I’m guilty of this …
And I find it hard to believe I’m the only one.
Outside of random backyards, very few disc golf courses are housed on disc golf-only properties. Meaning, if your local disc golf scene is at all like mine, you’re sharing the bulk of your rounds with park-goers. In case you missed it, the keyword in the previous sentence is “sharing.”
But back to that thing I’m “guilty” of …
Tell me if you’ve been here before:
- You’re enjoying a round of disc golf at one of your favorite, local courses.
- You arrive on a teepad only to discover a family is picnicking in the fairway.
- You might not make a scene or anything, but man – you’re not against the idea.
Color me annoyed.
My knee-jerk reaction is to have little patience for idiot disc golfers: littering, public drug-use, over-the-top profanity, etc. Even more of a knee-jerk reaction for me, however, is thinking aloof park-goers have some sort of personal vendetta against the greater disc golf community – that they’re (intentionally) doing all they can to prevent me from enjoying a stress-free round.
Of course, the reality of the situation is WAY different.
Half these people “inconveniencing” my play have never even heard of disc golf. For them, the name “Paul McBeth” sounds more like the neighborhood plumber than a world-class athlete. And those baskets you love to see all over the place? They look like deer-feeding stations.
And another thing …
The amount of space that picnicking family is asking for?
Five square feet.
Meanwhile, I’m hogging acres of taxpayer-funded land, throwing borderline life-threatening toys near people’s heads. And wouldn’t you know it, NONE of them signed up for this when they loaded up the kiddos in the minivan earlier that day for some fun. So remind me again …
Who is being inconvenient?
There’s a middle-ground here, of course: Give a quick heads-up when somebody’s in your way, explain that disc golfers will likely be coming through the area or – and this is controversial …
Just skip the hole.
Public parks are for everyone – NOT just you and your disc-hucking buddies.
If you see too much of yourself in this post and feel attacked, rest assured …
All of this is directed at me, too.
Most disc golfers can do better with this …
If you’re one of ‘em, practice patience before rage – you’ll live longer for it.
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Well it seems like that courtesy should go both ways. My local park has a football field soccer field and baseball fields. I can’t just go sit in the middle of those and have a picnic and expect everybody else to work around me. The people who frequent that park know fully well that the disc golfers are there and there is a course laid out. If you go set your blanket 15 ft to the left of one of the baskets then you have to worry about my disc coming in. There are plenty of areas where they can put their blanket and not be in the way or in any danger of a disc so maybe they should think about it a little bit more. I have no desire to hit anybody, and I make every effort to avoid them, but you can bet if I’ve driven 2 hours to get to a new course and somebody’s in the fairway I’m not playing around them I’m going to give them the heads up and then throw
I agree with all of this, Turo Joseph …
Without a doubt, the courtesy should extend in both directions.
Wouldn’t it be great if common sense was a widespread traid?
Wishful thinking.
How much do you get paid to write this mess? How long have you been playing the sport? Do you even play? Read a bunch of your articles and I’m not yet convinced of that…
In Switzerland we face the problem of being in public parks even more. Small country , a few parks only, parks close to bigger cities, etc. The difference between soccer or baseball fields or tennis courts is, that these areas are protected with fences and when you walk around the park, you can immediately recognize them as sport fields. Disc Golf course uses much more space and between tee-pad and basket there is not much you would recognize as fairways. Therefore the layout of a disc golf course is important in view of safety. Avoiding fairways too close to picking areas or playgrounds. Prevent any possible conflicts. Install as many as possible information to increase the awareness of walking through a disc golf course.
I like that last part and completely agree with it …
Signage.
I’ve started to see those pop up on courses here in The States more frequently:
“Danger: Flying Discs In This Area”
That sort of thing.
Thanks for reading, Paul!
Especially here in Wisconsin where we pay to play. I guarantee I’ve had enough beers in me to confront some people. I’d start friendly and talk very slow assuming they are liberals. But we also don’t want them to burn the place down due to patriarchy.
I’m pretty new to the game, and even I have gotten upset over other ppl in the park. But I’m also new enough to remember not knowing what the heck disc golf was and I think disc golfers highly underestimate non golfers’ ignorance to the course around them and the danger of these discs.
Just a couple weeks ago I encountered a new mother setting up a blanket with her newborn right by the basket. As much as I assumed she HAD to know it’s very obvious that a mother with a newborn wouldn’t purposely put her child or herself in that kind of danger. It was then I accepted this relationship with other park visitors and walked up to her to inform her of what she was doing.
They don’t know. And they aren’t out to get you. They’re clueless and it’s ok to talk to ppl and politely let them know.
Happens all the time, man …
Did she move?
(inquiring minds demand answers)
I’ve always found another route to the hole. Just because the t-pad is made out of cement doesn’t mean that the spot to throw from is set in stone.
No, not in stone …
CONCRETE.
(jokes – totally get what you’re saying, and it’s true)
No public drug use. Like that half the fun is smoking a joint on the fairways 😂
I believe that most people are oblivious to DG. Of course they would not picnic in the middle of a football or baseball field bc they are familiar with those sports and those areas are clearly defined unlike DG courses. Most park goers will learn once they see people actually playing. I think most people think it’s a frisbee flying around with No impending danger. At my local course I have group of soccer kids that see me as I wave my disc while they crouch down. I would skip the hole bc it is not worth injuring some picnic kid, Mom… just bc you drive hours to try a new course. Politely remind them that they are in way and you don’t want them to get hurt. That’s just my take.
Sounds like you’ve about got it figured out …
Educate. Don’t get irate.
(put that on a t-shirt)
It doesn’t happen too often, but I’m not opposed to throwing a forehand roller past them (if they won’t relocate). I don’t throw very hard so minimal risk of injury. On the other hand, I always carry a couple discs to give to strangers…
You sound like a douche
HOw about a compromise: There could be a limit on how many park-goers you maim or kill a year, like the way states place a limit on the number of deer a hunter can take a season.
Feels a BIT extreme, Terry …
Let’s wait and see what the PDGA has to say about it.
Sometimes you just have to adjust to a new hazard on the course. When we showed up at a nearby course and found a porta potty on tee #1 we skipped the round because a special event was going to have people unaware of disc golf all over the park.
Sometimes you may have to formalize changes to keep everyone happy. Our local course has a “winter design” that moves baskets and uses temporary tee pads so the play avoids Christmas lights displays. I enjoy it because it is like playing a new yet familiar course.
Id agree with this but most places I’ve played have signs that say “caution you have entered a disc golf course at your own risk. Be aware of high speed disc flying through the air.” I’ve clocked my best throw at 70 miles an hr if I hit someone it’s their fault not mine.
99% of courses are a park that we are lucky enough to have disc golf at. Be a good ambassador, politely tell them heads up. Maybe, if you have any sort of social skills, walk up to them, hand them a disc, chat about how these things come in at 70+ MPH. Hearing guys yell “WATCH THE **** OUT!” is so pathetic.
Thank you, KG!
Somebody had to say it, and you’ve done so rather well …
Appreciate the comment 🙂
So by open drug use on the course do you mean pot smoking????? Lol
In a public park with children nearby, yes – that’d qualify.
Good course design eliminates most of this. Some parks should not have disc golf in them. Other parks have dedicated areas for just disc golf. You don’t see someone picknicing in the middle of a baseball field, basket ball court or tennis court do you?
yet I have come across many people sunbathing, picnicking or playing games in a fairway. Most parks this is life, I just play around them and move on. Like you said, skip the hole, they have just as much right to use the park as you do.
Oh, that’s a good point …
Assuming there’s space enough for a course, there shouldn’t be much crossover.
Last week, I’m lining up a put when a mountain biker rides between me and the basket- he never even acknowledged us…I’ll admit, I’m still annoyed
Yeah, that sucks …
Hard to argue with that.