It’s not uncommon for the MPO winner of a Pro Tour event to finish 30-plus strokes under par. And while the average FPO winner might not produce quite as jaw-dropping of a score, over the course of a three- or four-round tournament, the ladies are routinely double-digits below par, too.
You don’t see much of this from disc golf’s more handsome cousin …
For some disc golf fans, this is seen as a problem, as it makes the sport appear too easy. For others, who cares how far under par the winner gets? The fewest strokes wins – that’s that.
I’m with the latter.
There’s nothing wrong with birdie-or-bust disc golf.
Let me tell you why …
Par is a man-made concept with its roots firmly planted in traditional golf. The game traces its origins back to 15th-century Scotland. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century the term “par” was used as a target score for golfers. Oddly enough, the word “bogey” was employed interchangeably with par to express the exact same concept – my how times have changed.
At the turn of the 20th century, though, par became synonymous with an ideal score for gifted golfers, while bogey was used as a goal post of sorts for more recreational golfers on the course.
As time (and technology) advanced, radio broadcasts of golf tournaments began using the notion of par as a way to help listeners better visualize the holes they couldn’t see for themselves – what it’d take to score well on them, at least. Furthermore, instead of counting a totality of strokes, relative to par, scores were represented by smaller, more manageable numbers for audiences.
History lesson aside …
Do you know what’s STILL the point of ball golf, as well as disc golf?
Counting strokes.
In disc golf, with respect to par, score means nothing – it’s the total number of throws that counts. At the Pro Tour level, if a par-three hole commonly results in twos, that’s fine. Naturally, to not lose strokes to the majority of the field, a pro disc golfer will need to somehow follow suit.
Conversely, if the same par-three hole resulted in fours and fives, that’d be fine, as well. In reality, the ONLY time par should matter is if a player misses a hole, as – in accordance with PDGA rules – said player would automatically be awarded with a score of par-plus-four.
Ouch.
Yes, I get that par should serve as an estimate of the score a hole should produce. But if everyone plays the same course with the same par on each hole and the best of the lot goes WAY under it, go ahead – adjust par like a madman. It’ll likely change the way others perceive the course. Initially, it might even change the discs and strategies first-time golfers go with …
But you know what it won’t change?
The outcome.
It’s strokes, folks.
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