Is the PDGA or anyone else (ie Fly18) trying to get Disc Golf covered by the Golf Channel?

No but I did meet them at the PGA show last year in orlando.I do have a book comming out in spring of next year, and a TV special on fly 18 this weekend ,with the wall st journal film crew.Ann McDermontt of CNN will be reporting on the story.This will air in spring this year on fine living network.I can always use help in that area I have had lots of press and tv on f18.I have always said when we disc golf get our act together we will have more people knocking on our door than we can handle.Fly is happy to be on the other side of that door. ;)

i know reese
( i know i shouldn't admitt to that little tid bit :o)
and he's a nice guy and all that

but everytime i see one of his post he makes it sound like we're all living in the stone age ( or maybe he's just refering to the pdga sublimitly when he post's) and he has some how evolved to another level of discgolf existence but sticks around just to torment us

am i the only one that feels that way ? :D

Jack yes disc golf is still dragging its knuckles and a bathroom is a mirage on most courses.But I am 1 person willing to make change for disc golf across america and the world.Jack did you get that thorn in your paw at church on the pine bench? :D

Hey, Reese,

When are you going to buy some land and build a disc golf course from scratch with bathrooms and carts and all the stuff you talk about, instead of piggybacking your idea on someone else's millions of dollars of investment, hard work, design, and integrity?

So far, what I've seen of Fly18 (Emerald Isle and Mission Trails) could be done by anyone with a few thousand dollars for baskets and rubber mats. Nothing much unique in the design at all.

What's original about it?

Just wondering.

Jon it is called co op business thats why you see taco bell and pizza hut in the same building being served buy the same people.Hence a cheaper price.What you have seen is 36 flags on the moon easy to install if you can get there.If it was such a bad idea why is all the manafactures in our industry and major events going to golf courses?What is original about what I am doing, of all people that will benefit from it why dont you see your kids playing a safe round of golf there?Think about the parents where is my son or daughter safer a park unsupervised with drug use and no bathroom and so on.Or a golf course?When you come out of the woods I hope you dont scare the kids, from a distance you have a bigfoot apperance :D.Next time you are in SanDiego and want to get a free round dont call me ,go to morley with your first aid kit and have a smashing time .And we wonder why our sport is in the way it is.I hope you get over your cabin fever.I did tell Jay and Des they could use any of my facilities to give lesons at for edge I will now refer them to you for anwsers.Jon you should save your words for people who bark, but dont bite, there are plenty in our sport. For such a big guy, you have a small vision, enter big foot. :D

I would have to say that ball golf courses is NOT the way to go. In fact I would be ****** of to see disc golfers on a ball golf course. As im sure most ball golfers would be. I think the future is in private courses with cart rentals, clubhouses, beer sales, cabin rentals. at least thats what Im going to be working on. though I like the idea of disc golf with golf......but the courses are just way to wide open. not really all that fun.

flyboy,

How about trying to get a course set up the Mon or Tues before a PGA event with some PDGA Pros playing?

Imagine if only one of the top 10 money PGA players sponsored just 10% their first three months earnings to a six event dg tour?

DG doesnt seem to be getting any corp sposnorship. Maybe an individual can get it going.

Bottom Line, you have to be on TV to get any Corp. sponsorship to even CONSIDER you. Even thogh the X-games is huge on TV I didn't see and Nike swooshes or anything like that floating aroud. Once again the sponsors came from WITHIN the sports. With the exception of campells soup! :p

Change the venue ,change the coustomer, change the coustomer ,change the results.We will see once again at the memorial, that a park, is a park, with park stuff happening.We will try to take over the whole park with disc golf, and interupt park people ,doing park things.This is not a PROFESIONAL venue for major sponsors to invest in.After we are gone where is the sponsorship,, and USDGC is included in that.We are adtervising to ourselfes.What happened to Texas ,the beer sponsor pulled out why?You can not have beer in the parks.Discraft is building a dg course ,on golf proptey ,but you wont play with your golf friend ,you will go to the woods.SEGERATION :confused:I feel like our sport wants to keep us in the park ,like a herion addict, in europe.Fly 18 belives in options ,and knows the sport will end up, where it started, on a golf course.I play in the park at HB CA one of the first courses ,twice, or 3 times a week, and love it.That is where i practice with my friends.Our pros are now atheleats, the discs have more technology, ,and the parks have become a pitch and putt for most.When we get the respct of golfers, we will enjoy the benefits they have had for hundreds of years. Did Jake Burton ever imagine snowboarding would ever be this big?Every big sport has a place to showcase its atheletes ,for all to see, now we do also.Like Virginia Slims used to say ,weve come a long way baby ;)

How about the economics?

Let's look at the USDGC, for example. Limit the field to 144 for purposes of this discussion. You would have to shut down a golf course for 5, 6, 7 days, including practice and qualifying. What would the cost be to the promoter for that? If it was a municipal course, figuring $15/per person green fees, foursomes every 10 minutes from 8:00 an to 2:00 pm, that would be $2160 per day, or $15,120 for a seven day lock out. That doesn't include the course's lost revenue from cart rentals (The PGATour doesn't ride carts during competition, so why would we?). So they might want $35,000 to $40,000 to close the course for a week. If you planned on using a private or more upscale municipal course, this cost multiplies hugely. And what would the local association or club membership think about not having access to their facility?

I'm sure the golf course would recoup some of it's loss on concession sales, but since disc golf, at this time, doesn't have a huge spectator base, other than other disc golfers that have finished their rounds, there's not a huge potential there.

Don't get me totally wrong, Reese. I think disc golf on golf courses is one good way to present the sport. It's not going to appeal to the huge numbers that you think, though, as long as there are free/low cost alternatives. I really don't think mom and dad are going to drop the kids off at the golf course for a round of frisbee at a cost of $15 each, just because there are bathrooms. And the courses aren't going to make money on cart rentals or beer sales from kids, either.

I think we are all aware that there are some disc golf courses where some undesirable behavior takes place, but please don't make blanket assumptions about that. There are several courses in Idaho and Utah that I play regularly, and most of them have restroom facilities and none of them have drug issues. The two that don't have restrooms are either in the desert or in the mountains.

And please don't accuse me of not having vision. I think the vision of EDGE, which I worked to develop long before we brought anyone else on board, is a pretty good one for the future of the sport. When you think about it, the future is really in the players, not where it's played. If we have park courses, golf courses, resort courses, school courses, mountain courses, desert courses, it's all good for disc golf.

Reese, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell share buildings not because of corporate collaboration they are both owned by Pepsi. They own KFC, A&W and others as well.

Well I can see that you do not know how to run an event on a golf course.As you can see disc golf can not exist without golf footing the bill.I have ran more events than anyone on golf courses 29 and counting all over usa.Here are the #s

144 players as 5somes are 29 tee times
290 min = 4.8 hrs 5hrs as a buffer
7:00 tee time till 12:00
after that golf will take place 80 to 100 players
144 players at an average cost of $10.00
1,440 x 4 = $5,760
The event could go on in the morning or afternoon ,but you risk the chance of not finnishing playing behind slow golfers.We are seat fillers and if not are a debacle.If players want to warm up pay the price to play that is the cost of winning.
As you can see your #s are way off.But now you have a professional venue that will attract big sponsors and spectators can watch safely and the tv crews can film. ;)

I hope you have someone editing your grammar.

"Think about the parents where is my son or daughter safer a park unsupervised with drug use and no bathroom"

So you are saying drug use only happens at public disc courses, and not ball golf courses? I think I read that? It is hard to follow your words. I am not sure if you are aware of the drug alcholol? You may do some research.

no need to come back about how high my pdga number is and how bad my golf game is either.

Well I can see that you do not know how to run an event on a golf course.As you can see disc golf can not exist without golf footing the bill.I have ran more events than anyone on golf courses 29 and counting all over usa.Here are the #s

144 players as 5somes are 29 tee times
290 min = 4.8 hrs 5hrs as a buffer
7:00 tee time till 12:00
after that golf will take place 80 to 100 players
144 players at an average cost of $10.00
1,440 x 4 = $5,760
The event could go on in the morning or afternoon ,but you risk the chance of not finnishing playing behind slow golfers.We are seat fillers and if not are a debacle.If players want to warm up pay the price to play that is the cost of winning.
As you can see your #s are way off.But now you have a professional venue that will attract big sponsors and spectators can watch safely and the tv crews can film. ;)



Oh, so we'd be squeezed into the course's schedule.

Reese.....Am I correct that your belief is that the average cost per round for ball golfers at your courses is $10 per person?? I had a hard time following all your numbers, but that is what I thought I saw. In this part of the world, unless one goes to some little run-down 9-hole course with no amenities whatsoever, you can't find a greens fee for under $30, unless you're a county resident playing during the week. Besides that, at any decent course in a populated area getting a tee time can be tough. Players line up to get onto courses.

Reese....I believe there is definitely a place for the concept of disc golf on a ball golf course. But I also believe there is a place for free or inexpensive disc golf in public parks with port-a-johns. I don't see why it has to be one way or the other. With the sport's growth it's important that the recreational player can wander down to the local park with a disc or two and play a casual round and throw multiple shots and not have to be concerned with paying cart fees, greens fees, etc. But in populated areas where "one size won't fit all" I think it's a great idea to have the option of playing disc golf on a ball golf course.

I think you're probably aware that trying to get ball golf courses in this part of the world (NY/NJ) to buy into the notion of a disc golf course on their turf is a tough sell. There are courses that might bite, but i suspect that generally they are not "mainstream" ball golf courses. Any ball golf course that is busy and popular and well-respected in the tri-state area doesn't want and doesn't need extra traffic. You know from our prior conversations I'd be more than willing to assist you in any way with "your vision".

MY vision is that the sport will grow to the point where we'll find County Disc Golf courses with many of the same amenities that ball golf courses offer (pro shops, bathrooms, food service, etc). Then we get the best of both worlds: our own turf designed for OUR sport's design needs.

Dan all of my courses are under 10 bucks except sarasota that is 15 with cart.Mission after 1:00 on weekends.There are courses in your area that will need more rounds but it is toughest in CA we have no winter.I have never implied it is my way or no way the parks are the executive golf courses.A golf course can take over 200 players a day if not it has lost revnue.Golf can still have a round of golf for 32 bucks and us for 10 on the same day .I will be in Chicago in march for the first course inside the city limits.If it was not going on a golf course there would probably never be one in a park ever.Lots of major citys have this problem.Dan you have done an awsome job out there and courses like yours are the extension or bridge between park and the golf course.EVOLUTION fly 18 ;)

Why should WE have to run 5-somes?
Why should WE have to vacate the course by mid afternoon?
Why should OUR competitive event have to be second fiddle to casual golfers?

USDGC runs foursomes. More than that slows play.
USDGC has exclusive use of the course for as long as they need to complete play.
USDGC is the only game in town when it is being played.
And it's not on a golf course.

You could maybe run a C-tier like that, Reese, but our players deserve better than to be expected to get out of the way. What you proposed above is nothing special. I want our top tournaments to be special. Courses dressed with DISC GOLF banners. DISC GOLF vendors catering to the players and spectators. yada yada yada.

And, oh, just in case you've never been to a real PGA tournament, the spectators don't get to go into the clubhouse and use the restrooms. They use porta-potties out on the course.

Nothing at all wrong with my figures, Reese. They are based on a quality event, not a "hurry up and get outa here so those other guys can have their playground back" type of event.

If you can come up with a plan to run a top-notch disc golf event that rivals the atmosphere of a USDGC or even a lower level PGA event, that treats the players like something special instead of an annoyance, that will attract spectators in the middle of the day, then have at it.

Again, just my personal thoughts.

Jon you are so thich.Every player will play a 3 to 4 and 1/2 hr round how is that hurry up there is no golfers on your hole the whole round.You are stuck in a park forever with your thinking.Do the math 144 disc golfers in the morning and 100 golfers after 12 noon we all start on hole 1.we dont leave the course after 12;00 that is last tee time for disc golf. Having 5 somes saves 1 hr and 15 min in tee times and at 32 bucks a player for golf is alot that is 640 without carts close to $1000 with some carts.Water will seek its own level like HA HA munga water shed park..... :D

I hate to side with Reese, but until we get the money in our tournaments to be able to have enough excess cash to close a ball golf course down for a day, his is the way to go.

FYI, ball golf tournaments make money for the ball golf courses. Ball golf courses are thriving businesses. Shutting down a ball golf course is a business decision, and it doesn't make sense to juts give away a weekends worth of receipts for anything. Sorry, but that is the reality of it. :(

Working with the ball golf course business to create a way for a disc golf tourney to happen is difficult, but it can be done. But it can't be done with a "why should we compromise" attitude, because we are a drain on profits at this time for ball golf businesses.

But Emerald Isle sure is pretty, and a wonderful one day tourney will again happen there on April 2nd. :) And the course will be shut down and available for disc golfing only. :D

So, you do agree with me, Rhett.

There is no way to have a class act tournament on a ball golf course at this time because of the economics. The only way to do it is by playing in 5-somes, starting early, and finishing early enough so the golf course can get "back to business."

And I guess that's great for a local C-tier.

I still contend that for a National Tour or Major event, the time is not ready for disc golf on ball golf courses, because of the cost. Go back to what I said about this being a DISC GOLF event. When people come thousands of miles, pay hundreds of dollars, and compete for a prestigious title, it should be on a venue that is there for THEM. It should be open for practice without having to squeeze in between other users.

Why should we perpetuate the image that we are somehow less worthy of respect? Reese is right, you can run 5-somes, start at 7:00 am, leave the property when you are done. I don't dispute that at all.

I didn't ask anyone to "shut down the course for a weekend" for nothing. I would expect that if we were to have a QUALITY event, one worthy of TV coverage, of spectator interest, that we would PAY for the privilege. That was my point, that until we have the financial backing to pay for the overhead involved, we won't be using golf courses for events.

Now, who's THICK? Read what I wrote, Reese, not what you think I wrote.

Jon it is people like you that hold us back.The reason Emerald will close is because it is an ex course and people will be playing 2 rounds.And this is thier way of saying thank you for your support.I am talking about a championship course like mission or sarasota.I will leave you with your potatoes and UPS colored nose .I dont have time for your small thinking.Ask any top touring pro where does he or she love to play FLY 18 style. ;)

Disc Golf Live, with some seed money support from the PDGA, is beginning to make headway. In the cities where players have helped get it into the production stream, disc golfers are starting to hear from the friends and even random people, "Hey, I saw disc golf on TV the other night."

Anyone who thinks they've got local cable with public access should be checking it out and helping out: http://www.discgolflive.com/.

I am helping to run a B-tier this year in Illinois, which if everything goes well it should be an A tier next year. The parks in Rockford have already eluded to letting us use the nicest public ball golf course in the city for an A-tier. Let me tell you, this place is world class. I hope all comes together so it can be a reality. :D