UDisc Live is dead (and why you won’t mourn for long)

UDisc Live is dead.

For eight years, UDisc Live offered real-time scoring and statistics for every Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) event. As of yesterday, to the surprise of most disc golf fans, that’s no longer the case.

Thank you to the @discgolfprotour, as well as all of the volunteers and our many partners and collaborators, for eight great seasons of UDisc Live. See you on the course! pic.twitter.com/ZDxSS82Vvh

— UDisc Live (@udisclive) February 1, 2024

Instead, the DGPT has decided to host all live-scoring and statistics on DGPT.com. Powered by PDGA Live, the new tool will be known as “DGPT Scores & Stats.” Naturally, the leading muscle behind the new undertaking will be a new-and-improved version of PDGA Live.

With a snazzy rebrand, of course.

To that end, the DGPT will work closely with the PDGA Technology Team. And with the PDGA having acquired StatMando back in December, it stands to reason that the once-StatMando gurus are onboard for the overhaul, as well. Those guys know numbers; they’ll do a dynamite job.

Later this month, if you can believe it, live-scoring for the DGPT’s All-Star Weekend will be available via a standard-scoring PDGA page. After that, a basic version of Scores & Stats will be running on DGPT.com for the first Pro Tour event of the season: the Chess.com Invitational.

From there, throughout the season, Stats & Scores will periodically roll out new stats, pages, analytics and features in accordance with the gradual development and advancement of the tool.

End of newspeak.

I’m gonna be honest about this …

When the news dropped yesterday, I was shocked – and a bit saddened, really. Though I’m not big on using my smartphone during casual rounds to keep score, Udisc Live was a game-changer for my individual fanhood of the professional scene, as well as this blog’s timely development.

Sundays are busy at my house.

They’re great, because I’m working less, while spending more time with my wife and kids. Unfortunately, Sundays also coincide with every major piece of drama the Pro Tour has to offer.

Whether I was at church, the park or a family function, UDisc Live made following final-round action from my pocket a breeze. With nothing more than my mobile device, I’d tweet, jot down important happenings and take notes on key moments I’d need to watch later on that evening.

And all this while miles away from my living room sofa.

UDisc Live: Gone, but not forgotten.

Bummer.

But after thinking things over, the move makes sense. In September of 2021, the DGPT and PDGA announced their partnership. In May of 2023, the DGPT acquired JomezPro. Then, as previously made mention, in December of 2023, the PDGA purchased StatMando. On paper, at least, it would seem the DGPT-PDGA duo is dead-set on outright owning professional disc golf.

Today, it’s UDisc Live getting axed.

My spidey senses are tingling …

My guess is the DGPT attempted to buy Udisc, Udisc said no and the DGPT used that money to develop their own app

— obi bogey (@BogeyObi) February 1, 2024

Tomorrow, all of those post-produced partnerships the DGPT has? You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think they’re on the chopping-block, as well. The DGPT controls all media availability at their events. Writers, photographers or videographers: The organization quite literally serves as the gatekeepers of Pro Tour content. Bringing all post-produced coverage in-house, while absorbing key talent at each production company is the next logical, inevitable step.

Heck, maybe one day there will be an offer on the table for Green Splatter.

Some lint, spare buttons and pocket change will suffice.

She’s not worth much.

Here’s the good news, though …

As a user, come the start of the 2025 Pro Tour calendar, mark my words: You won’t miss UDisc Live. When the Disc Golf Network (DGN) first put out live disc golf, it was complete and total trash. At the time, there was no bigger fan of JomezPro than yours truly. Now, only a few short years later, I’m incapable of stomaching post-produced disc golf coverage – it’s horrible.

The DGPT made me this way.

UDisc Live set the standard for live-scoring and stat-keeping. Inadvertently, they created the formula for doing it well, too. It’ll take some time, so be patient. But the DGPT has the stage, talent, resources and audience to not only mimic (copy) UDisc Live, but far surpass it, as well.

So bust out a tissue or two, take a walk down memory lane and remember the good times. UDisc Live is no more, but in 12 months’ time, you’ll have something just as good at your disposal.

Likely better.

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