Is marking an ace on a tee sign Vandalism??

I had a post on the discussion board (the kiosk) of my clubs website www.tendickdiscgolf.com from a "course pro" (no PDGA # and I do not think has ever competed) in a nearby town gripin' and moanin' about how he is sick of seeing people writting their names on the backs of the signs noting an ace. He likened it to dogs marking trees and threatened to call the cops and "ban" that person from using that public park thereafter. I have played over 300 courses in the US and have seen this everywhere and even encourage the practice on the course in which I am the course pro. In my opinion the back of a standard sign is unused and serves no purpose, it is not like a trashed basket or a slain tree. Whadda ya think?

[slo]

I think your own disc is the place to note any aces, not public/private property.

[discette]

Thanks for bringing this up. (rant on)It is vandalism. I never saw that until I moved to Minnesota. The problem is, people start using the front of the sign as well. Also, some people feel the need to add explitives to their accomplishment. Nope, don't like it. Don't do it on my course! Write it on your disc, and have those in your group sign the disc. (rant off)

[Chris Hysell]

As someone with many aces, I think it isn't a good practice to write on something that isn't yours. If I did it, people would be real mad at me.

[Fossil]

I have an 18 hole Mach V private course that took me years to save for and buy. If I ever found someone's name written on my equipment, they would be banned. No questions ask.
Tell your friends, but if you have to announce it publicly, Sponsor that hole in the next tournament and put it on the sponsorship sign. That would get some attention.

I'm a traditionalist. Mark the disc, not the disc golf course!

Well, on DISCatcher baskets, they sign the spank ring.....I have had a few aces, and never done that. Now the discs themselves, have seen plenty of expletives, and names.

I've not yet had an ace, but if I did get one, I'd very much prefer to have something to take home with me to remember the ace. Therefore, my witnesses gets to sign my disc, and that disc goes up on the wall. If you're a local course pro, or own a course, I'd set something up to steer away from vandalism like maybe an ace list on a website of some kind, so bragging rights are done through this. I don't see ball golfers leaving their mark on the courses they use, (do correct me if I'm wrong) I sure can't picture them signing a flag.

I've only noticed it in the Midwest (and I specifically remember it in Rochester MN). It looks tacky, and yeah, I consider it vandalism.

How is it different from Graffiti?

Put a sign on the message board and let people note their aces there.

I sure can't picture them signing a flag.

Now THATS a funny visualization.......

[eddie_ogburn]

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. Are you kidding me, signing baskets and tee signs? I've been to 38 courses in NC, VA, and SC and I've never seen anything like that.

The sad part is, if someone aces they probably have a good bit of skill(i.e. not a casual player). Usually on the courses I play I've only seen casual players doing stupid things on the course... like kicking down small trees, jumping on the baskets and breaking benches. You would think the people with skill who are involed in the sport like that wouldn't vandalize their own courses. Sad.

I think you`re not too bright, it`s vandalism .

How about having an ace list on the course bullitin board or something? I, too, would steer away from marking up the course equipment.

Luke/NJ

[riverdog]

If it ain't yours, then its vandalism, and the legal penalty would be no different than pulling up the sign and smashing a tree with it. Fair enough in my eyes.

[cbdiscpimp]

Can someone please explain to me how it hurts or does anything to the course if there is marker on the pole of a basket??? I see no problem in doing this as long as it isnt vulgar or offensive. It doesnt effect the fuction of the basket or anythin of that nature. Most of the time you cant even see it unless you are picking you disc out of the basket. I dont think it takes away from the course or does any damage. A sharpie on a basket pole doesnt effect anyone. And out here in MI is pretty much what goes on all the time. So if someone can give me a good reason or show me how it affects anything then maybe ill change my mind and stop putting marker on a pole that eventually fades away anyway!!!

If it were my course i would say sign away. Maybe even have a specific board on the top of each basket to write it there or a specific place by the tee sign???

[drdyedcom]

I know this has been a problem at my local course UW Parkside in the past. The course has recently had new signs installed with boards just below the tee sign for the purpose of writing your ace. Now the signs dont get all markered up and the people that want to publicly display their aces can. I think this makes everyone happy. If some idiot makes obsecne markings on the ace board, simply remove it and replace it.

Signing baskets, especially on Innova discatchers, looks really tacky. The fact that the signatures fade away doesn't really help either. You wind up with a bunch of half faded marker all over the place that looks really trashy. I have a feeling parks department directors wouldn't be too pleased with seeing this activity. Who knows it might even cause them to be a little slow approving future courses. (ex. If disc golfers treat the baskets this way what are they doing to the plants, etc. in the park?)

[Chris Hysell]

Okay Steve, I'll bite. You have no problem with people writing on baskets or signs. I don't own a Sharpie. All I have is flourescent spray paint. That's going to look really nice isn't it?

I'll agree to the spank ring, or teesign "marks" is tacky looking, but the actual basket pole doesnt seem all THAT bad....

Hysell, you trouble maker you!!!


of course, i still wont be doing any of the above.....

[lauranovice]

Excellant idea, fossil! If you must post it on the hole, sponsor the hole and request it be printed on the tee sign.

I guess people in NC care about their courses enough not to write graffiti all over the baskets and teesigns. Ask your course pro what he thinks about it discpimp. I'm sure he'll just love it, LOL. Even if it is only on the baskets, do you think it'll stop there? If you encourage this, pretty soon it'll be all over the tee signs, tee pads and anywhere else people can write. Shoot, I'm going to start spray painting my name on the court when i make a 3 point shot in the park, writing my name on every base I steal or sign the toilet when i take a huge shi+. Who cares if you ace? You think people want to see your name on the basket? How many pros do you see doing this? Really discpimp... I want to know.

[ryangwillim]

I was just in Oregon last week where I played two courses. Both courses get VERY LITTLE traffic, maybe a dozen players a day. And there are some tee signs with signed aces. I think it is pretty cool for those courses, and it hasn't gotten out of hand (no one has signed a leaf yet engrhawg). I love the culture that is associated with smaller courses, and writing aces on tee signs is part of the culture.

However, my home course is Morley Field, San Diego. There is no way this would be good for my course for many reasons. One of which is that their are probably 2-3 aces each day at this course, with over 130,000 people visiting it each year, there isn't enough room on a tee sign for that many aces. And Snapper would start getting ****** off something awful if a trend like that started.

Team_Bofa I would like to comment on something you said..."Who cares if you ace? You think people want to see your name on the basket? How many pros do you see doing this?" If one of my friends gets an ace, I care. I am happy for them, and I want to know about it. Taking the attitude of no one gives a crap if you ace accept for you is pretty selfish, I always love partying with my friends when they get their first ace. And saying that pros don't do that, indicating that because pros don't do it, it is wrong. Sorry I don't buy that, This sport doesn't exist because of the pros, and who is going to enjoy getting an ace more, some weekend player who plays for the love of the game and gets his first ace, or some arrogant pro who gets 4 aces a month and plays so that he can be better than everyone else? I was playing with a pro a couple months ago and I almost aced a hole off of a tree skip, his response, "It hit a tree and almost went in, it wasn't a good drive it doesn't matter" Wow, if everyone could promote our sport like that, this sport could be big!

/end diatribe

[spartan]

My guess is that most people who are doing this either have not been playing as long or they just have no respect for private/public property. Maybe they just don't know better. Most of the courses are on public property. Most people who play in the Austin area don't even look at this bored. You can learn a few things about this game from this bored. The problem is, if there is one, there will be more. There are usually no signs indicating that this is disallowed. If you were a NEWB and just hit your first ace, saw a signature on the basket, would you sign the belt too?

I'm sure this isn't happening from dsic golf long-time vets. Or maybe they're just boobs.

My guess is that most people who are doing this either have not been playing as long or they just have no respect for private/public property. Maybe they just don't know better.

This sums up my first post. Obviously I agree with Martin.

If one of my friends gets an ace, I care. I am happy for them, and I want to know about it. Taking the attitude of no one gives a crap if you ace accept for you is pretty selfish, I always love partying with my friends when they get their first ace.

Man that’s awesome you care about your friends ace. But when I'm playing a course I couldn't care less about his ace or seeing his name written on a basket on one of the few courses we have in the US. We need to teach people to take care of our courses. You can talk and tell stories about your aces to share them with people.
As to the second part of the quote I'll assume you meant "except for you"...LOL. Anyway I just wish I could walk up and see a pro or ANYONE for that matter writing on a basket while I'm playing. I would say, "Do you know how dumb you look right now?". Its vandalism plain and simple. Write it on your disc. Operative word "YOUR". What makes you think you have the right to sign your name? Did you buy the basket? Well then by all means do what you want with it, but if it’s in a public park, respect it. To me buddy, writing your name on a basket is selfish.

[girlie]

Vandalism
(n.) The spirit or conduct of the Vandals; ferocious cruelty; hostility to the arts and literature, or willful destruction or defacement of their monuments.


graffiti
pl n
(singular:
1 [sometimes with sing vb] drawings, messages, etc., often obscene, scribbled on the walls of public lavatories, advertising posters, etc.

2 (Archaeol) inscriptions or drawings scratched or carved onto a surface, esp. rock or pottery

Vandalism of public or private property with graffiti for one's own personal gratification is childish, uncalled for and illegal.

I am a huge proponent of natural beauty and leave-no-trace ethics. Please don't force me to acknowledge what a loser you are by proclaiming how much your already over-inflated ego needs stroking, i.e. "I had an ace here"! Do something with your talent to benefit others rather than destroy the face of something others come to enjoy.

[ryangwillim]

Yes, I meant except, not accept. My bad.

Well martin, this boob has been playing for 11 years, one thing I do know is how to spell BOARD. The other thing that I know is that I spend an awfull lot of time clearing trash, maintaining tee pads, and run weekly leagues. I am not whinin' but I bet it is a hell of a lot more than most of the responders here. So when it is implied that I am an idiot engaging in course destruction I think about the baskets I have had to pull and have the Parks Dept. fix, the cigarette smokers that throw their burning butts to the ground and **** near start the whole course on fire and well placed trees ripped out of the ground. That to me is vandalism.

[Chris Hysell]

This got ugly fast. I also have been playing for 11 years and I maintain two courses and run leagues and PDGA events. Writing on tees signs and baskets is still vandalism.

[disctance00]

Whoever writes on the tee signs or pole of the baskets...can I come over and write on your walls with some crayons? If your ego needs to be stroked, sign your disc hang it on your wall or whatever people do with their ace discs. Tell the story to all of your buds. Enjoy what you did, just keep the courses clean. Please.

[girlie]

I think about the baskets I have had to pull and have the Parks Dept. fix, the cigarette smokers that throw their burning butts to the ground and **** near start the whole course on fire and well placed trees ripped out of the ground. That to me is vandalism.

Yep, vandalism. Well, destruction of property, littering and vandalism...

Are you trying to say that some vandalism is okay while other vandalism is not?

Or, perhaps, it's okay to vandalize if you also volunteer?

Strange concept.

There seems to be alot of people here that love to put words into others' posts.