Like it or not …
There’s a stereotype surrounding the disc golf community at large. And it’s not all that positive, either. For example, here’s a satirical headline The Babylon Bee ran last year about our sport:
“Pro Disc Golfer Disqualified After Testing Negative for Cannabis”
Click here to read the piece. You can get your undies in a bundle over this, but admittedly, it’s pretty funny. I’ve chosen to laugh, and I’d suggest you do the same – you’ll live longer.
It’s not just herb, though. It’s everything typical that goes along with the greater lazy, hippie, societal-misfit culture that gives disc golf its unjust, but knee-jerk reputation in the eyes of the masses: drugs, vaping, alcohol, vandalism, welfare benefits, that one “Seinfeld” episode, etc.
Though this hasn’t always been the case, these days, disc golf is serious business. It’s no longer simply for the unclean, unshaven and unemployed with nothing better to do with their time. Incredibly, however, THIS disc golf bag does nothing to broadcast that message …
Quite the opposite.
Check it out:
That’s the Dynamic Discs Soldier Cooler Bag. And if you like the concept, but want more room, here is the Dynamic Discs Commander Cooler Bag. These types of products aren’t limited to Emporia, though. Other disc golf bags offer the same-exact perk for buyers: On-the-go …
“Hydration.”
* Note: It’s funny to me that product photos of these bags always feature bottled water.
Yes, there are a handful of disc golfers out there using the removable, velcro-backed cooler select bags offer for water or keeping cold-cut sandwiches frigid during play, but don’t kid yourself: From concept to reality, this exact type of bag was created exclusively for disc golfers who prefer getting smashed on the course with their buddies to actually tossing a few saucers.
Is there anything wrong with that?
To each his own.
But the fact that this is a demand apparently SO big that some of the most reputable, respected disc golf companies on Earth felt a bag needed to be made to address it is kind of, well …
Embarrassing.
If you can’t go 18 holes without getting lost in the sauce, you’ve got bigger problems on your hands than keeping a Natty Light (or six) cold at a public park with kids running around.
I’ll admit it …
Certain sports DO go hand-in-hand with getting sloshed:
- Darts
- Softball
- Bowling
- Billiards
- Cornhole
Let’s not add disc golf to the list.
Cooler bags don’t help this cause.
Kick ‘em to the curb.
Have anything to add? Take to X to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
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Funny. The one guy i occasionally play with was looking for a new bag. We texted back and forth all of the bags you linked above. We enjoy “A” beer, just 1, never 2, while playing but couldn’t figure out how someone could need an entire 12 pack when we usually finish 18 baskets in just under an hour. Yes we play fast. Slow play sucks. But those bags are overkill. 12 beers??? And imagine the weight???
Your poor back and shoulders.
It’s commitment.
Hardcore commitment.
These bags have been around FOREVER, by the way …
So they must sell well.
Go figure.
IDK but seems to me that the cooler bags are a good idea. .
If I was an adult with a youth – or a big brother/sister situation, carrying snacks, juice & whatnot is a considerate notion. I mostly play on my back yard course, so I’m not really aware at all of how noticeable pot smoke travels on local courses or how obvious the beer swilling is. Should the beer swilling get too obvious I’m pretty sure the local cops will take care of it.
I’ve brought a couple beers with me on some of the few times I’ve played a public course. I didn’t need a cooler bag – but I brought IPAs so it didn’t matter if they went from cold to kinda mostly cool. I just pretended that I was German or British and room temperature beers was just the standard way of beer drinking.
Now, if I were much younger, I could make a case for owning one of those cooler bags – either size – one thing I know living in Missouri is that when engaging in some recreational activity that doesn’t involve firearms, like fishing or bird watching, or disc golf, the phrase ” want a beer?” is seldom out of line. It is an offer of friendship – or camaraderie. Should you want to be a nice guy on the disc golf course, toting a sixer or a 12 pack on the course is a pretty strong move. Maybe you’re on a disc golf date – someone’s got to carry the wine & snacks & toiletries.
Thank you for this article it made me think. I have a buddy whose son is going to college next fall and is going to do the disc golf club scene. I think his going to college present will be a larger cooler bag. I’ll probably point out that the cooler part is removable should you not need it. The cooler will come in handy from time to time in college disc golf social life and it will give him the opportunity to be a nice guy.
Back to your original premise – cooler bags are around because there is a need for them.
Thanks for reading, Charlie!
And for the insightful comment, of course.
My biggest takeaway?
When courting my wife, I REALLY wish I’d done the whole “disc golf date” thing …
Missed opportunity.
Great idea, though 🙂
>one thing I know living in Missouri
“want a beer” is an international offer of friendship – not just Missouri. True here in California.
That’s probably the case (pun intended) just about everywhere.
Less so here in Utah, but in the right company, you’ll get some smiles.
Im a bad alcoholic. In recent years I’ve made a point of keeping disc a sober activity. The local tournament makes that difficult, with a huge cooler of “aiming juice” at multiple locations on the course. If i resist, I win. But afterwards I go hard lol.
Never heard it referred to as “aiming juice,” but you learn something new every day, huh?
Thanks for sharing, Stefan!
Hey Lucas,
I always assumed these were used by large groups of people, not just 1-2 people. Maybe a group of EXTREMELY casual players playing a round after work and they are bringing friends. You know, those 6-8 people cards that seem to cause congestion on the course. Maybe a bachelor party group focused on partying more than the scores.
You mention they sell well, and they probably do, however I don’t recall ever seeing one on the course. This could be anecdotal.
That could be the case!
I don’t drink, so maybe a six-pack for one person is overkill?
Admittedly, I don’t know …
I’ll plead ignorance on that front.