Before we hit up this week’s poll, we need to look back at last week’s edition.
This one as quite interesting, to say the least.
We wanted to know what you would find worthy of paying $5 or $10 per round. Now, we knew that there would be some who would be fully against paying to play.
That, to me, is interesting. Mainly because it does cost something, at times, to keep things right at a nice park. Even if it’s just the mowing or making sure things are cleaned up/cleared out. Someone has to foot some sort of bill.
The numbers were interesting. Please remember that we allowed each voter to pick upwards of two choices. We had 175 voters.
The top choice received 111 votes — pristine maintained course. That was 63 percent of the vote! It was closely followed by on-site facilities (93 votes/53 percent). In third was disc-golf only course (39 votes/22 percent) and, in fourth, was those who will only play free courses (17 votes/10 percent). Tee times took fifth with 12 votes (7 percent).
So for those who would pay to play, we wanted to know what you would expect to see…
Derek O’Neil gave some interesting thoughts:
For optimal value I would like to see more than 18 holes, something along the line of 28-36 for multiple course configurations. Or Multiple basket locations so that the course could be completely changed up by day of the week, by week or month. Having a course with versatility will keep me coming back to pay or have a yearly membership.
That seems like it would be a wonderful option. So showing up on Tuesday might mean the “Blue tees/red basket” is the course layout for the day. I don’t think you could allow people to do whatever because it could become a hamper, but the idea that the course could change each day would be a draw, for sure.
Corey Peschke noted some of the above items as well and also said:
Also important, in my opinion, would be a fee to play all day instead of per round. I would want to come out in the morning, play a round, have some lunch and take a break, then play another round.
I can’t disagree with that one bit. It would be nice to plan a day at a place like this, pay a flat fee and call it good.
Heymo says:
A nice, clean course with signs and facilities – sure, that takes work and money to create, so I’ll be willing to pay for it and support that local business.
Agreed. Nice and simple. I like it.
Erica says:
I am one of those who would much rather buy myself a cool new disc, or bag, or shoes, than pay to play a course. I’ve played in 8 states over my travels so far at 30 or so courses, and one of the things I look to is whether or not I have to pay. There is a course 20 minutes from my parents that I won’t play because of the fact. All that said, I can’t begin to imagine what it would take to get me to pay to play on a course.
Personally, I don’t shy away from a good course if it’s pay. I think we, as disc golfers, are a bit spoiled by courses being free. If this sport grows and grows, I think free courses will start to slowly disappear. Look at ball golf. Ever played a free course? I haven’t. If municipalities and those in the private sector can eventually find a way to make a few bucks on courses, they will.
Baker Helton said:
I would enjoy features such as pro shops and carts for championship level courses! I think pay to play and nicer courses with features like carts and pro shops will help people take disc golf more seriously!
This is interesting because several people noted carts. Personally, I don’t want to see carts become part of disc golf. Part of the draw this sport had for me was the fact that you got out, moved around and played the game. If it becomes more like ball golf, where people tote a six-pack on the cart and flip discs and take extra time, my disc golf bag will end up next to my golf clubs and be rarely used. If carts are what are needed for people to take this sport seriously, then I hope it doesn’t get taken seriously.
Alex Johnson says:
I’ve played a handful of p2p courses throughout the country and the overriding element that makes them worthwhile and special is when the only activity on the property is disc golf. The enjoyment of playing a round in a setting void of bike riders, walking pedestrians, cars, people having a picnic in a fairway etc. is paramount. When you can escape to the course and play a round in a beautiful setting where cig butts, and trash aren’t present on every hole it kicks the experience up another notch.
This is spot-on, I think, Alex. Well said.
Doug Walters said:
Unlike many of those who have posted, I have played a few PTP courses, and I have to be honest, I prefer to pay a reasonable fee. In my experience, the return on investment is substantial. … Even for quality courses in public parks, it is a positive, as long as the funds are put back into the course. Courses can be upgraded much more readily and erosion control can help maintain courses that often suffer from heavy traffic. Another bonus for me is that PTP helps weed out some of the more disrespectful and destructive players and groups.
I don’t think all or even most courses should go PTP, but for well-designed, quality courses, it is a way to maintain and improve upon the experience.
These are some great points, Doug. Thanks for the thoughtful insights!
This week was a good poll for sure. And there are some good, thought-provoking ideas. Nicely done, people!
Also, as always, we like to give something random away to those who comment on the weekly poll. This week’s Randomizer selection is Steve Petrik. Send me an address as well so I can get something from the prize box out to you!
And now to this week’s poll…
We want to know how many people you’ve introduced to disc golf. In the comments section, let us know how you’ve done it as well. Maybe we can all get some ideas on introducing others to the sport!
[poll id=”18″]
Vote away and let us know in the comments what you think and we’ll, as always, give something away to a random commenter. You can’t win if you don’t comment here. (In other words, comments on Facebook or other places where this poll might be linked won’t count… it has to be here).
If you have any comments, questions, thoughts, ideas or anything else, feel free to e-mail me and the crew at: pj [at] rattlingchains.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!
rattlingchains.com 
I started playing with a friend who wanted to learn to play, I had not clue what I was doing at all, so after the initial interest the discs sat around for over a year util I was reintroduced to the game. Then the bug hit me and I could not get enough. It was natural after that to share… it was one of the first dates I took my wife on when we met, I have introduced it to her whole family and now they go out and play regularly. And now I host a doubles disc golf date night with friends and many have caught the disc golf bug! Where ever I go for vacation, school travels, etc I always look for nearby disc golf courses and bring along anyone who is with me!!!
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So far I’ve introduced almost all of my friends to the sport. I’ve even met a couple people who were on the other half of the park where my home course is located and convinced them to play a round of disc golf with me. It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world when you introduce someone to disc golf and then you see them out on the course playing with their friends that they just introduced to the sport.
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Introduced two friends to DiscGolf, and now I hang with them almost every week to play DG 🙂
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As a Parks & Recreation Professional for over 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to introduce our great sport to hundreds of people, many who have made it a regular leisure activity with family and friends. I started developing courses in 1997 and have had the distinct pleasure of planting 4, 9 hole courses and 1, 18 hole course.
Although I am no longer working as a P&R Professional, I am still involved in course development and introducing the sport to everyone I can. This past Friday our local course Club Chairman, a local pro, & I had a blast instructing 30 kids 10-13 yrs. of age at a local summer camp, in a community park where the newest course in the county is located. It was encouraging to see the sport well received by all, and half the kids participating were girls. They found it very interesting, there are so many young women actively involved in Disc Golf on the professional level.
One of the boys in my group has Asperger’s Syndrome, which is similar to autism. He was extremely anxious, and afraid he would be horrible at disc golf. With some positive encouragement from me and the other boys in the group he managed to calm down and have a pretty good time. He started to get the hang of it, and admitted it was kind of fun. I plan on following up with him, and hope to meet his parents, and encourage them to make disc golf a regular family activity. I definitely saw his success with the sport build his self esteem. That just made my day!
Another cool way to introduce our sport to people, is to keep and eye out for people giving you strange looks, when your out playing in you local park. I have found that people are very curious to find out what your doing with your “frisbees” and what are those crazy contraptions you’ re throwing them into. Never pass up the opportunity to show them the difference between “frisbees” and discs. Show them a driver, mid range, and a putter, with a brief synopsis of how the game is played. If you have the time, let them throw a few, tell them where they can buy there own, and invite them out for round.
I just recently was reunited with an old buddy I haven’t seen in 25 years, who is an avid ball golfer. We spent a day on 2 beautiful mountain courses in Norteastern Pa. where I introduced him to disc golf and caught up with each others lives. He never heard of the sport before, and thought I was a little crazy, till I got him out there. He hasn’t given up his golf clubs, but has purchased some discs and found some courses in his area for him and some friends play. He’s definitely hooked. So don’t worry, your not “crazy,” just passionate about the sport you love!!
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We just recently had a store begin carrying dg equipment (discs and bags, specifically) and that was a big step for the town. Prior to that, one store sold discs at a crazy markup and that only hurts growth. A friend of mine called me today and told me that she is planning on getting her husband some discs for Father’s Day and I helped her pick out two drivers, a midrange, and a putter to go with the beginner bag she bought. I even told her that if he ever wants personal, private lessons, I’d be willing to do that at no cost (basically equating to playing some rounds with her husband).
Here’s hoping that he runs with it. (Oh, and I made sure to get him a range of discs from different makers so that he can decide which brand he wants to support in the end.)
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Lately I have been taking a lot of women out for their first DG experience. My niece & her best friend are going to play a round with me. Last month I took Adam, Danielle & Corey for their first round. I gave them all beginner discs that I have found over the years and made a custom Hunger Games logo dye on a Champion Rhyno for Danielle. They are excited to play again this weekend.
I have a lot of fun playing a round with new players I meet on the course. I’ll give them some pointers and guarantee that they will throw over 100′ by 18 and they are happily surprised when they do it.
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After (brief) rehab from Achilles surgery, I started playing DG this January in an effort to gain back strength and mobility. Since then, I can’t get enough of it, I think about it, talk about it, I practice at home and even at work. So much so, that on my morning (practice) breaks I get people stopping by to see “what is that basket you’re throwing those frisbee’s in?” Most of the time they take a couple of putts and I tell them that the game is Disc Golf.
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The way I got a few of my friends into Disc Golf is by telling how much fun it is. I tell them is pretty easy to play but hard to master. Then I point out its great way to get outside and hang out. Oooo and besides dics, it is FREE to play at most courses.
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I live in the pacific NW which is filled with great disc golf courses and being in the navy i work with a bunch of guys, most of whom love to get outdoors. I’ve introduced about 6-10 people to the game over about the last year. A lot of them now regularly come out and play with me during my 1-2 rounds per week. And i’m introducing more and more buddies to the game every month. The chance to get outdoors and enjoy scenery combined with the much cheaper equipment cost compared to regular golf seems to be the biggest draw to people i introduce.
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I’ve introduced the sport to everyone at both offices where I work, as it’s not particularly big here in WV yet. One girl even got to putt into my portable target in the parking lot. So far, no one has taken me up on a round (but being as I am in the authority position, I’m not terribly surprised).
I’ve also introduced my mother, 12 year old nephew, 8 year old daughter, and 50+ year old cousin to the game. They all played their first rounds with me, and my cousin just bought himself four discs last week.
I love disc golf and talk about it pretty much everywhere I go, so my neighbors have all heard about my hobby and watched me putting in the front yard as well. Exposure is the key to growing the sport, and I do the best I can.
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I have literally introduced several thousands of people to Disc Golf through 2 means. First there was “Big Disc Golf”. I have been a promoter of the sport from the get go. I have passed out Discs for beginners with the request that when they outgrow the disc, it is given away to a new player. I have know 1 of these Disc to go to 4 persons before I lost contact with it. Also, I have had a couple thousand persons introduced through Mini Disc Golf. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA Camps, and other camps, Fairs that we have been present, Public Mini Disc Golf Courses we have installed and so forth. Persons of all ages. I even have Mini Baskets at Notre Dame, and Retirement Homes. It has been my mission to bring the sport to as many people as possible through any flying Disc. Who knows at this point how manypeople have continued the flow. I do know that several people I have introduced have gone on to do the same. Welcome to your new addiction is my moto. “Rock The Chains”….
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