Ah, yes …
The obligatory group signing of an ace disc after a hole-in-one.
In disc golf, it’s a tradition unlike any other.
I’m not a fan of it.
If new to disc golf, here’s a basic rundown:
- Somebody on your card aces.
- That same person shouts, “Let’s go!”
- Everyone waits while the disc is retrieved.
- On the next teepad, everybody signs the disc.
As I see it, there are a few problems with this …
First, the most coveted disc in your bag now looks like it was left behind in a house fire – it’s hideous. And even if everybody on the card manages to sign the disc without drawing a penis on the back of it, that curio cabinet-ready look won’t last long: Scrapes and scratches are part of the golf-disc experience. And Sharpie ink? Even after it’s dried, it’s totally capable of smearing …
Talk about trashy.
Next, assuming you smashed chains during a tournament, more than likely, the people who’ve branded their names on the back of your disc mean ZERO to you. In five years’ time, not only will you not remember their names, you wouldn’t be able to pick ‘em out of a police lineup.
Paul McBeth? Sure. Ricky Wysocki? Naturally. Simon Lizotte? Of course.
But the 845-rated plumber from the next county over?
His autograph isn’t doing much for the disc’s emotional (or financial) value.
And lastly, though aces are in and of themselves cool, they rarely happen in a setting worth commemorating. I’ve got a few to my name, and nearly all of them took place during a casual round with a couple of buddies I know well enough to not trust with a permanent marker. If you’ve somehow managed a walk-off ace to take down a tourney, pass out a pen …
Otherwise, put the cap back on.
The good news is nobody’s going to put a gun to your head to sign your one-time wonder.
You aced. It’s your disc. You’re the boss.
If you’d like to keep it clean, kick peer pressure squarely in the crotch and raise a voice of protest when somebody suggests the card group-vandalizes your most prized frisbee. Just make sure you avoid the temptation to “retire” the disc altogether after (finally) proving it works …
Rookie mistake.
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excellent job using a really obnoxious tone to keep the reader interested. if there was an ounce of positivity in this article i probably would have closed it half way through. you should consider writing an article about how drinking and smoking on the course are killing the sport, i think your douchey writing style would be perfect for it
To each their own. You do you, and don’t worry about me. Cool?
Clicked for the comments, and this one doesn’t disappoint.
I like these replies. The guy who complains about the article being Obnoxious, douchey and being negative, replies with an obnoxious, douchey negative comment.
Green Splatter Crew. Ignore the hate. Keep doing your thing. I’ll keep reading.
Thanks, Dixon!
Everybody is entitled to their opinion …
It’s not an issue.
I manually “approve” all of these comments, so I have no issue with ’em.
(just keep the language clean, and you should be good – those ones get tossed)
Why not retire the disc? Have a back up?
To each their own!
I’m so happy you aren’t local to me. I imagine you’re the same guy calling foot faults in nonscoring rounds.
I’ve got two aces. First was with one of my main discing buddies, the second was with my sister. I’m stoked that they signed those discs.
You write well, whether ur on point or not.
Of the most satisfying moments in DG, the ace is second to the rarer victory.
My first ace was in ’80 at a North American Series in Rochester NY, before the tradition of signing. Thirty-nine years later my second, during a large group safari round with Conocido locals.
That Discraft Heat was retired and easily replaced, covered in sharpie, with memories of the crew.
The signing of ace disc is optional, but I’ll look foward to the moment, whenever.
Sweet story, Jeff!
Thanks for sharing, man …
Pretty cool 🙂
Wow. You clearly do not embrace anything about disc golf that disc golfers or dg embassador’s enjoy every day of their chosen craft. Remembering the plumber from 5 county’s over, or from halfway across the globe is not easy for some, but for others it is routine. I will remember someone i disc golfed with 20 years ago whereas I could care less for this horrendous article and the horrid position you have taken upon writing it. Your lack of compassion, love, and brotherhood are apparent with every word. Btw, we are disc golfers. Our favorite Wham-O frisbee will likely be with the camping gear, not in our disc golf bags. You should never write for another person or subject other than yourself as it is clearly all you are concerned with.
This is the most worthless article. It’s tradition to sign their disc after someone aces. Yes, it’s your choice, but it seems you’re a newer player who can’t appreciate disc golf throughly or just don’t care about disc golf much. I completely agree with the first comment. Write about something disc golfers deal with that are real problems.
I’ve had a quite a few aces and my card mates have never mentioned disc signing. And I’ve never heard that it is this required ritual crap. At the same time, why get so huffy about something that has no consequence on your life? Who gives a crap if someone has some squiggly sharpie art on their disc? Jeez loweez bud. Must be nice having no stressors in your life if this is the kind of piddly crap you care about.
I did not read the whole thing because it was just complaining … So negative … Ugh …
Dude, you must have a lot of pain in your life to get all worked up about signatures on a disc from other humans who are sharing in the awesomeness of an ace …
Sign on
What a uselessly negative way to say, “I’ve never aced.” Don’t come to Colorado, we have fun here.
I agree 100%
Getting an ace is (and should rightly be considered) a joyful occasion. But getting out the Sharpie is a bit too corny for my taste.
Great minds think alike, eh, Esben?