This is not a good look for Prodigy Disc Golf …
Not a good look at all.
Prodigy is suing Gannon Buhr for attempting to terminate his contract with them one year early. If you’re far from the second-coming of Johnnie Cochran, in layman’s terms, here’s the beef:
Given Buhr’s desire to part ways with Prodigy, the company is seeking to prevent him from signing with a rival manufacturer and still represent them for the entirety of the 2023 season. Also, Prodigy is asking Buhr to compensate them financially for the hit their reputation’s taken.
And yes, they cited THIS Instagram post as part of their reasoning.
On the flip side, Buhr’s team asserts five material breaches of his endorsement contract.
For Gannon, these justify the agreement’s early ending:
- Issue No. 1 – Prodigy didn’t create a PDGA Rookie of the Year disc for Buhr.
- Issue No. 2 – Prodigy promised Buhr two signature discs – he received one.
- Issue No. 3 – Prodigy failed to provide regular disc-royalty reports.
- Issue No. 4 – Prodigy neglected to pay Buhr $500 in bonuses.
- Issue No. 5 – Prodigy produces low-quality golf discs.
* Note: For a more in-depth look at Prodigy’s lawsuit against Buhr, click here.
Win, lose or settle outside of court, this thing’s going to get ugly for Prodigy …
And fast.
Like it or not, the history of disc golf is deeply rooted in the counterculture movement. Seeking to stick it to “The Man” comes with the territory. Combine that with the small, tight-knit nature of the greater disc golf community, and mass perception of the impending battle is as follows:
Innocent Child vs. Poorly Run Titan of Industry
See the problem?
If Buhr’s accusations against Prodigy are true, it would mean the Georgia-based manufacturer failed to meet basic expectations for arguably the most talented disc golfer on the planet – and the promise of the sport. Sure, Kevin Jones, Isaac Robinson and Alden Harris are part of Prodigy now, but given Gannon’s alleged treatment, who’d want to sign with these cats in the future?
N–O–B–O–D–Y
And even if they’re NOT true, it won’t matter much …
In the court of public opinion, Prodigy’s death certificate’s already signed.
Dumb move: Let the kid walk.
For Buhr, this one’s weird …
Given the uncertainty associated with legal proceedings, he can’t really sign with anybody. For starters, no company wants to voluntarily insert themselves into a lawsuit. And on top of that, even if he could find one willing, doing so might bring about a new series of legal troubles.
Furthermore, the Las Vegas Challenge starts in three days. With no time to learn new molds, to start the season, he’ll have no choice but to begrudgingly huck stamp-wiped Prodigy plastic.
For a teenager with an attitude, talk about a brilliant way to stick it to your former employer: Per usual, he’ll perform with the discs he knows, but NOBODY will have any interest in buying ‘em.
In a situation with zero precedent within disc golf, one thing’s for certain …
Grab your popcorn and Milk Duds: This is must-watch drama.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- Initial reactions: The PDGA’s new logo
- How Matt Orum’s form can improve your disc golf game
- Disc golf: The argument for manufacturer-loyal amateurs
Real quick, if you happen to buy something through a link in this article, there’s a chance we’ll get a small share of the sale. It’s how we keep the lights on. To learn more, click here.
