Welcome back everyone!
I apologize that this post was delayed. But here we are again! Let's get back to talking about the wonderful world of disc golf. My last post we explored some basic items that you will want to bring to the course, as well as dress attire depending on the season or weather you are playing in. Now as you venture on to your first hole, well prepared for the terrain, it's good to know some disc golf etiquette.
What I will be discussing aren't technical rules of the game, but something to know for politeness and safety while playing around others.
Let's begin!
Let people pass: On the course, you will see different size groups playing. From 10 people in a group to single players. It's good to be aware of who else is playing around you. An example of letting people pass is seeing a single person playing behind you that is catching up to your game and they end up waiting for you to finish your turn at a hole. If this is the case, wait to throw at the next hole and let the single player that was behind you play this hole first. You're going to see more experienced players who play at a faster pace. Let them pass so you can take your time and go at a pace that is comfortable for you. The more you play, the chances are you will become faster and someone will be letting you pass as well.
Wait until the person in your group throws before walking to your disc: This is both proper etiquette and a safety rule. If you get hit with a disc, trust me, they hurt and can cause injury depending where it hits a person. I recently almost got hit by not paying attention and walking in front of someone throwing while playing with a group of friends. It missed me by a second, but I did feel it fly past me and that disc would have hurt! That being said, after everyone throws off the tee, the person that threw the shortest should throw first before anyone else runs to where their disc landed. After that, the second shortest throw from the tee should throw and so forth until you land in the basket. This etiquette also applies to people who are already throwing on the hole and you are waiting for them to finish. Do not throw off the tee while you are waiting for another group. They aren't paying attention to you (nor should they since they are in the middle of a turn) and you can potentially hit them.
Clear the basket: Once everyone gets near the basket to finish the hole, take your disc out of the basket after you have completed your turn before someone else throws. Disc's already have a tendency to deflect off the basket and not make it in, so why make it harder for someone to make the basket due to your disc hanging out in there.
Find a disc return a disc: Most courses are in woodies areas, have big ponds near or through them, or are very hilly. This can make finding where your disc lands challenging. Some times, when looking for your disc, you may find previous players' discs as well. It's only right to call them and let them know their disc was found, or hand the disc over to the pro shop near you (if there is one) so they can make the call and keep the disc safe until it is returned to it's owner. In Vermont, the alchemist brewery use to have this incentive where if you find a lost disc and return it to them so they can find the owner, you get a free beer. I'm unsure if other places do that, but I found that was an awesome example of the disc golfing community showing how they support one another. However, don't take other players lost discs. I believe good karma comes back around. So when a player finds your lost disc, odds are they will call you. Lastly, if you're in a group and someone loses a disc, everyone should stop and try to find the disc. Discs tend to blend in with the surroundings of the course. Be a team player. The more eyes you have on it, the more likely chance you'll find it. (Tip: write your name and phone number in sharpie on the back of your disc so someone can contact you if lost)
Please keep quiet until disc is thrown: I think this is one of the most important etiquette rules when being respectful to players around you. Just like in a regular game of golf with a ball and club, players are trying to concentrate on their throws. If you're talking during someones turn, making loud noises or have music on, it can be incredibly distracting. You won't want someone talking during your throw. The polite thing to do is stay quiet until they are done throwing. Just remember to root your friends on afterwards they have finished throwing. It's one of my favorite parts when playing with my boyfriend or other friends is that we cheer each other on after they throw or give them tips to improve their game.
Protect and respect nature: I know at times it's hard when your disc lands in bushes, a mossy area or in an area with a sign that says 'Do not enter', but the biggest thing I want you to get out of this is not purposely destroying the trees, other surrounding nature or littering when playing. A lot of these courses are in already established parks that have been preserved way before the course was already created. So you will see people who aren't playing enjoying a nature walk, picnics, or people just trying to get outside in these communal areas. My favorite 9 hole course to play, near my house, had to recently change it's lay out due to people walking over to retrieve their discs and creating an unwanted trail. One of the holes was on a fragile meadow and the walking was causing severe damage to that ecosystem. They had to put signs up around the area for the players to be mindful when throwing and placed the basket away from the meadow. All in all, be respectful when at a course. These places are for everyone and keeping a green thumb is important so other people that visit and animals that live their have a pleasant experience.
Have fun: Disc golfing can become very frustrating at times when you're not having a good game. Playing disc golf should be fun and a time to enjoy with friends and family or an opportunity for 'me time' so you can unwind from your daily routine. My advice if you become frustrated is to take a deep breath, mediate for a second, or rest and let others pass you until you are ready to continue. I'm one to get in my head, which never helps. If that happens in the middle of my game, I will sit and meditate at the start of the next tee, but then will resume once my head is clear. I have fun playing, I never want to end my time in a bad mood and neither should you.
The last thing I find helpful when playing disc golf is learning the basics rules of the game. However, I believe knowing the etiquette to disc golf is more important to learn first as a beginner. You can be on a course not know the technical rules especially since I have seen new players who do that. But not knowing how to act while you're on a course can ruin the game for everyone else. Disc golf is a game where everyone respects the players around them and that is the key when being on the course. I would like to go more in depth in about the rules of the game, but I'm going to save that for another post and stick to the basics. Until then, keep a good pace, be mindful and remember the etiquette that we went over in todays blog. I believe with the knowledge I gave you so far, you are capable of playing a round of disc golf before we dive into a more in depth conversation about the rules and regulations of the game. But until next week, have fun and keep on throwing those discs!
Your curious disc golfer,
Rebecca
I used the udisc and innova discs website as a source to write this piece. If you are interested in reading more about it, here are the websites:
https://udisc.com/blog/post/stay-classy-disc-golfers-rules-of-disc-golf-etiquette
https://www.innovadiscs.com/disc-golf-pro-tips/disc-golf-etiquette/
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