My wife and I watch disc golf together.
This is the part where you get jealous.
Sorry, fellas …
She’s taken.
Anyway, throughout the course of last weekend, during coverage of the PDGA Champions Cup, she kept referring to the lead card as the “feature card.” Seemingly trying to irk me, she’d do the opposite, too. On Thursday, she’d say “lead card,” when she should’ve said “feature card.”
No, this is not some grievous error – no need to phone the divorce attorney. Making this mistake doesn’t mean you’re a brain-dead bozo. Or that you know next to nothing about disc golf, for that matter. Truth be told, I noticed the slip-up on Thursday. I noticed it on Sunday, as well.
But on Friday and Saturday, I don’t recall either term being used incorrectly. Regardless, by the time Sunday’s action was in the books, being the dedicated husband I am, I decided to say something. With all the love and patience in the world, I explained the following …
The lead card
A lead card consists of the top-four disc golfers at the start of the second round of a tournament. Each subsequent round has its own lead card until the tournament ends. Score-based, round after round, the lead card can contain the same disc golfers. Or, should the standings change, and they usually do at the highest level of competition, different disc golfers can make their way onto it.
Also, these guys always tee off last. This is an advantage, as – following along with real-time scores on their phones – they know what others have done before them and can aim to beat it.
The feature card
Conversely, a feature card is comprised of a four-man card at the start of the first round of an event – and only the first round of said event. As there are no scores to start a tournament, the four disc golfers chosen to tee off last are selected by the tournament director, Pro Tour or both.
Those who get the feature-card nod are often fan favorites – more household names, if you will. It’s not uncommon for the winner of the previous year’s tournament to make the cut, as well. My personal favorite, however, is when the winner in the top amateur division of the event is invited to play on the feature card with the “big boys” of the Disc Golf Pro Tour – or girls, of course.
The Santa Cruz Masters Cup is known for doing this.
It’s awesome.
* Note: Neither card has to have four guys on it – that’s most common, though.
*** Insert Massive Yawn ***
Without missing a beat …
My wife’s response to all of this?
“Get a life, loser.”
Fair criticism.
So there you have it …
If you didn’t know the difference, well – now you do. And a quick word to the wise on this one: As I’ve recently learned for myself, people don’t seem to love a lecture on something equal parts trivial and stupid, especially if you use it as an opportunity to flaunt useless knowledge.
You win, wifey.
Love you.
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