The threat of losing discs makes disc golf unique

Don’t get me wrong …

Losing discs sucks.

But it’s a part of the sport – and a unique one at that.

As strange as it sounds, as a disc golfer, this is something of which I’m mildly proud. Cyclists voluntarily shave all limbs. Runners crave the lactic acid that courses through their legs during a long outing. And wrestlers refuse to receive treatment for cauliflower ear. There’s genuine honor in embracing the “suck” your sport of choice has to offer – mine comes in the form of lost discs.

There’s joy in pain; there’s community in struggle.

Same difference.

But back to the “unique” nature of lost discs.

Think for a second …

In what other sport is the loss of vital equipment a major part of the game? Because in disc golf, it’s SO integral to the way the game is played, course designers go out of their way to build tracks that increase the chances of it happening. Oh, did you find the pond? That sucks …

You’ll now go without key gear.

I’ll spot you a couple of somewhat similar examples. In traditional golf, balls find their way into the drink all the time. The good news, however, is that you don’t have to throw an iron in after it as punishment every time it happens. And in baseball, should you fail to connect the barrel of the bat with a pitch, it’s not uncommon for it to break. But it’s not lost – you grab another just like it.

Imagine how other sports would change if their approach was similar to disc golf’s …

In soccer, should you miss a free kick, congrats – you now have to shed your shoes for the remainder of the contest. Or in hockey, if you find yourself in the penalty box, when you get out, you’re now stickless. Too many faults in tennis? For every pair of ‘em, a racket-string gets cut.

Kind of ridiculous, huh?

Here’s what’s perhaps most maddening …

Or pride-inducing, depending on how you look at it …

A seasoned golf disc can take YEARS to beat to perfection – you won’t find an off-the-shelf equivalent anywhere. It’s because of this, there’s an element of Russian roulette to disc golf. Each throw is a spin of the barrel. Thankfully, it’s not deadly, but it’s painful – and unique.

Color me sadistic …

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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