0
Why and How You Should Be a Spectator at a Disc Golf Tournament
Disc golf is a pleasure to play. We are all in the sport to play and enjoy the great outdoors with friends and family. But there is another way to consume disc golf that can give you an entirely new appreciation for the sport; be a spectator. Not just a Youtube spectator, but an in-person spectator. There are hundreds of events every year across the globe mostly centered in the United States. Chances are that you have a tournament within a short drive of your home. It doesn’t matter if it is a big event with touring pros or a local tournament without the big names. Go and watch. There is much to appreciate and learn.
Preparation
Just like when you show up to play in a tournament, it is important to prepare for spectating. Research tee times and find players you would like to follow. Check out the players’ ratings and if there is anyone rated 1000 or higher I highly recommend following their card. There is much to glean when seeing these players in tournament mode. Beyond following a specific card, you can also set up at a certain hole and watch multiple cards play through. Maybe there is an iconic hole or a place where you can see multiple holes at once. Either way, make a plan for where you want to physically place yourself for the action.
Bring snacks and a good chair so you are free to hang in one spot for an extended time. Also, depending on your climate, bring the necessities to deal with the environment (ie; bug spray, hat, jacket, sunscreen, etc.). This allows you the comfort to hang out and mingle with other spectators for extended periods. Meet people and talk about what you are seeing. You can be fairly certain that anyone showing up to spectate a disc golf tournament has the same passion for the sport as you. Share this and grow together.
The atmosphere around a tournament is electric. Players are giving it their all and putting their will into every release of the disc. Beyond watching their shots, I highly recommend watching how players behave after shots. There are typically bigger emotional reactions due to the magnitude of a tournament. See how these reactions influence their next shots moving forward. Then observe how players behave when simply hanging out.
Logistics
Tournament rounds can be long (3-4 hours). Typically the entire course is filled with at least 4 players per hole. While you do not need to stay for the entirety of the round, you will want to soak in as much action as possible while ”blending in” so as not to be a distraction to the players. Tournaments have a bit more of an “edge” as players are laying it all on the line. With this in mind, let’s look at some unwritten rules when spectating.
Silence
Blend in with the background as much as possible. This means silence when players are taking shots, try not to move or be on the other side of the basket when players are putting, and generally allow the players space. Casual conversation is perfectly fine between shots but be respectful once players begin their pre-shot routine.
Cheering
The opposite of silence is cheering. Players LOVE when you cheer. It boosts their energy and provides an enjoyable environment that can get everyone’s energy moving. After a shot is thrown is the right time to be loud.
Enjoy Yourself
You will quickly feel the vibration of a tournament. While yes, there are a few things to do right, the most important part of spectating a tournament is to enjoy yourself. Befriend other spectators and appreciate the spectacle of live tournament disc golf.
Two Ways To Be A Spectator
There are two ways to approach disc golf observation at tournaments;
- 1. Observe the entire scene.
- 2. Observe the players to personally get better.
When you observe the entire scene you soak in the atmosphere of the tournament. Appreciate it ALL! From the moment you get out of your car open your senses. This encompasses the physical course itself, the wildlife, and the spirit of play. This is what sets disc golf apart from other sports. Disc golf is played in natural areas free of chemicals or the need to tame nature. The more trees the merrier! Think about all of the effort it took behind the scenes to allow the players to simply show up and put on a show. Observe all of the volunteers around the course helping in a variety of capacities. Observe tournament central and the vendors set up with all things disc golf. Observe the signage and markers and sponsor signs. Then bring your gaze back to the competition at hand.
Now it’s time to observe players so you can personally get better. First-person observations present a fuller picture of how to be a successful disc golfer. Youtube videos (and blogs!) can only get you so far. Are there aspects of your game that you are currently working on? Check out players specifically for these parts of their game. I also urge you to watch professionals when not throwing shots. Pick a player or a card and follow them for a few holes. Watch how they interact with their cardmates and how they react to shots. Check out their pre-shot routines and their general demeanor.
One helpful tool is to take a video of players throwing a multitude of shots. Get video of drives and upshots and putts and scramble shots and so on. You can always delete them later. Videos give us the ability to dissect the intricacies of individual shots. What did they do right? How was their lower body positioned? How does my throw compare to this?
Conclusion
Spectating at a disc golf tournament offers you much to learn and appreciate. Make sure you do some preparation before arriving so you are able to spectate for a few hours with relative ease. Soak in the entire scene as you meander around the course. You are sure to gain insights that make you a better player. And beyond this, give something back to the disc golf community. This may come in the form of supporting a vendor, volunteering at the course, or helping with a future event. This allows you to grow in the community as well as support the sport. And who knows, maybe someday people will come to watch you play.