. No one ever returns it anyway”.
Sounds like they’ve had a streak of bad luck, but I personally still have people return my discs. I know these players are out there, and not marking your stuff at all pretty much guarantees no one will return it.
Right?
Might as well take a shot at it, at least …
Likewise, I’ve not had many discs returned over the years – almost none, actually.
But it HAS happened.
And when I lose that disc that I paid WAY too much for or flies just right …
I’ll need hope to keep me going.
Signing discs helps with that 🙂
The part about ot doing a bunch of work is so true. I once found a disc, put it in my bag and texted the guy the next day. Turns out he lives like 35-40min away from town and the dude had the audacity to ask me if I would bring it to him for $10; I just stopped messaging after that.
Hahaha …
It happens, right?
The lack of emotional intelligence in some people.
Fortunately, I’d add that this is NOT the norm.
But you’re right …
It happens.
I’m an amateur, and I’m not rich, I buy a lot of used and factory second discs. And if I lose them, I’d really like them back, to that end I write name and number boldly on top and bottom, so the finder doesn’t have to step into a swamp and flip it over to see a number. I also feel if you have the courtesy to call me, it’s my responsibility to come to you, your Round should not be interrupted. Lost three discs and each time the finder called, so I make it a point to call every time I find a disc with a phone number. Recently, threw a Dragon in a small pond- bright pink, 1 inch high thick marker phone # top and bottom, and it FLOATS. A 16 ft Pole couldn’t reach it, so we played on, planning to revisit at end of round when hopefully it had floated to shore. But an hour later when we checked, no sign of it, and no phone or text. Disappointing because we were playing just two holes in front of a disc golf club mini event. You’d think club members would do the right thing, but we checked with the club coordinator, she reported no one had turned it in but she’d call if they did, I left this description and phone number, never heard from them. Not a huge loss in terms of money, but disappointing considering these were club members.
Larry, it sounds like you understand how this whole process should work, you know?
Two things that seem to be missing from many people’s brains:
1. Morality
2. Emotional Intelligence
Here’s to hoping your lost fliers soon find their way back home 🙂