Pro Tour spectators: Leave your disc golf bags at home

I watch a lot of live disc golf.

There’s not much I don’t love about it. I get that it’s in vogue to bash on Disc Golf Network broadcasts, but truth be told, I don’t really have much beef with the product I pay for:

• Technical difficulties happen.
• The man upstairs controls the weather.
• Ian Anderson is fine enough at his job.
• Brian Earhart is allowed to make a mistake.

This is live disc golf.

Not the Super Bowl.

Give the game (and its media) time to grow.

There is something that always catches my eye during coverage, though. It doesn’t yank my chain – I just don’t know what to make of it. More than anything, I’m left asking myself …

Why?

The next time you tune into some Pro Tour action, take a good, hard look at the gallery. You’ll inevitably find someone watching the pros throw, but with their entire 25-disc-carrying bag (or cart) in tow. Heck, and maybe even one of those small, foldable stools for good measure.

This is odd behavior.

Like, THIS is a crazy outcome …

But how is it even on the table?

I’ve tried to give these people the benefit of the doubt, but I struggle to find it. Autographs are an option. But you’re not getting anything signed during a full-blown round, so just leave the goods in the car. Usually, between rounds, there’s a time (and area) for this at tournament central.

Another idea is that the frisbee-totting fan just finished wrapping up 18 holes of his own and headed straight to the event to watch the best in the world toss. Still, they likely didn’t play the same track earlier that day. And even if they somehow did in the amateur division, it would’ve been hours before, leaving loads of time to ditch the gear back at home or in the trunk of the car.

Could this move be one made out of a fear of bag theft, perhaps?

Sun damage to discs?

That’s the best I’ve got.

I saw this a lot at USDGC and I see it on coverage a lot. Why do people in the gallery carry disc golf bags around. I don’t go to football games with a helmet and shoulder pads

— Tyler_DG (@MA4DiscGolf) March 16, 2024

Because if it’s not that, the only thing it could be is some backwards, Kool-Aid-induced belief that Jeff Spring might one day pull them aside at Maple Hill for a quick, personal request:

“Hey! Sorry to pester you like this. Listen, I know this is unexpected, but the lead card suddenly needs a fifth for the back nine. I couldn’t help but notice you came ready to play – you in?”

You can wait around all you want …

Not happening.

Leave the gear at home where it belongs. Otherwise, you look like you’re part of a team of little-leaguers who attend an MLB game in their squad’s full getup. Only, you’re an adult …

So you (fingers crossed) know better.

Relax. Take a deep breath. 

League night is just around the corner.

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Editor’s Suggestions:

• Perk No. 4: Disc golf is (literally) a walk in the park
• Not being an annoying disc golfer is an on-the-books rule
• Spit-outs vs. Cut-throughs: What’s the difference in disc golf?

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