Club History / Archives

Documenting the history of a disc golf club is important for creating a sense of identity, attracting new members and sponsors, and preserving its legacy for future generations. Historical records can also provide valuable context for decisions and help prevent repeating past mistakes.  

For club members 

• Fosters a sense of pride and belonging: A shared history gives members a connection to the club's past and an appreciation for its traditions. Celebrating past achievements and milestones, like anniversaries, builds a stronger community. 
• Inspires and motivates players: Showcasing the club's best players, championship wins, and course records can motivate current members to strive for greater achievements. 
• Helps preserve legacy: By capturing memories through photos, stories, and records, members ensure that the club's legacy endures beyond their own time in the organization.  

For the club's operations 

• Provides an institutional memory: As club leadership and membership change over time, documented history helps new officers understand how the club has evolved and provides context for why certain policies or decisions were made. 
• Aids in course development and preservation: A club that has been involved in its local course for a long time can help with maintenance and redesign efforts. Archiving original course plans, redesigns, and photos helps with these projects and preserves the course's integrity. 
• Assists with marketing and fundraising: A compelling club history can attract media attention, sponsors, and prospective members. For instance, creating a book on the club's history can serve as a fundraising tool. 
• Demonstrates longevity and stability: Forging a strong historical record shows that the club is enduring and well-managed, which can attract both new players and volunteers.  

For the disc golf community 

• Contributes to the broader history of the sport: Documenting local developments in disc golf adds to the overall understanding of how the sport has grown.  
• Educational resources: A well-documented club history can be used for educational purposes by researchers, historians, and students studying the growth of the sport. 

So then, what are the most important pieces of a Club History/Archive page?  

An archive and history section of a disc golf club website should contain information that documents the club's origins, achievements, and evolution over time. The content, enriched with photos and multimedia, helps create a sense of tradition and belonging for members, attract new players, and demonstrate the club's longevity.  

History 

This section should tell the story of the club, from its foundation to the present day.  

• Founding story: Detail how and why the club was formed, including the date of establishment, the names of the original founders, and the vision they had for the club. 
• Key milestones and achievements: Highlight significant moments in the club's history, such as its first major tournament, course development projects, and major community partnerships. 
• Past leadership: List the names and tenure of past club presidents and other key officers. Consider including a "Hall of Fame" to honor particularly influential members. 
• Evolution of courses: If the club has developed or maintained courses over the years, document how these courses have changed. Include information on defunct courses and historical layouts.  

Archives 

The archives section is a collection of documents, photos, and records that serve as the raw material for the club's history. Organize these materials by year or category using a pull-down menu for easy navigation.  

Visual media 

• Photo gallery: Curate a collection of high-quality images from past events, tournaments, workdays, and social gatherings. Ensure images have captions with names, dates, and locations. 
• Video clips: Embed videos from memorable events, news coverage, or interviews with founders or past champions. 
• Old logos and designs: Showcase previous versions of the club's logo, old t-shirt designs, or historical artwork.  

Records and documents 

• News clippings: Scan and upload old newspaper articles, flyers, or newsletters that feature the club. 
• Tournament results: Create a database or simple table of past tournament winners, course records, and other statistical data. Organize by year to show the club's competitive history. 
• Meeting minutes: Document important decisions by archiving official meeting minutes, especially from the club's early days. Access to these may be limited to members.  

Interactive content 

• Member recollections: Gather and publish stories, anecdotes, and oral history from long-time members. This can add a personal touch and preserve valuable first-hand accounts. 
• Community contributions: Create a form or email address for members and community members to submit their own photos, memories, or documents to the archive. 
• Timeline: Use a visual timeline format to present the most important events and milestones in an engaging, easy-to-follow manner.  

Finally, an example!  

New England Flying Disc (NEFA) has put together a comprehensive Archives page that serves as a wonderful example of how the importance of historical and archived information can contribute to the sustainability of a Club across many decades.