is this course getting a lot more crowded recently than in summers past? I've read that our sport is growing, and I think I am noticing it first hand the last few times I went to Jericho. Now I haven't been playing DG very long, definately not as long as most of you, but I swear last summer at this time I could go to Jericho on a Tuesday afternoon and play through the whole course in under 45 minutes. The last few times i've been there (weekdays and weekends) the course has been crowded as hell, large groups everywhere, people waiting to tee off, etc.. Are any of you guys seeing this with the courses you play the most?
Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing for disc golf, but I miss having the course to myself sometimes. Anyways, what I'm wondering is this: Have you noticed a recent "growth spurt" in DG recently as in this summer, or do you think it has been more of a steady growth? Hopefully this will mean more courses built as popularity grows. Does anyone here work with or know anyone who works with any of the disc companies and knows if their sales have been increasing this past quarter? I just wanted to share some observations as a fellow player. What do you guys think?
I think there's been a HUGE spike of new players just down in that general area. you're right, that is great for the sport, but unfortunately there isn't always enough course to go around all the time!
Sounds like it's kinda getting to be like Crystal Lake status with large groups on every hole. There was a backup of about 4 groups at one point at Crystal Lake over the weekend.
Try playing before noon.
Quote from: Top Banana on June 20, 2007, 01:30:12 PM
Try playing before noon.
Wish I could, unfortunately my job prevents that from happening.
i totally understand where u are coming from doug. obvoiusly its good to have more players on the course, but it can piss off like a mother. i've had to just suck it up find open soccer fields or places like that that I can have to myself. its not as much fun but is the only way your going to get alot of throws in a short amount of time because rounds just take too long with large groups on every hole.
the other option is to just throw into the large groups and get very hostile at anybody who is carrying less than 3 discs. i can go either way.
i haven't really noticed a huge spike over the numbers i saw last year. the courses around me seemed pretty full the last few years. i thnk jericho is just new and thats why it took awhile for it to really start to get alot of action.
Warren Township has had increased activity over last year. But like Dan says, it is people finding out that there is a course in that location.
I play Jericho at least 5 times a week, and the other courses around here seem more crowded to me, there's always a full lot and folks waiting to start at St. Charles and West Park, especially. Saturday before last, I was the only player on the course at Jericho from about 9:30 until 11:00am, so the suggestion to try to go early is a good one. Of course you could be like Cubby and play in the middle of the night (plenty of time to sleep later)...
Or be like Dan, act like you own the place and everyone else is in your way. He must be fun when the goobs have their grill on his tee pad!
One problem with increased traffic is that a lot of the new players don't know basic rules (like throw from behind your lie, etc). If you got some extra time and are solo, join another group and use it as an opportunity to help better the sport.
^^^^^ yea, i'm noticing this as well. Just yesterday I was about to tee off from 14, the long one at the far end, and this group of young punks come walking from the soccer field and throw their disks in the basket as i'm standing there about to tee off, so they basically cut in front of me. Now i'm laid back so i don't get too irked easily but they then proceed to f*uck around on the next hole by throwing multiple discs each, and chasing eachother around, etc... Very uncool, when I asked to play through they pretty much ignored me.
But I'm a bit shy to ask to join a group, plus i'm a beginner myself so I don't think i'm qualified enough to "school" other players on the sport. But I should be more outgoing in this regard if I keep showing up to play solo.
Rev Rick: I totally hear you about St. Charles, not only is that place becoming way crowded lately, but it has now become the high school "hippie hang out" as well. Kids are hanging out there to get high in the woods and not even play! Oh well, kinda funny i guess. But go to Jericho on a nice evening, around 6 or 7, this summer and get back to me, I'm seeing way more people there than Eagle Ridge or St. Charles.
The last time I was at St. Charles, about a month ago, it was out of control. It was a bad teenage party movie in real life. It was drink a beer, tomahawk a crap disc into the tree 10ft away, throw empty beer on the ground, repeat. The best part was when some emo kid hit his friend in the head from 15ft away-at least his missed the tree that time. I couldn't help but laugh. I guess it's hard to play in the woods when you only tomahawk. Does anybody know when the party ends up there? Jason
Due to my schedule, I get out to the park after 6:00 on weekdays so I know it can get crowded, but I think it's still easier to make your way into the flow than the other local courses. If it's crowded on the front, we'll scope it out and just start on a different hole like if we're playing shotgun (5 is usually good for that), or go start on 10 and play the back first.
Quote from: atowndoug on June 21, 2007, 11:43:22 AM
... St. Charles, not only is that place becoming way crowded lately, but it has now become the high school "hippie hang out" as well.
And I thought I was starting to just become an old codger for thinking of them like that. ;D Glad to see others feel the same way.
The gates at St. Charles open at 9:30 a.m. Now that school's out, it starts getting pretty crowded around 10:30. When school's in session, a few people throw around lunch time, but other than that, it's pretty empty. At Jericho Lake I rarely run into anyone in the mornings.
Not only are there a lot of new disc golfers in the Jericho/Eagle Ridge area, but I've seen more girls this year alone, than in the last 4 years combined. And I mean hot girls. I don't know if it's because the course information is posted at places like the Sports Authority at the Fox Valley Mall, but they are coming out.
Usually 1 or 2 girls will be in a group with 4 or 5 guys. Or like tonight, there was another new girl playing with 2 guys. And she was a Misfits fan. Which is always a plus.
Quote from: atowndoug on June 20, 2007, 12:56:02 PM
is this course getting a lot more crowded recently than in summers past? I've read that our sport is growing, and I think I am noticing it first hand the last few times I went to Jericho. Now I haven't been playing DG very long, definately not as long as most of you, but I swear last summer at this time I could go to Jericho on a Tuesday afternoon and play through the whole course in under 45 minutes. The last few times i've been there (weekdays and weekends) the course has been crowded as hell, large groups everywhere, people waiting to tee off, etc.. Are any of you guys seeing this with the courses you play the most?
Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing for disc golf, but I miss having the course to myself sometimes. Anyways, what I'm wondering is this: Have you noticed a recent "growth spurt" in DG recently as in this summer, or do you think it has been more of a steady growth? Hopefully this will mean more courses built as popularity grows. Does anyone here work with or know anyone who works with any of the disc companies and knows if their sales have been increasing this past quarter? I just wanted to share some observations as a fellow player. What do you guys think?
you are right Atowndoug... i started playing last summer. I would play jericho and campton almost everyday and campton was always pretty crowded but jericho was usually not bad at all. this year its insane their are a ton of people their everytime i go which is usually around 4-7 pm.
If it has to rain on an otherwise perfectly good Saturday, this is the one for it to happen. The Ham Radio club was already halfway moved in to the park as I played a sunset round after the double wedding yesterday, setting up their compound right in the middle of the fairway on 1, tying antenna guy wires to the baskets on 2 and 8, telling me I had to move my car because they have a camper that needs those spots..
Looks like a gang of gypsies with technology moved into Bushwood or something.
Yeah, it happens every year. Theses guys come out of the woodwork and show off their gadgets for the weekend and then disappear again for another year.
kinda like cicadas...
...or my DG game.
You're talking about the 17-year cicadas, right?
If you live North, Grayslake is nice and I've never seen more than 3 other groups of people out there. Parkside also seems relatively good every time I'm up there. Brown Deer in Milwaukee never seems to be crowded. Everywhere else up here is f'ing ridiculous. Fairfield is a joke, Crystal Lake had two groups of 10 waiting on one when I got there last time, even Bevier was busy last time I was there. You can always play Fink ;).
Damon - nah, the annual variety. Those appear & disappear for no reason as well...
Campton reminds me of shakedown street at a Dead show ;)
^^^^^^^LOL...... more like a phish show if anything, the average age at that place is like 17.
How about any post Jerry jamband show? You know there's gotta be a drum circle somewhere near the main road to the entrance.... random guys selling 'sage', hemp necklaces, unlicensed shirts, plus all the nag champa and patchouli you could care to smell.
the latter part helps to cover up the stank of unwashed w00k.
ah, I miss tour. :)
I saw a first when at Dretzka a few weeks ago. the park was full of groups of youngsters hanging out and sort of playing disc golf. I saw one group of about six or so where it looked like three or four were playing. One guy was following them strumming a guitar seranading the players. I thought to myself, "that's a nice way to spend the afternoon." I had forgotten about that interlude until I read this thread. I won't mention the flashbacks. That's a whole other issue. :o
That strolling guitar serenade sounds groovy, man. Mi mariachi! I think someone would eventually have to go Belushi on them, first time they miss a putt because of the distraction. Man.
My better half won tickets to all three Widespread Panic shows this weekend, so we'll be gettin' our twirl dance on after spending all day out at the race track in Joliet (talk about a cultural U-turn!).
Back to topic, I'll be checking out storm damage and crowd levels at Jericho after work today. She came home the other day with a new red Wraith from that sporting goods giant, and it needs to fly. Towel, check.