A query of #growthesport in your favorite social media app will result in hundreds of thousands of posts for sports that may not be mainstream.
The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is the governing body of the sport and has issued just over 130,000 memberships from 1976 to 2019. The events that came about due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on disc golf, and they were for the good and growth of the sport. They were, also, for the good of the people who picked up a disc for the first time in 2020. What was this sport that didn’t require a green fee or expensive equipment to get started and was an outdoor activity when everything else indoors was locked down? What was this sport that seems easy in concept but is actually a challenge? What is this sport that since 2020 saw PDGA membership increase more than two-fold in the last three years of its nearly 50-year existence?
This sport is something more than meets the eye. It is something that has helped families grow closer, allowed friendships to blossom, and given people an outlet when the world was in a place never before seen (and by God’s grace, hopefully never seen again). Disc golf grew so rapidly in this time frame because it was not exclusive to any demographic, and everybody was looking for something to do. The ability to have real, face-to-face interaction with other people was necessary at that time, and the nature of the game provided that personal interaction in a way that limited people’s exposure to the virus.
This sport is something more than meets the eye.
How does all this relate to New Mexico? Carlsbad, in particular, has a local club that grew in numbers during this time frame. Disc golf in Carlsbad is its own community within the greater community. Every day, you are likely to find players on the course, regardless of the weather. Local players may be found, not only playing on the course, but also participating in community events like trash pick-ups and fundraisers for local organizations. Disc golf tournaments have been held to benefit nonprofit organizations in the community. Events have been held to raise funds for youth to go to the Junior World Disc Golf Championships. This is true not only for Carlsbad, but you will find local clubs in Hobbs, Roswell, and Ruidoso that are doing similar things for the good of their communities. Carlsbad, Roswell, Hobbs, and Ruidoso all host PDGA-sanctioned events throughout the year. These events bring people from all over the region to take their shot at event titles, cash for professionals, and prizes for amateurs. This in turn brings revenue to each respective city’s local restaurants, hotels, gas stations, breweries, and shops.
Disc golf has grown into something more than a walk in the park throwing a frisbee at a target. It is a community, a lifestyle, and even a lucrative career for the best in the world. It brings people together for competition, laughter, and a way to get outside and move. The sport has become a way to serve your community through fundraising and local volunteer events. Disc golf has evolved into something that can help grow the good for your club, community, and state.
Article written by Whit Storey and originally published in Focus on Carlsbad 2024 Spring edition.
White Storey
Whit Storey started playing disc golf casually in 2014 when he moved to Carlsbad. He began playing competitively and traveling to regional events in 2020. He is one of the Tournament Directors for Carlsbad’s annual PDGA-sanctioned Lost Disc Island tournament and currently serves as the Treasurer for the Carlsbad Disc Golf Club. Whit started a small business, Gypsy Road Disc Golf, which is one of the main sponsors of the event. In addition to disc golf, Whit likes to go hiking with his three Border Collies and Blue Heeler. He can also be found bass and trout fishing throughout the state.
