Disc Golf: Public Perception vs. Reality

I find myself defensive, when I tell someone I play disc golf, and they ask what it is. And after my explanation, the response I get is either a laugh or the comment, “are you serious?” But instead of showing anger or frustration at the responses I get, I’ve decided to apply my energy in a different direction.

Part of our mission is to change the public perception of this great sport, which is to some, a rather daunting task. My realization, after recently being laughed at for playing disc golf, is that people tend to shrug off or laugh at that which they do not understand or have any knowledge about. The best way to change perception is to educate, and what better way to do that then to recruit new people to come out and play the sport.

So, instead of being angry at those who are just uneducated about the sport, my new response to the “are you serious?” question is something like this: “I understand why you would think it’s funny. Just imagine what people used to say to the idea of taking a piece of iron and whacking a ball down a field towards a little hole. Now golf is one of the more respected a revered sports of the upper class. You should come out a play a round of disc golf with me, I’m sure you’d love it.”

What I have noticed is that, after I say something like that, you can see the light bulb go on, and their skepticism diminish a bit. Even cooler, some people are actually interested in coming out to play. I’ll keep you posted on how many newcomers I can turn on to the sport, and I hope you can do the same.