The future of DG

[buzzinb]

Had kind of a cool experience today while out during my lunch break. There is a park nearby that I like to practice working on my drives when I can get away from my desk. Just as I was getting ready to pack em up, a couple of HS age guys came walking up and asked me what I was doing. I took the opportunity to show them what a disc was and gave them a very rudimentary lesson on how to throw both a backhand and forehand. The one guy said that he was a pitcher and I suggested that perhaps he would be a natural at throwing sidearm. Sure enough, after several attempts he finally got a hold of one and sent it a good 200'. He seemed pretty pleased with himself and they both began to ask a lot of questions like, "Do you just try to throw as far as you can?" and "How much do these things cost?", etc. I explained the sport to them and gave them some advice as far as local vendors who would help them get the right stuff. I wish I had more than just a few premium drivers with me. Made me think that I should carry some old midrange or putter I can give to someone in case this happens again. It would be awesome to see these guys at a local course someday.

[magictenor1]

It's a great sport and very accessible for all ages. it doesn't cost much to play and you get exercise and fresh air. I believe the sport will continue to grow until your dream is a reality. I don't know if any of us on this site will be around to see it though. But it is a great dream.

[DiscChainBasket18]

A similar thing just happened to me about an hour ago. I brought my portable basket in to work today to practice my putting for a tourney this weekend. A 'meter- reader' was watching me & asked if he could try a few tosses. After a few throws he seemed mildly enthused. I think he would've been more interested if he made all his shots but he only hit the chains once & that disc bounced out. "Is that good" he says. "No, it has to stay in the basket" was my reply. "But not bad for a first timer" (he had a smooth flat toss).

I think it takes a special breed to pursue the game further after trying it once. I am such a person. I think I am a competitive sort & that is what drives me to learn all I can about this addicting sport.

[taxman]

a big part of it for me when i started to really get into it was i had a friend that was interested also. some days where i may have thought of something else to do he suggested disc golf. and i the same for him. that kept both of us active and it built more enthusiasm for us. i've since gotten my brother and some other friends involved. most take to it and love it, others don't get hooked.

[JR Stengele]

I agree. I am not the type of person who can just try something once, do it alright, and then never try it again. I like to try it till I do it right. Not perfect, but better than the average person. As for taking time to speak with others about this sport.... as a teacher I am a firm believer that if you want change, you need to be willing to put the time in where it counts. It never hurts to take a few minutes to teach a lesson in life or more importantly....discgolf. = )

[Jungle Tim]

i got roped into going to a tourney in scotland, i bought a magnet and a black comet i only had played with them for about 3 days in my back yard before hand. I came monumentally last, and i lost a disc (black comet), but everone was so friendly and chilled at the torney they made me and my mate feel very welcome as new comers. Thats what got me hooked, the relaxed and very chilled-ness of the 'sport'. It took me about 6 months to break 200ft, but by then the addiction was deeply deeply founded. Man im so glad i found this sport. Now its about getting everone i know to at least try it too!!

[Eagle Man]

a big part of it for me when i started to really get into it was i had a friend that was interested also. some days where i may have thought of something else to do he suggested disc golf. and i the same for him. that kept both of us active and it built more enthusiasm for us. i've since gotten my brother and some other friends involved. most take to it and love it, others don't get hooked.
That is almost exactly what happened to me, in fact if it wasn't for my friend when we started playing i may not have even continued to play but we are both "addicts" now

[Donovan]

I actually started keeping the discs that I find with no name and number on them in the trunk of my car. If someone gets interested, I just give them one or two of those. I tell them if they like it and buy their own discs, to share a few of the ones they find someday with someone else who is new to the sport. AND if they end up not liking it to just pass these discs on to someone else and give them a chance to try it out. Sharing it is all one can ask of anyone. It is fun.

[Geoffro]

I've posted elsewhere about teaching the game to the kids I work with. Lots of them really take to it, although some don't. I think for the kids that do, it's a sport that many of them can be good at, although they haven't been good at much else in their lives. They take the opportunity and run with it.

I like the idea of keeps found discs and distributing them to interested parties - kind of a "pay it forward," mentality. Pretty cool. To me, the more people involved in the sport the better.

[soladeos]

i started this great sport in april. my local course had been begging me to try for years since i moved here (lancaster county). my turning pouinit into the game was a need to get some exercise. pushing 40 and way overweight & outta shape. tried the gym/treadmill thing. just a tad boring... knew i would keep with it when i started. so i bought a 3pack innova starter set @ SA and just decide to try it. DG is a great workout. 1-2 mile walk in 1-2 hours plus the throwing. i love the outdoors/hiking but work doesnt give me time to get on trails. this is the next best thing. its also great to watch myself progress in throws, distance, accuracy. i never was a sports fan. im just not competitive. its great to have sport i can do and feel that im getting better at. doubt i'll ever do tournaments but the option is nice. plus any fellow DGer you meet is so nice, people i dont know yell "nice shot" from other tees. i find myself doing the same now.

what more is there... out of doors, nature, an encouraging workout, great camaradie.

DG rocks.:)
i wanna play all the time now.
i want everyone to try it.
im at the point as i drive, i think that would be a great piece of land for a course. :rolleyes:

this is just too good to keep to ourselves

[dobbins66]

My son's Cub Scout leader introduced me to the game 4 years ago and after our round he gave me a disc (Wolf). I stopped on my way from the Park and bought a KC Pro Teebird to go with it. One round with the Teebird and I was hooked, I now have over 300 discs and usually carry a box of 30-40 in the van so I can give a few to new players when I see them at the park. Great way to spend some time, My youngest son (9 Yrs) has really gotten in to it and he plays in small local events with me. I play a couple times a week and usually meet someone new each week. Great bunch of guys make up this sport and I'm glad I got started with it.

[buzzinb]

I can definately relate to many of the sentiments expressed here. My brother finally convinced me to try the sport back in Feb. of this year and I have been moderately(my wife would argue that its more extreme) obsessed since then. While I haven't lost a bunch of weight, my cardio has been boosted significantly. I was able to go on a week-long canoe excursion to the Boundary Waters last summer and I really think that playing a lot of disc golf prior to the trip served me well in the stamina dept. My wife has been very supportive and claims that I'm not as neurotic since I picked up the plastic--sure, whatever. It is a very therapeutic thing to be outdoors and hanging with good people. I aslo get to see my brother more often as he now has a "reason" to visit me in BG. Its really cool when you get to meet with other players and learn new things from them. Certain holes that I had only seen a single route for now have multiple possibilities thanks to witnessing others take different shots with different lines. It's truly fascinating to consider all the variables that can go into making a single shot. The prospect of playing new courses is very exciting as well. Yep, its a great addiction!

[discflinger]

The sport is so great on so many levels. There is an an unspoken (oops, oh I guess it's OK cause I wrote it) bond amongst dgers that goes beyond scores and takes us to our core. I can't begin to tell you the amount of people I have befriended on the course; some as lifelong friends and some out of towners who need direction around the course. I just played with a guy from Portland, OR, earlier this week and it felt as if we had known each other for years. Today, I told some kids who live about 50 miles away about a course that would be closer for them. The return is the look in their eyes and knowing that you're doing something to progress the sport. Spread the love.