Disc Golf’s Popularity May Be Declining

[teemkey]

Interesting data, but not a valid measure of disc golf participants.

 

[lyleoross]

I played after I got off work on Monday and the course was completely empty and totally dark. So, not only must I be the last disc golfer in Raleigh, but the sun has disappeared as well.

Apollo called, he wants the sun back.

 

[erock216]

In Ohio all the clubs use discgolfscene not Facebook.

 

[ru4por]

In Ohio all the clubs use discgolfscene not Facebook.

Ditto for most of Michigan. Not all though.

 

[DG_Before_Breakfast]

I think this is more about alternative social media options being available, rather than disc golf popularity, but that is a really hard thing to quantify given that DG is basically open participation.

 

[discRabbit]

The number of teenagers on Facebook seems to have declined, as well. Does that mean we have fewer teens?

Exactly, the conclusion does not follow. We might question whether the editors of UltiWorld are on the decline though

 

[Discette]

Links to the PDGA membership statistics:

http://www.pdga.com/files/2015_pdga_combined_demographics_growth_charts.pdf
http://www.pdga.com/files/2015_disc_golf_and_pdga_demographics.pdf

In 2015, PDGA memberships grew by 24.6% to 30,454 active members and lifetime membership #80166 was issued. This represents the largest annual increase in PDGA members in the 40-year history of the organization

In 2015, the number of sanctioned events on the PDGA Tour grew by 21.5% to 2,581 events. The number of PDGA sanctioned events and leagues has more than doubled in the past five years

Facts? We don't need facts! This is the internet!

 

[Hampstead]

In Ohio all the clubs use discgolfscene not Facebook.

There are quite a few active FB groups here in Central Ohio. I have never used discgolfscene and have never had anyone direct me to it for useful info.

 

[discRabbit]

Links to the PDGA membership statistics:

http://www.pdga.com/files/2015_pdga_combined_demographics_growth_charts.pdf
http://www.pdga.com/files/2015_disc_golf_and_pdga_demographics.pdf

Facts? We don't need facts! This is the internet!

Typical RHBH disc-ist propaganda!!

 

[Cgkdisc]

A couple thoughts:
- How did disc golf possibly grow before Facebook, or the Internet, for that matter?
- The PDGA Discussion Board died right before the PDGA has had the fastest growth rate ever at more than 15% annually in both membership and sanctioned tournaments.
- With PDGA growth being the tip of the "DG iceberg", it's hard to know if it matches overall growth. A case could be made that there's even higher recreational growth rate than PDGA where more people who are perhaps less competitive by nature than earlier adopters of our sport are playing more for fun than competition.
- Growth of non-English DG Discussion areas, even on Facebook, may be on the upswing but not considered by the Ultiworld speculation.

 

[SD86]

Vat ees thees 'Facebook' ov vich yoo speek?

IMHO the recent election contributed to the decreased use of FB for other things. I know I got tired of FB and I don't get on hardly at all anymore. Very anecdotal way of trying to determine DG popularity.

(Apologies in advance if the above has been stated above and I'm just repeating without realizing it...)

 

[JRW III]

Facts? We don't need facts! This is the internet!

More like you get to pick and choose the facts that support your motive.

 

[Discette]

More like you get to pick and choose the facts that support your motive.

It is customary to present facts to back a viewpoint.

 

[DiscBaltimore]

I posted a pretty big critiam of the article on reddit. I hope the authors feelings aren't hurt to bad.
His title reached for more than the data showed. If the title was just like
"Facebook dg clubs seem to be in decline"... we would all love the article!

Presenting what the data says and not what a cool title is -important.

But keep me coming ultiworld.. good gossip for sure. That's what I'm really here for.

 

[Mr. Butlertron]

A large majority of disc golfers in Japan, whether it be tournament, league, or casual players, are baby boomers. When they go, so will disc golf here.

 

[timg]

Just to chime in, this year we're looking at 600+ courses added to the site. I'm guessing the article title was click-bait just to get some page/ad views going for that site.

 

[Pymm]

When I played on Monday, I was the only one on the course for the entire round.

I must be the only disc golfer left on earth. All your discs belong to me.

The Omega Man of DG; truly you are legend!

 

[sidewinder22]

Just to chime in, this year we're looking at 600+ courses added to the site. I'm guessing the article title was click-bait just to get some page/ad views going for that site.

I only see 344 courses added this year.

 

[kw83028]

LOL what a terrible article. As others have said, I think it's a decline in FB Groups. I hate FB but I continue to use it because it is still really good for my store. (I rarely use groups though. It's annoying trying to sell in there)

As a store owner, I can just show sales numbers and trends that completely disprove the fake title of the article. Yes, my inventory has grown a ton along with my name, which equates to more sales, but that growth is due to a huge gain in demand here too.

Gross sales for KWs Disc Golf:
2013: $41K
2014: $71K
2015: $144K
2016: $235K (so far)

States that I have shipped to:
2013: 41
2014: 49
2015: 50
2016: 50

Countries that I have shipped to:
2013: 2
2014: 4
2015: 7
2016: 14

I would guess that the majority of stores have seen trends such as this too.

 

[ScottyLove]

^ THIS!!!!

Much better real data than social network bs. Bravo KWS!