WildlyMediocre
Bogey Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2014
- Messages
- 76
I described it as "...the dreamland where we become a spectator sport...", because there's little evidence that people want to watch disc golf, in anything like sufficient numbers to support it. Lots of people have put a lot of effort into trying. (I'm of the school of thought that disc golf isn't inherently interesting to watch, and will never draw more than a tiny following, in person or online).
If anyone ever cracks than nut and proves me wrong, it will of course be a game-changer: with spectator and sponsor dollars, we could do a lot of things differently. Including having more command over how and when and where the championships are held.
True enough. No one is building stands for people to watch the 18th hole at Maple Hill. Many of our courses aren't designed for massive gallery numbers (or even mediocre galleries). Ours was never really designed to be a spectator sport.
On the flip side, we do have a step up on some of the other professional sports in our wheelhouse (as much as you can pin down different levels of pro sports). We do have a growing exposure. You don't see pro paintball or ultimate frisbee on the SC Top 10.
Now, I know a lot of people who say sports like soccer or tennis are boring to watch. But there's enough of an audience to warrant $60 MLS game tickets and $500 weekend passes to the US Open. Personally, I would rather watch golf on TV than in person because I can watch it cut back between different players, see technology map out the shots, cameras follow the ball's flight, etc. It's certainly a much more dynamic experience than camping out on a fairway and hoping Rory waves in your group's direction after 4 hours.
But we do have events like the GBO which are becoming strong destination events. Maybe a hybrid situation? What if, for example, the GBO did everything it does now but the PDGA makes the Open division a small, invite-only, premier title like the Worlds? Two days at the end of the week-long event. $50 to watch. You're already down there to play, would pay to stay and watch the top 16 pros go at it?