Days after Paul McBeth won the 2022 Waco Annual Charity Open, much of the conversation on Twitter and Facebook had nothing to do with McBeast’s performance. Heck, Luke Humphries’ second-consecutive, top-five result on the Pro Tour wasn’t generating much chatter, either.
Instead, this video clip was making the rounds on social media:
Imagine if a buddy you played with took this long on every putt 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/8kHRvRnU8H
— Another Round (@AnotherRound_DG) March 14, 2022
That was kind of awkward, wasn’t it?
If ever there was a horse that’s been beaten to a bloody pulp, it’d be Nikko Locastro’s eternal putting routine. For the above, I clocked Locastro’s pre-putt ritual at 58 seconds. That’s well above the 30 seconds allotted to players after addressing their lies for a shot or putt.
But I don’t want to talk about that today – I want to talk about a different rule …
And though something certainly needs to be done about players’ (it’s hardly just Nikko) pace of play, disc golf has bigger, rule-centric issues at hand if the sport’s ever to be taken seriously.
Enter PDGA rule No. 3.03B.5, stage left …
Simply put, at PDGA-sanctioned events, “players must adhere to a professional standard of sporting ethics, courtesy and integrity.” If they don’t, they’re subject to courtesy violations and penalties from tournament directors – immediate disqualification being one of them.
Here’s the nitty-gritty of the infraction at hand – the actual “B.5” part:
“Public display or use of alcohol, even where otherwise lawful or permitted, from the two-minute signal until the player’s scorecard is submitted at an event sanctioned at C-Tier level or below. This rule does not apply to Leagues, where, if local law and event venue rules permit it, players of legal age to do so may consume alcohol during the round.”
But wait – things get even more intense …
According to PDGA rule No. 3.03C.4, amongst other things, the below must result in an on-the-spot disqualification from a tournament director – there’s to be no warning:
“Public display or use of alcohol at PDGA events sanctioned at B-Tier or higher, or of marijuana at PDGA events sanctioned at any Tier level, even where otherwise lawful or permitted, from the two-minute signal to the time the player's scorecard is submitted.”
Please note that this isn’t an article on the morality of drugs and alcohol. This is a piece on what the PDGA says about using them during sanctioned events, and how the culture of amateur competition (I can’t speak for pro-level events) regularly looks the other way on it …
There’s multiple cultures in disc golf and a few are problematic
— Obi Bogey (@BogeyObi) March 16, 2022
What’s incredible to me is that we have concourses of disc golfers losing their minds over Nikko taking too long to putt – a real, bonafide issue in its own right. Yet, at the exact same time, the amateur scene is no stranger to regular drug and alcohol use at PDGA-sanctioned events …
That’s not good – that’s not good at all.
And this shouldn’t be viewed as some sort of Christian-rock, Prohibition-era take …
I attend the same players meetings you do. The rules are read. By and large, they’re treated with respect, too. But for whatever reason, this one’s met with more of a “wink-wink” attitude. Most golfers compete the right way. Those who don’t often flaunt their rule-breaking, though …
And still, nothing.
Taking longer than 30-seconds to drive, approach or putt is a problem. Rules are in place for a reason – just fall in line. When they’re not followed, the game suffers in the short-term.
There can’t be many of ‘em, but sports that allow for mid-competition drug and alcohol use suffer not only in the short-term, but in the long-term, as well. Players are made uncomfortable, so they don’t come back. Parents are concerned, so they put their kids in something else.
Regardless of what you think of the PDGA, this issue clearly matters to them …
Just ask Valerie Jenkins.
Calling players on foot faults is weird. Making sure cardmates move the game along in a timely manner is tough, too. I get all that. But if we’re at the point where asking somebody to not smoke pot or drink alcohol during competition feels the same way, bigger issues are at hand …
Keep disc golf accountable – like it or not, it’s on us to make it happen.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Another great piece! Enjoyed the read!
Eric, thanks so much for reading, man – it means the world to us!
BTW, if you have any good story ideas, feel free to float ’em our way …
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This was difficult to read. Bringing up Nikko seemed pointless to the topic of the article.
Thanks for your comment, Donald!
What makes you say that, exactly?
Not saying you’re wrong, but yes – would love to know more …
Though we disagree, glad that you stopped by to read …
Even if it was “difficult.” 🙂
Very fair points. I haven’t seen too much drinking/smoking in sanctioned tournaments here in NC, but I know it happens.
I think the biggest culture problem, and you eluded to it, is that there is a culture of “don’t call penalties on me”. Calling penalties is awkward. Foot faults, practice throws, courtesy violations, all of it. It’s all against the rules, but nobody will say anything because “Really?? You’re going to call a penalty on me??”
Two examples: I was playing in one of my first tournaments a whole back and hit cage on a long putt. I ran up, picked my disc up and placed it in the basket, just excited that I almost made the long birdie. On the way to the next hole one of the guys walked up and almost whispered “Hey man, don’t forget to mark your disc.” I thanked him for reminding me, and couldn’t believe that I had actually forgotten, but took note that he felt like he had to whisper it to avoid conflict.
More recently, a guy on my card missed two really frustrating putts. Hit top band that would have saved par, walked up and in frustration threw his disc into the chains for 2 for away, and the force of the chains swinging back pushed his disc back out to his feet. He picked up his disc and started to walk off. I putt out, and before we all started walking to the next hole asked him if he ever holed out. He looked at me and said “Really!? You want me to go do it!? Here.” And went and tapped in from where his disc had been. On the awkward silent walk to the next hole he caught up to me and said “Did I do something to piss you off?” I explained that no, if it was a casual round I wouldn’t blame him at all, but this is a tournament, and you simply have to finish the hole.
This comment is getting too long. But it’s a problem in Disc Golf. I think the issue lies within the positive culture of everyone being buddy buddy on the course. Everyone is pulling for good shots, and hates to see discs hit trees. “Nice putt!” and “Ahh, kick right!” when a bad shot is thrown is frequently heard. This is a great thing about our sport, and I love it. But people have a hard time meshing the two worlds of being buddies with your card mates, and making corrections when there is rule violations.
Adam, can’t thank you enough for this comment …
Yes, it’s a long one, but dude: You’re 100% right with it.
If only you could see the comments on my end that I’ve had to delete or “mark as spam” that align with exactly what you’re talking about.
And just for the record: I’m not deleting comments that disagree with what I say or anything …
These are profanity-laced comments that align with the experiences (though few and far between) you’ve had out on the course during tournaments.
Officials seem to be the easiest solution to this – wonder if going the “volunteer” route would help out, you know?
Again, such a good comment, and I couldn’t agree more – thanks for reading!
Difficult to enforce the time limit. It’s totally against the spirit of golf to force a player to throw when they aren’t ready. I would never second a time violation. Nikko took less than 60 seconds to throw after he assumed his stance. That’s not a ridiculous amount of time.
If we want the sport to be taken seriously I don’t think we can be making players rush themselves. It’s not a speed game, it’s a thinking game. Some players take their time, others don’t. Pace of play works itself out, there’s always a guy rushing to his lie and throwing immediately to balance out the Nikkos.
Yeah, that’s a good point …
BTW, I didn’t start the clock until he’d assumed his stance – it came in at 58 seconds.
So you’re right, it was under a minute, but man …
It’s pretty dang close.
You are right, though: 1) It’s hard to enforce, and 2) there are LOTS of players who play quicker.
Do you think the PDGA should simply do away with their “pace of play” rules?
What would be the best course of action?
Probably change the rule to be similar to ball golf where “undue delays” are punished but everyone is still allowed to take their time. Lies and lines are too variable to put a hard cap of 30 seconds on the time you have to think.
Yeah, that makes sense …
The key to the “30 seconds,” however might have to do with addressing the lie, you know?
Like, once you LITERALLY address the lie, you have 30 seconds …
I can understand that much, at least.
Before doing that, take your time, analyze things and get comfortable with your game plan.
Both need attention, but great piece, I would agree the culture of drug/alcohol use during rounds doesn’t do anything to aid the legitimacy of the sport.
Oh, man …
It really doesn’t.
And again, it’s totally fine if people want to do those sorts of things outside of sanctioned events …
They have every right to do so, obviously.
Disc golf’s headed in the right direction – that’s the good news 🙂
Stop being a Kevin 🤣🤣😝
Forgive the ignorance …
But what’s a “Kevin,” exactly?
Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing … haha.
Regarding alcohol and drug use, it’s kind of always going to be a grey area in the sport. If you get strict about it, it will just become more taboo and secretive. Plenty of people are drinking alcohol from normal drink containers and you’d never know. A lot more people than we even realize just eat edibles and only vape when peeing or whatever.
I agree that visibly drinking or using pot is a terrible image for the sport, and the tendency for beer drinkers to drop cans on the course is unacceptable. We should move away from threatening them with explusion, though. Just ask them to have some discretion.
Ah, we’re gonna disagree on this one …
Thankfully, we can disagree and that’s perfectly fine 🙂
For me, this not being a “grey area” is about as easy as it gets …
During PDGA-sanctioned rounds, don’t drink alcohol and don’t smoke pot, right?
How hard is that? People do it all the time: work, school, etc.
Yes, players can try and get away with it – you see that all the time out there nowadays …
But the second not smoking pot during an ACTUAL tournament becomes too much of an ask?
Man, disc golf has bigger issues on its hands at that point …
This can’t be viewed as a cumbersome rule – it’s just not.
Disc golf’s different, though – maybe I’m just way off on this one …
It wouldn’t be the first time 🙂
Yes I think you are way off. Discgolf isn’t the type of game that should be forcing rules preventing people from habits that you personally deem unsavory. Discgolf needs to own the fact that a large portion of their community use drugs and alcohol while playing. I personally think if someone is used to being high and smoking cigarettes while playing it is a disadvantage to them to not be able to do it. How is it a disadvantage to someone who is around someone smoking or drinking during the round. Why would they be uncomfortable. I’m all for following rules but this seems more like morals and values being pushed onto the sport and I personally don’t like that.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Xan!
As outlined in the article, this is less of an issue of imposing morals on others, and more of an issue of:
1) Obeying the law.
2) Ensuring a quality environment for children to safely and comfortably compete.
Without the above, disc golf’s not taken seriously, nor will the parents of the game’s future superstars let them “stick with it.”
Seems obvious, but alas – to each his own!
Thanks for reading 🙂
I had to stop running an unsanctioned weekly league on a college campus because people were openly drinking and took offense when I asked them to stop (open containers aren’t allowed on the property). Now I only run PDGA events and will (respectfully) enforce the no-alcohol rule. I have no problem with folks drinking/smoking in casual rounds, but when done in situations that put continued access to courses at risk, I also have no problem enforcing boundaries.
Great article!
Dude, couldn’t agree more …
Like you said, if it’s allowed, by all means!
But if it’s not, all you’re doing is hurting disc golf’s reputation.
Here in my neck of the woods, there’s a course that’s located at a mental health facility …
It’s BEAUTIFUL.
Naturally, however, given the location, alcohol isn’t allowed – like ZERO TOLERANCE on that.
It’d shock you the number of people who still sneak it onto the property …
If you can’t go 90 minutes without a drink, you’ve probably got bigger problems on your hands than a stupid rule.
As always, thanks for reading, Chad – appreciate it, brotha!