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DISC GOLF LIFESTYLE
Week 4 - Should We Follow The Rules?
This one is most interesting because over the 20 years that I`ve been playing, it seems as though I`ve noticed a slow deterioration in quality of play as it pertains to rules of the game. Almost as if a “ghetto mentality” of ” ain`t none of your business if I`m doing something wrong over here” has taken over. In case anyone has forgotten, there are no referees in disc golf. So the responsibility is placed on ourselves to keep each other honest out there.
Should we follow the rules or play however we want?
Should others play by the rules or should we just mind our own business?
The prize is to be determined and will be equal to the strength of persuasion in the winner`s argument!
Winner will be announced on March 21st, 2009.
21 Responses to “Week 4 - Should We Follow The Rules?”
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February 22nd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
[…] Week 4 - Should We Follow The Rules? - This one is most interesting because over the 20 years that I`ve been playing, it seems as though I`ve noticed a slow deterioration in quality of play as it pertains to rules of the game. Almost as if a “ghetto mentality” of ” ain`t none of your business if I`m doing something wrong over here” has taken over. In case anyone has forgotten, there are no referees in disc golf. So the responsibility is placed on ourselves to keep each other honest out there. Should we follow the rules or play however we want? Should others play by the rules or should we just mind our own business? The prize is to be determined and will be equal to the strength of persuasion in the winner`s argument! Winner will be announced on March 21st, 2009. […]
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 am
During a tournament, league or any organized event it is a must to follow the rules set forth by the organizing body. Im just a novice player but I read the rules so I know Im not taking an advatage to win.
I will point out rule infractions to other players during an event, I pay to play organized events to compete and hopefully win with others in my division which keeps things even and if someone isint playing by the same rules I am it gives them the unfair advantage.
Now during a caual round we will add, remove, invent new rules as we go along … 99 times out of 100 were just playing for laughs the other 1 time its for who buys the first woobly pops. But we always do it as a group normaly before we start.
Even then its play by the rules. IMHO if you cant play by at least the basic rules of the game, Go throw your plastic somewhere else cause it aint disc golf your playin!
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
Rules are made to be bent and manipulated to fit the situation or to be Strictly adhered to.
For Disc Golf we tend to in some divisions be for lack of better terms ” Flippin Beaches” about the rules and whine like babys about things.
I say follow them, be honest about things you do wrong but dont be a FLIPPIN WHINEY BABY about it.
Coach Dave
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Rules are meant to unify a playing field. Fairness is important in any type of round, but is essential in tournaments. Rules are merely a vehicle for fairness.
When people pay money to compete, there are certain expectations. Each player is paying to be in a controlled environment. This is a place where all other variables except for talent and chance are held constant. The purpose of this is to discourage individuals from taking liberties that result in competitive advantage (falling putts, OB boundaries, extra throws, foot faults etc.) However minor these liberties may seem to a group, it’s still unfair.
When a play takes liberties, what happens to the rest of the group? Do they quantify the faults and grant themselves the same amount? Do the rules temporarily flex for a round? If so, there’s an enduring cost; similar attitudes permeate through future rounds. Fairness gradually degrades, and standards gradually diminish.
In any given round, many decisions and rulings that are subjective to the group. A group must decide on who the final judge of a call should be - PDGA, or the group? This complicates matters for a couple reasons.
The PDGA is one possible judge. These are ideal standards of etiquette and play. This is a great way to be exact, but also a great way to walk alone in a group. I don’t believe in nitpicking, I believe in competitive fairness; memorizing the section numbers is not the goal here. However, without these guidelines and boundaries, skill level may not matter as much (in a given division).
On the other hand, there’s group judgment. First off, if standards were solely based on the current group, it would narrow the scope of the game. It’s like language and currency; the more unified, the more effective (in theory). There is a positive side to group rules though, for instance: when a rule is broken, but the group decides that it did not produce any competitive advantage. This is different than a group not witnessing a blatant fault, which is another story I won’t get into to.
Competition is about equality, and eliminating advantages. No matter how the game is played, rules are meant to produce fairness. Oh yea, and have fun (fairly).
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
The rules should not be broken but I think this should only be in affect for PDGA sanctioned events. And non PDGA sanctioned events should be able to make up there own rules. The rules should be followed strictly but I dont think people should be such dicks about It like in some tournaments I go to theres always that one guy that is always a dick and will call any little foot foul or any stupid tiny rule and if you try to question him he will whip out the rule book. So I think it should be in affect for the major rules and you shouldnt try to not break the minor rules but not if its like one of the smallests rules in the game. So I think there should be a little leaway but not too much. It also depends on the size of the tournament and how big of a tournament it is. As some tournaments enforce them more than others.
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Just like any tournament, you have rules to follow. If there is good money being invested in the chance of coming out on top and leaving with more than you put in, people should have enough integrity to follow the simple rules of the game. Of course some don’t so somebody has to have that integrity for them. I’m sure nobody likes a stickler for the rules, but some rules being broken can change the outcome. I think discretion has to be used. If someone takes three steps past the tee pad, they need to be called on it. If someone slips on the edge of the tee pad, twists their ankle, and throws deep in O.B., give them a break.
I was in a tourney one time and a guy in our group had the runs. There was a bathroom at the end of a hole and he went out of turn (by a few feet). The guy he went in front of tripped out and wanted him to take a stroke because he said it broke his concentration. He hadn’t even touched his disc until the guy was finished relieving himself because he ran so fast to get there. That’s when I say, give the guy a break.
If the PDGA wants the cleanest game possible, they need to have someone at every hole to “referee”. If there were no referee in an NBA game, how well do you think that would go over? I’d say for the situation we are in, we are doing pretty well.
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Yes , follow the Rules !!!!
I’m a PDGA Tour Official.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:57 am
It seems to me that the enforcement of rules is entirely situational. If your playing in a sanctioned event, where each participant has paid in, and where money (or some other prize) may or may not be won, than a common set of rules should be followed, and no exceptions should be permitted. The point of rules in this situation are to even the playing field and minimize any advantages from one player to another.
Now, if you’re just out on the course with some friends playing a round for fun, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to bend the rules - or make up a few of your own - just so long as these rules are agreed upon by all the members of your party. Personally, I play the same way in any situation. I follow the rules at all times, strictly because I feel that by not doing so, I’m cheating myself out of an honest round. If I shoot an extra two under because I bent the rules a little, how can I honestly say that my skill alone helped me shoot so well? Sure, I could tell everyone I walked away with my best score, but did I really? I’d much rather toss a horrible round on my own merits than beat the course with my own rules in place.
That being said, I certainly do not impose my thoughts and opinions on anyone else when I’m out on the course. I play the way I play, and I expect everyone who plays with me to respect that, much in the same way I will respect the way they choose to play. If any member of the group breaks a rule - and I know that they know that they’re breaking a rule - I say nothing. How they play is up to them. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not playing against anyone in my group, anyway. I play against the course, so what do I care how they choose to score their round? The only time I’ll say anything is if I take along a new player who is unfamiliar with the rules of the game. Even in this situation, I’m just relaying information, not laying down the law.
It seems to me to be a complete matter of principle. Do you want to win based on the strength of your skill alone? Or, do you need a little help to get that sought-after score?
February 25th, 2009 at 9:40 am
It has been all most a full year sense I began playing and I have taken part in 6 tournaments. I have learned a lot of the rules and make sure that I obey them but when I see other people unintentionally break them I don’t usually say anything(personally I’m not always confident about what the ruling or penalty is). I hope this year to be more vocal and informed on the rules, because if were gonna compete then we need to all play by the same rules.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
i think that if you dont follow the rules then your not really playing the game. the rules are part of the challenge and the fun. if im out with a group i make sure that everyone plays fair it will only make you better in the end.
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Follow the rules !~!~!~!
We are in competition against other people why shouldnt we ? Practice rounds are just that practice rounds, you are practicing all aspects of your game so therefore you should be following the pdga guidelines that are set forth.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I played ball golf way before disc golf. I started ball golf when I was 7 and Disc Golf when I was 26. Playing ball golf you definitley play by the rules. I carry that mentality over to disc golf and play as many rules as I know. The last round I played I had a disc go towards a creek. Fortunate for me it was leaning on the bank and not submerged, thus, NO PENALTY. Gotta love the rules sometimes!!!
March 14th, 2009 at 6:00 am
I believe that you should always have to play by the rules. Rules make the game harder and it will get you better for tournament play. If you play practice rounds without rules, it will create bad habits that will carry over to tournament play and cost you strokes. I believe that if you want to get better you play by the rules, and encourage everyone else to do so. If you’re playing with people who don’t know the rules teach them. It will make the game better.
March 17th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I play by the rules. I do it for myself,my standards.Most times I would’nt call a rule violation on anyone else because either they dont care about the rules or, its not worth the effort to explain it or,it would take away from my focus on what I need to do.I won’t play for money with people who don’t follow the rules.Its easy to question the value of playing without them!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
“This is’nt nam donnie, There are rule’s”– Walter in the Big Libowski.
Sums it all up to me, I play by them and try to learn all that I can about them so I know when others break them.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I believe that all rules should be followed! It’s done in every other sport. This is a sport is it not?
March 20th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Rules, Not only should they be followed but they should also be enforced!
Granted some rules seem silly but they were meant for a purpose.
Thoses purposes include the following,
1)Safety
2)Uniformity
3)Professionalism
4)Preservation of wildlife and the course
The rules are a major key to safety within and around the sport. Without these rules more people would be getting hurt either my injuries due to lack of common sense (Throwing from the middle of a road) or because more people getting hit with discs.
The concept of uniformity is key to the rules. Rules give everyone an equal opportunity based on skill level not just luck. Rules make it so that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed or fail.
Without rules things would be very chaotic. Everyone would have their own way to play. One person would jump putt within 15 feet where another person would think it would be illegal. Rules bring a professionalism to the game to that everyone playing knows what to expect.
Rules help preserve our courses and the wildlife within them. The rules give strict penalties for course destruction. Thus helping to preserve course so that players of the future will be able to continue to use it.
Players often in tournaments circumvent the rules sadly for their own gain. To give themselves an edge. Sometimes even simply because they feel bad calling penalties. If an infraction of the rules occurs then call the penalty! If you know you are in violation then don’t do it. If you see an infraction call it. The rules do matter.
Without rules why not just toss the discs into the air and then slam dunk them for the score. A bit dramatic I know but every little instance where you do not call the penalty on another player you are only hurting your own score, your own chances of winning.
Bottom line Rules matter. Learn them, abide by them, enforce them!
March 21st, 2009 at 3:29 am
hey now,following any/all rules in life makes that person knowledgeable.Be the leader,not the follower.However,one must follow the rules to succeed.Peace
March 21st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Man, those are some REAL and thought provoking answers. I find myself agreeing with most, if not all of the comments. Can we hear from some of the people who don`t want to follow any rules? How about some out-n-out cheaters? You can remain anonymous. Any pencil-whippers out there?
March 21st, 2009 at 8:24 pm
We have a WINNER! This week`s winner is Jake M….Jake, you win a $50 Gift Certificate and some other fun stuff! Jake…shop as usual…and avoid PANIC BUYING!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:00 am
WOO! Thanks all!