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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

steve dodge

Lines seemingly drawn in disc golf standoff

September 14, 2016

It’s been awhile since I’ve paid much attention to the world of disc golf.

There were many reasons I walked away from the sport a few years ago. Not that I ever was a great player, but it was a fun game and I enjoyed going to events and tournaments. Though one of the reasons I stopped was because I had to drive more than an hour to play at a decent course and that I had a new job, another was because I didn’t like certain directions the sport at the higher levels was going.

Up until that point, I had run a pretty successful disc golf blog (rattlingchains.com) and tried to utilize journalism as a way to cover the sport, rather than basic Q&As or reviews. I think, for the most part, me and the group of people who worked tirelessly and voluntarily did a solid job of covering that mission.

Still, I had lost my true like for the sport for various reasons and decided I needed to walk away, so I did. I’m not saying I’ll never play another disc golf round again, but I knew I needed to take a long break and not worry about it. I do still read a couple of blogs, and I watch tour standings for the pros and all (after all, a few top-level pros had contributed to Rattling Chains, so it’s nice to see them continue to grow and push the sport), but I have distanced myself from other parts.

Steve Dodge, as shown here at the 2011 Vibram Open, is a visionary in the sport of disc golf and has made a big stand in hoping to help the game.

Steve Dodge, as shown here at the 2011 Vibram Open, is a visionary in the sport of disc golf and has made a big stand in hoping to help the game.

Part of that is the PDGA, which is the governing body of the sport. Though the reality is you never will agree with everything a governing board does, I scratched my head more often than not about things the PDGA did. For those who read my blog, you may recall me writing about a phone interview I had where one of the questions I was asked about my like or dislike of dogs?

Yeah, this post covers that.

Let’s just say that the interview came with a certain governing body of a sport I once used to play on a more regular basis.

Anyway, over the few years I ran Rattling Chains, I had the opportunity to interview, talk with, and pick the brains of many prominent people in the industry. Some of them were higher up, so to speak than others. Some of these people I still call friends to this day, which is something I hold a bit more near and dear.

And some of these people I would also call visionaries. I don’t use that term lightly, but when dealing with a sport that is still in its grassroots era and trying to grow beyond an image of pot, booze, and flipping Frisbees, you need visionaries.

You need somebody like Steve Dodge.

I met Steve several years ago through a mutual friend and I came to like and respect Steve at the highest level. His mind on the game is amazing. He’s the head of Vibram’s disc golf division. And though he told me, honestly, that he loved the idea of what I was trying to accomplish with Rattling Chains, the reality was it might be a little before the time (it was) that the sport needed something like that.

I had the chance to watch Steve in several capacities and I’ve tried to maintain some contact with him as much as I can. This past summer, he actually contacted me about possibly doing some work with him — to help get media coverage and give some as well for this fledging new tour he was working on — The Disc Golf Pro Tour. Unfortunately, with my schedule for the summer, it just wasn’t a match. But it made me look to see what he was doing and, as per normal, his vision was moving the game in a good direction.

Recently, I read a blog Steve posted about a pro player being suspended for 18 months for actions on the course. With not being there and only reading a few reports, I can’t really comment on the situation. Apparently, this player has had issues before and was currently on probation. Apparently, the situation, too, includes some possible physicality. If all that is true, I have a hard time thinking this person shouldn’t be suspended for some length — but is 18 months too long?

That’s what the PDGA did, though.

Now, disc golf touring pros go grassroots. They make their money in many ways, be it sponsorship, tournament winnings, clinics, etc. So this would definitely cut into a person’s living if he couldn’t play sanctioned tournaments. And I’m not defending any negative actions he did. If any normal person did something negative like this, they’d likely be suspended or fired. Just because he’s an athlete doesn’t mean he should get special treatment.

Disc golf really is a great sport, but it needs to keep growing in many ways and with many people.

Disc golf really is a great sport, but it needs to keep growing in many ways and with many people.

But it seems like there are other ways to take care of this, as well as making sure you still uphold the integrity of the game and keep top players playing.

And these are the types of things, too, that I’ve long said hurt the sport reaching the mainstream more. You can’t have tantrums and physical confrontations and things like that, mixed in with how many people view the sport already (hippy sport) and expect it to grow in a positive light. I remember a few years ago when I was playing in a tournament and saw one of the most amazing meltdowns I’ve ever seen by an adult. Screaming, throwing of discs and bags and, eventually, walking off the course.

If you get like that over throwing plastic — no matter your level of play — you need a dose of reality and a suspension is likely called for. But back to the original — is 18 months too long? Does it hurt the sport? Normally I would say probably not. But in this situation it might. A punishment can be handed down without that long of a suspension and without just extending a probationary period. Maybe a mix of the two and some fines might help. But when handing out punishments, sometimes you have to look at a lot of things. Again, I wasn’t there and I didn’t see it, as well as only hearing certain aspects. So take that all with a grain of salt as I’m going off what I have heard/read.

As the governing body of the sport, the PDGA has to accomplish many things. Since I’ve left playing the game on a regular basis, I watch things to see if it continues to grow. I know at a local level, some things have (local to me) because I still see one or two area clubs and what they do is amazing. But, that’s local. That’s not the PDGA. Most things I see happening in a positive way are more grassroots. I’m not saying the PDGA doesn’t do anything good — the organization does — but not at the level it probably should.

Taking all this in mind, I was still shocked when I saw Steve Dodge’s Disc Golf Pro Tour, which is holding its championship this weekend, decide to not sanction the tournament. That means it is no longer a PDGA event. So, those playing in it won’t do anything with their PDGA ratings etc.

In the end, for the pro players, that probably doesn’t matter. After all, they’ll still get paid if they place. The PDGA doesn’t hand over money for tournament directors to give to the winners.

This is a bigger issue, though, and Steve Dodge is making a stand. He outlines in his post why he is doing this and he isn’t afraid to call the PDGA out. I encourage you to read Steve’s post and form your own thoughts and opinions on this stand.

Basically, according to Steve’s post, the PDGA is not working with the DGPT, and the DGWT (a world tour that also started this year) in regard to scheduling, working together on other aspects etc.

So, the PDGA basically drew the line in the sand and took their discs and went home. Steve has seemingly shrugged and grabbed his own discs and is playing anyway.

This is a good thing. This is the type of stance that makes organizations take notice. This is the type of situation that can lead to eventual change.

For disc golf to get to the next level, a lot of things have to happen. But people like Steve Dodge and others have visions that need to get some attention. The PDGA seems to walk the same line (at least as long as I’ve been near the sport), which doesn’t necessarily grow the sport. Little things are good, but you can’t do everything as one organization. Steve Dodge is being smart — he’s looking to grow the professional tournament end of things. Bigger prize money and things like that.

Change doesn't happen overnight, but it takes something big to usually make change happen.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it takes something big to usually make change happen.

But the game needs to grow underneath for it to be bigger and bigger and that means the amateurs, and the people who just go out and chuck discs. Without them, you lose a base that allows the pro tour to continue to get bigger. It takes time and it takes a lot of vision to be able to shape the direction of a growing sport. But for a professional tour to grow and gain major sponsors, you need fans. The way to keep growing a fanbase is to grow at the lower levels and not just be worried about a professional tour. That’s something the PDGA should fully invest in doing, especially when you have people like Steve Dodge and Jussi Meresmaa (Disc Golf World Tour) utilizing great visions for a top-level pro tour. These are people the PDGA should be working with, not necessarily against or in competition with.

Growing the game also means having the ability to change your thinking and be open to ideas that go beyond the realm of the organization’s normal thought process. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that’s the direction the governing body always leans.

I hope this move Steve made makes some waves. It might or it might not. For the good of the sport, hopefully this is the move to make all parties involved realize they need to work together, and work together well. If not, it could come down to high-level players having to choose sides about where they play. At that point, it’s going to likely come down to prize money (and for a pro, it should), and that ultimately could be something that splits the sport in different directions.

Steve Dodge has talked about a tour like this for as long as I’ve known him. His drive and passion is unmatched by nearly any person I’ve ever met in the disc golf world. He’ll make this succeed and make it bigger — of that I have no doubt — and he’s already proven he’ll do it with or without the PDGA.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!

Filed Under: Disc golf, My world Tagged With: change, disc golf, disc golf pro tour, disc golf visionary, disc golf world tour, pdga, steve dodge, vibram steve dodge

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Weekend away: Vibram Open

September 6, 2011

Nate Doss sinks a putt from down low.

There’s something to be said about watching professionals perform their craft.

It doesn’t matter what it is. It can be tiddlywinks. Or basket weaving. Baseball. Football. Photography. Anything.

If one is a professional at something, it shows they are above a normal Joe at that specific thing.

Take, for example, baseball. I’m a Phillies fan. Therefore, I can get as frustrated as other fans when I see Ryan Howard strike out by chasing a ball in the dirt time after time.

But when he connects, there might not be anything prettier in the game.

And, as much as I am not a fan of the NBA and never was a true fan of Michael Jordan, watching him play back in the day was a bit of poetry.

The same can be said of disc golf.

Val Jenkins is one of the top women's pro disc golf players.

Though not a fully mainstreamed sport, disc golf is really picking up steam. There are things that I believe would need to be fixed for it to become a true mainstream sport, but that’s for another day. For now, let’s look at what it is.

First, it’s not Frisbee. Or Frisbee golf. Or frolf. It’s disc golf. And some of these professionals make $20,000 -$30,000 or more in a year playing it. Seriously. For his win this past weekend at the Vibram Open, Nate Doss won $3,000. Yes, $3,000 for a weekend of disc golf. Now, your normal Joe can’t pull that off. I realize that. But like any other professional sport, it has to start somewhere.

I spoke with Chris Sprague following the event. Sprague is a professional and finished in a tie for 21st at the Vibram (and still took home $575!) Anyway, he mentioned some things that he thinks need to improve to push the spot along, but for now, he likens it to the PGA in the 1950s. Back when players crashed at people’s homes and the tour was in its infant stages. It’s grassroots.

That’s disc golf right now.

Nikko Locastro is regarded by many as one of the best in the world and the future of the sport.

The PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) is the “head” organization for the sport and holds the major tournaments as well as the National Tour. The Vibram Open this past weekend at Maple Hill Disc Golf Course in Massachusetts was the final event on the tour and decided its champions.

There were a couple of thousand people who came out over the course of the weekend to watch this event. The final day featured anywhere from 100-200 people following the final card, depending on the spot on the course where the foursome was at that point. Another 100 or 200 were waiting foursomes as they came up the 18th fairway. It was quite a scene.

I went with Darren this weekend to the Vibram Open to volunteer. I helped with the media things, writing a few press releases and doing something for the PDGA’s magazine following the tournament. But what this gave me the chance to do was to see, interact and deal with several of the top disc golfing stars.

What I found is that many of them are extremely down to Earth.

Several of them, after I interviewed them, asked where things were going to be published. It’s not such a huge sport where these players don’t worry about what’s being written. It’s still at the point where I think many like to see their names in publications. Or photos. It’s not like an MLB or NFL player who probably couldn’t keep up with how much is written about them.

The weekend didn’t go without speed bumps, however. And that happens. In a sport like this, people aren’t really “trained” to speak with the media. Some might not want to. Some might be too emotional to deal with it. It happens. That will change as the sport grows, hopefully.

That being said, most of the top pros are approachable and speak well. They signed autographs without issue. They chatted with fans, fellow lower-level pros and anyone else.

Reigning World Champion Paige Pierce is one of the brightest young stars in the women's field.

Then they played.

Oh did they play.

To watch someone throw a disc some 500 feet or more is a amazing. Then to watch them throw one 200 feet through a six-foot-wide opening in the woods is even more incredible.

It really made me want to get better. Not that I’ll be at this level, but it was still something that made me say that I wanted to improve.

They putted from 30 feet like it was nothing. I saw people nail 75-80-foot putts like it was normal.

The men. The women. They all were incredible.

Still, the sport needs to grow. There are some things that can be fixed. Namely, the ability to watch or get coverage. The reality is that many disc golf courses are built in the woods. It’s the nature of the game. But for people to watch, they need to keep behind the players. TV and media people are often ahead, but that’s a small crop.

The crowd stands behind Nate Doss and Nikko Locastro.

When one goes to a PGA event, they can line the fairway and circle a green. With disc golf, because the throws are often eye level, one needs to try and stay out of the vision plane of the person throwing.

Darren and I were speaking to Avery Jenkins, a former World Champion, following the tournament. He made a few good points, such as Tiger Woods doesn’t have to worry about all the trees when he drives the ball. He noted that just because a disc golf course hole might be open doesn’t always make it easy.

It’s food for thought, that’s for sure.

The sport needs to grow and there will eventually have to find a way to make it a little more exciting for fans to come watch. If you are close, it’s wild. But when you are in the back of the crowd and can’t see a lot, it’s not as much fun. What these guys can do with discs is pretty wild — from making them go left or right, straight and long, rolling on the ground and other things, it’s cool stuff.

They get emotional, just like anyone else, when things go wrong.

They smile, wave or pump a fist when they make a good shot and a crowd cheers them on.

This sport has a chance to make it big. It just needs to grow into it.

Players, for the most part, seemed to embrace the fans, media and anyone else. Most seem to realize that to get to the next level (which, of course, would mean bigger purses, bigger sponsorships and more), they need to take any coverage they can get. It’s true. This sport has a chance. It just needs to really push forward.

Tournament director Steve Dodge and runner-up Sarah Stanhope share a laugh during the awards ceremony.

Someone like Steve Dodge — the tournament director at the Vibram Open and a very big part of the disc golf scene — really gets it. He has some excellent visions and I hope he gets the chance to see them to fruition. It’s people like this that disc golf needs.

But beyond this, the grassroots campaign has to continue.

Pros need to embrace the lower-level amateurs. Work with them. Realize these are the fans. When Nate Doss or Avery Jenkins is out having a hot dog or a chat with the normal Joes that came to watch them, that goes a long way. Taking photos with fans or shaking hands and slapping five during the tournament doesn’t hurt. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they should concentrate more on that than their play during a tournament, but a quick slap of a couple fans’ hands can’t hurt if the pro just made a sick putt.

The key word I would give the pros is to embrace it. And let the fans do the rest.

There are some easily marketable men and women in this sport. From Nate Doss, Nikko Locastro, Dave Feldberg and Avery Jenkins to Paige Pierce, Val Jenkins and Sarah Hokom or Sarah Stanhope. There are great young players like Ricky Wysocki and Paul Ulibarri. The names are there. The ability is there. Disc golf just has to push forward. It has to market itself first. And, to quote the movie Field of Dreams, “if you built it, they will come.”

It won’t be an easy trip, though.

When I tell friends about disc golf, I still get the people wondering why I want to play a sport that seems based in “hippies, smoking illegal things or getting drunk and throwing a frisbee.” Though I realize these things happen — and I’ve seen it — I play the sport for the fun. I’m learning. And I see many people who don’t fit this stereotype. The game needs to shake that image first, then keep pushing.

And these pros I saw at the Vibram Open are a good bunch to start that with.

Play the game and play it right. Don’t mess with the public persona. Don’t let the public keep that image of the sport. It’s there for the taking. It won’t happen overnight, but it’s possible. And places like the Vibram Open are great tools to use to show that disc golf can be a big-time sport.

Now, back to me. I learned a lot this weekend. And for that, I’ll be grateful. Some of the things I’ve learned:

  • I need to, and want to, get better
  • Putting is huge in this game (I knew this already, it was solidly re-enforced)
  • Big-time pros can make the same mistakes I make
  • The pro women are as much fun to watch as the men
  • Avery Jenkins can throw the disc… a long way.

The experience started out rough when I first got there, I won’t lie. But as the weekend went on, I had the chance to meet people, talk with more and learn a lot. I hope I have the chance again at some point.

The tournament was also carried on Disc Golf Planet. I see they have been replaying it, so it might be worth a check if you are interested.

I took a lot of photos this weekend, too. If interested, you can check them out in their Flickr set.

Note: I received some cool things this weekend from a vendor at the tournament and I will be holding a couple of contests soon for those items!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!

Filed Under: Disc golf, My world, Photography, Sports Tagged With: avery jenkins, chris sprague, disc golf, nate doss, nikko locastro, paige pierce, paul ulibarri, pdga, professional disc golf association, ricky wysocki, sarah hokom, sarah stanhope, steve dodge, val jenkins, vibram, vibram open, vibram open disc golf tournament

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