I love shopping malls.
Strange, I know.
I’m not big into buying stuff, but come Christmastime, I prefer heading to one to purchase gifts over giving my hard-earned money to Amazon and Mr. Jeffrey Bezos. I get that there are better deals online. And not having to put pants on is nice, too. But this is a matter of experience …
Not convenience.
- Decorations galore.
- Crowds everywhere.
- Mall Santa goes hard.
I’m a fan.
You don’t get any of this from your living-room couch.
Again …
It’s an experience.
I feel the same way about local, brick-and-mortar disc golf shops. Yes, this blog is at least partly funded by reader purchases (thanks) through affiliate retailers in the digital realm, but assuming you’re lucky enough to have a disc golf outlet in your area, take serious advantage of it.
According to Forbes, one in every five new businesses fails within the first year. At the end of the second year, 30% will have bitten the dust. And come the end of year three, 50% of businesses will be forced to call it quits. Disc golf isn’t immune to this, of course.
Enough with the sob story, though …
These places are awesome.
In my own neck of the woods, Birdcage Disc Golf used to be a nine-iron from my house. The store’s since moved to a new location, but the experience (keyword) is still the same. Believe it or not, the owner also runs a vape-cartridge shop right next door – you can’t make this stuff up.
Stereotype = Strengthened
Anyway, I run a disc golf publication, but I hardly know what every mold from every disc manufacturer does – the Birdcage guys do, though. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve asked something along the lines of, “What’s Discraft’s equivalent of the Innova Wraith?” On more than one occasion, it’s a conversation like this that’s turned into a disc review on this site.
The answer is the Scorch, by the way.
Click here to read the review.
Getting beyond discs, most small-time, in-person retailers, including my own, are fully committed to growing the game of disc golf locally. Four or five years ago, I got my brother-in-law big-time into disc golf. Before long, he was obsessed with his bag.
One day, during his lunch break, he went to Birdcage with an idea of what he wanted. After talking with the shop’s owner, he not only learned more about the discs his game really needed, but due to slow, mid-day foot traffic, the dude straight-up hopped in my brother-in-law’s car and gave him a free, half-hour lesson on how to better throw a backhand at a nearby pitch-and-putt.
Infinite Discs is great.
You are NOT going to get that from ‘em.
And don’t even get me started on the local tournament scene. The Birdcage guys are everywhere. If there’s an event going down, they sponsor it and help out with player’s packs. They’re also on the scene a few hours early (and after) with a mobile shop, pushing discs to anybody interested.
That’s commitment.
Better yet, that’s an …
Experience.
No, Birdcage Disc Golf isn’t (likely) near where you live, but if there’s something similar – even a Play-It-Again with a big selection of plastic – support them as much as they support disc golf.
Shop local. Grow disc golf.
It’s a powerful one-two-punch.
Have anything to add? Take to X to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- No forehand? No problem: Buy (and bag) a Rollo
- Disc golf: Never do this when a cardmate smashes an ace
- Disc golf: The simple solution for ‘excessive time’ violations
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.
Friends don’t let friends buy discs from Amazon.
Put that on a shirt and sell it!
Wrote an article about it – that’ll have to do for now!
* Link: https://tinyurl.com/3yd48b3t
I love me Infinite Discs (even rep em with my huck pack), but since we got our first 100% dedicated disc golf store I’ve been making a point to buy from them.
So I’ll echo what you wrote and say if you have a brick n mortar disc golf store please support it!!!
Our local store took the time to ask my daughter questions about what she likes to throw etc and matched her up with an IT. We went back in a couple weeks later and they let us know they got a bunch of light weight discs in from Innova and helped us pair her with a star Roc3. It’s that kind of experience you’ll never get from a big box retailer.
Amen to that.
That’s pretty cool they did that for her 🙂
How old’s your daughter?
My wife is ALWAYS on the lookout for light-weight discs …
And it’s a shame, because the brick-and-mortar places RARELY have them.
Check out Dino Discs, too.
(you’ll have to go to Infinite Discs for that, though)
I’ve only ordered one disc online. Everything else is from one of my 2 local stores or another shop from when I’m out of town.
You’re doing the Lord’s work, Kevin 🙂
Ya local is the way to go, most I know feel this way, decide what you want in person, And walk away feeling like you did the right thing.
I mostly agree. No doubt there is nothing like handling a disc before you buy. Shout out to my favorite local shop, Chain Reactions(north side of Charlotte). My in-laws all live in Pensacola, so I make it to Flight Factory about once a year…the most impressive shop I’ve entered.
To add to your argument, shops that do host tournaments, and then award credit to their brick-and-mortar shops, are genius. As a person who frequents MA40/MA1-2, I really appreciate being able to spend my credit on larger items(baskets/bags) and not just discs. Furthermore, shops/TD’s that have everything digitized are way ahead of those who hand you a paper voucher.
My one counterargument is the better selection amongst online retailers…specifically in the area of disc weight. I tend to like 168-170g, and my son is a 155-160g player…difficult to find that selection at a local shop.
Oh, this is so true …
Specifically, with the weight side of things.
Nine times out of 10, with my local retailer, at least, you’re looking at max-weight or just shy of it.
And depending on the disc type and mold, that can be super annoying.