http://blog.discmania.net Sat, 17 May 2008 15:34:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 en Internet - the road to mainstream http://blog.discmania.net/2007/02/21/internet-the-road-to-mainstream/ http://blog.discmania.net/2007/02/21/internet-the-road-to-mainstream/#comments Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:42:40 +0000 Jussi Disc life http://blog.discmania.net/2007/02/21/internet-the-road-to-mainstream/ Have you ever thought how easy is nowadays to get yourself into the heart of action? You can browse yourself into anywhere in just a few seconds. Internet is crucial media for minor sports and affairs. World Wide Web crushes the borders of time, size and space.

Think about Disc Golf without internet? Would you call to you buddy to hear how their local tournament went? Maybe, but would you do it consistently? Would you like to wait DGWorld to see National Tour reports and pictures? Would you like to wait that all?


Effective messenger

Internet as a media is huge and it has more possibilities than any other media. As of January 2007, 1.093 billion people use the Internet according to Internet World Stats. You can get the latest news, share and download information, watch videos, pictures and learn what ever you want. And As individual, you can make your own statement effective.

To Disc Golf internet works perfectly. Sharing is the key. Our sport is too small for cable TV and it is not interesting corporate level sponsorship due to ground level volume. Our future is in the hands of “inhouse” promoters and media. People spend more and more time in the web and people want to choose what they like to watch. That is our possibility. We need to create interesting content in this media. People will watch that. There is few who has got this point already DiscGolfTV and PDGA Radio to name few

Great Equalizer

People say that internet is The Great Equalizer. True. Smaller size companies and even individiuals can present their works and businesses in the same scale than bigger companies. To have a fancy website is easly and effective. Everybody can browse it from all over the world. Easy. The next big thing is streamline video in the web. At the moment there are live broadcasts in some webpages, and this will spread rapidly. Web is getting faster and faster - displays are getting bigger and bigger. We are on the egde of web broadcast revolution. who will make it first is this business gets the glory. Point is you don´t have to be a big to make it happen.

There is numerous disc golf videos in Youtube - let´s enjoy them!

]]> http://blog.discmania.net/2007/02/21/internet-the-road-to-mainstream/feed/ Money talks http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/09/money-talks/ http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/09/money-talks/#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 22:07:56 +0000 Jussi Disc life http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/09/money-talks/ Disc Golf is considered a professional sport - at least in PDGA where tournaments have money prizes. What this means?

This means pro division players are playing for money. They pay entry fee to get into tournament and they try to qualify to top 1/3 to cash. Most of the purse is from players pockets. Most of the players are good friends. There are few touring players who competes 30 events in the 10-month long season. Few make living - most not.

I have faced following question many times in the last 2 years: Can you make living with playing Disc Golf?

Answer is: No I can´t, but I play for money. I can win money if I play well.

Money has always been there, from day one. Discussion how the money should divide or use has always been there, from day one.

We are playing for extremely small money for a professional sport. It´s a matter of tens and hundreds of dollars. In 2007 PDGA money list was won with $37,851. I know one guy who won more than $50,000 in ball golf this year. No, he is not a pro, actually he plays with 5,2 HC but he likes to bet casual rounds with his friends. He likes when there is some pressure for each round. He likes to PLAY.

Tiger woods does not play because of money. No, he has it too much already. He plays for titles, as all top200 golfers. They love to PLAY.

I love to PLAY disc golf. but not just for money.

What are you playing for?

]]> http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/09/money-talks/feed/ Power of the “Black Box” http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/04/power-of-the-black-box/ http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/04/power-of-the-black-box/#comments Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:38:04 +0000 Jussi Disc life http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/04/power-of-the-black-box/ Why Disc Golf is not growing faster? Why there is still a lot of people who do not even know our sport? Why our Major events do not get more on-site spectators? Why Frisbee´s still sells more than golf discs?

There is only one answer: TV and Media coverage
Scenario: You have arranged a superb tournament. Players are happy about generous payout and amateurs are exited about killer player package. There was only few non-disc-golfing spectators watching the finals. Not a single story on papers next day…This seems to be a story too common. What should be done differently?

Level of tournament organizing is good and tournament running routines are well known for most TDs. Instead of putting more effort for that the organizers must use energy to getting more media coverage and publicity. Problem usually is that the media attention is VERY hard to get. But honestly: how many times the organizer has used ALL his connections or skills to prove it? How many tournaments have really had a written media plan? How much personnel is reserved for media services? We are all good TDs and we all can run a PDGA tier tournament. But do we excel PR or media? IF the biggest tournament in the country / state can´t wake local main media attention (TV / paper): We have failed! Something has failed. Personally, I haven´t see a single press release or daily report from tournament aimed for media on any website. Most tournament webpages are aimed for players and “heavy users”.

What should be done? We must find the hot spots for media. The payout is not relevant (since our payouts are so weak). USD 100,000 could make it to the paper, but not USD 10,000. What about Ken Climo / Barry Schultz taking apart of the tournament? Maybe. Still average information for major media. How about local starts attending and challenging the Champions? This is good for smaller papers but does not interest major media. Charity? Is good way and some points affective, but does not tell much about the main thing: tournament.

* Exclusivity: Media is interested of exclusive and unique things and affairs.
* Contrasts: Media loves heroes and villains - can we offer them?
* Stories: Medias loves stories. “How he made his way to the glory”

Keys for successful media attraction:

  1. Make a comprehensive media plan.
  2. Hire / get at least one person to handle all your media contacts. This person needs to be experienced.
  3. Prepare a serious level press package that includes all the facts and figures of the sport and your tournament.
  4. Present your tournament in professional way. What ever it is.
  5. Arrange a press conference 1 day before the tournament and invite your media contacts there.
  6. Send a lot of press releases before, during and after the tournament.
  7. Trust yourself! You will hear “NO”s but that does not mean anything, right?
It is obvious that before we get into the black box we are relatively small sport. We can be a big grass root hobby and a lifestyle for many and still not interested in the eyes of media. Competition of that media exposure is cruel and without a connections this might be a distance dream. What is needed is truly devoted people in this sport who have both the skills and resources to bring this sport into the table. My finger is pointing to companies and organizations in our sport. Manufacturers have most resources to promote and develop this sport. PDGA has a important role for this too. Also disc golf media companies have a crucial role in the future - can they produce a quality stories (footage) to be offered to the media?
But who will make it first?
    ]]> http://blog.discmania.net/2007/01/04/power-of-the-black-box/feed/ Welcome New Year! http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/27/welcome-new-year/ http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/27/welcome-new-year/#comments Wed, 27 Dec 2006 20:42:50 +0000 Jussi Disc life http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/27/welcome-new-year/ New Disc Golfing season is right behind the corner! More and more people considers Disc Golf as a year-around-sport. For example in Finland there is 10–15 winter tour tournaments (during December-March) even there is a lot of snow and the temperature gets below 0 degrees (Celsius).

    We have experienced a great year 2006 and looking into 2007 seems as promising. We are truly one of the fastest growing sports out there and we will maintain this pace. Still we need to look into future and set long term goals and visions. PDGAs upcoming headquarters will see the true revolution of this sport. Here´s one vision of 2010:

    • Disc Golf has grown into a true worldwide sport. This means active pro-tours in US, Europe and Asia. The Disc Golf World Tour 2010 has 6-8 Major events in these contingents.
    • PDGA has 20 000 members (2 500 international members).
    • There is more than 3 000 courses worldwide.
    • Major sponsorship has been signed to US tour.
    • Disc Golf is widely part of school education in sports

    Following vision needs a lot of us all. Everyone in this sport needs to active themselves. To get it a little more easier, I have created a list of promises for 2007:

    1. Get at least one new person into disc golf and teach him/her
    2. Help founding new course(s) in your area
    3. Take apart to local tournament(s)
    4. Get yourself into better condition
    5. Start making those critical 35-footers
    6. Whine and argue less during the round
    7. Be positive!

    I wish you all a happy and succesfull new year!

    ]]>     http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/27/welcome-new-year/feed/     The best of 2006 http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/21/the-best-of-2006/ http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/21/the-best-of-2006/#comments Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:00:17 +0000 Jussi Disc life http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/21/the-best-of-2006/ Season has came to an end and disc golfers are preparing for holidays. It´s good time to list the best of 2006.

    Disc Golf “World Tour 2006″. Now we can really say that professional disc golf is world wide! Three amazing Majors in three contingents were held this year. These events have been awarded with a PDGA Major status this year. It all started from Japan and Japan Open (The first ever PDGA Major outside North America). Kozo Shimbo (Disc Golf Hall of Famer) put together a awesome tournament in a place extraordinary. The atmosphere in Japan was something unexpected. There were record field of international players (75+) and we all stayed in the same resort for that week. Some decided to stay longer to learn more about that magnificent country. The tournament was held at Nasu High land Golf Club and we played in world-class ball golf course. It was Steve Rico who clinched the title from playoff against Avery Jenkins.

    The European Open was the first ever PDGA Major in Europe. It was held in Tampere, Finland and there were 65+ international players. Well manicured Epilä Disc Golf Park and beautiful weather ensured a pleasant week for top level Disc Golf. David Feldberg played insane golf to grab a title.

    USDGC - the mother of all modern Disc Golf Majors was held at Rock Hill, SC. This time Barry Schultz beat all contenders at the infamous Winthrop Golf Course. USDGC has shown the way to many big disc golf tournaments. One successful feature is one-round-a-day format. That leaves more time to players to prepare for the tournament and spend time together. This trend will grow among Disc Golf tournaments and will lead to a better run happenings. One round a day -format helps also TD and staff to execute tournament better.

    The uniqueness of these majors is international field and atmosphere. For example the European Open had 14 nationalities reresented.

    Hot players. Ken Climo claimed his 12th Worlds title. Barry Schultz had a great year all-round. Steve Rico got his first major in Japan. Dave Feldberg played bogie-free tournament to win European Open title. Avery Jenkins nabbed his first major at Players Cup after finishing top-4 in all other majors. Des Reading took her 3rd Worlds title. Some of the new rising stars were Manabu Kajiyama from Japan and Cale Leiviska (yes, he has finnish roots).

    New PDGA EuroTour. PDGA International committee elected Paul Francz to PDGA Europe manager in late 2005 and new PDGA EuroTour was born. In it´s first year the tour collected a lot of new players and nationalities. Competition level was higher than even in European Disc Golf. Jesper Lundmark was the man to win tour title.

    All in all the year 2006 will be restored soon into the books. It will be remembered with strong international flavor. Two new European disc golf brands were introduced as Latitude64° and Discmania were stepped up in the scene. International Disc Golf will continue to grow and hopefully we´ll meet in many major tournaments in 2007!

    ]]>     http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/21/the-best-of-2006/feed/     Disc Golf Blog is born! http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/19/disc-golf-blog-launches/ http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/19/disc-golf-blog-launches/#comments Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:43:21 +0000 Jussi Disc life http://blog.discmania.net/2006/12/19/disc-golf-blog-launches/ To start something new is always exciting. So is this blog. The first thing I want to write here is a short review to What has happened in the last 10 years in Disc Golf. Easiest way to do this is to take you into the past. In this Internet, MMS, Skype and Youtube world we too often forgot how it was back then? We should ask Brian Hoeniger (PDGA Executive Director) for more statistics, but we can also look into past with Wayback Machine. Try these URL addresses for starters:

    www.pdga.com

    www.innovadiscs.com

    www.discraft.com

    www.discgolf.com

    When I started back in 1996 Innovas DX Gazelle was the hot driver, Millenniums Omega Super Soft 1.2. prototype was THE putter and Ken Climo was The Champ. Now, in 2006 Ken is still The Champ. Off course a lot other things has happened between these years. It´s funny to look your good old Disc Golf World News magazines and read those articles now. They were my only real sources of Disc Golf. Now This superb magazine have changed to Disc Golf World (They dropped the News word, because internet is now the news source). DGW is now working as a glossy documentary magazine.

    The game of disc golf has changed a lot. A must-birdie-two-holes are mostly gone. Most Major tournament courses are filled with OB ropes and level of players has raised. Discs and other equipment have gone through a major development. Now the furthest flying golf disc is wide-rimmed, low-profile and super-fast distance driver. Most players cannot even control these discs - they just fly FAR.

    In the PDGA the progress has been steady 15-20 % in every area. Today the PDGA has more than 11 000 paid members and this number is still growing that 15 to 20 %. More people discovers disc golf than ever before. I got the privilege to visit International Disc Golf HQ this autumn. The work that the PDGA is making there is great and deserves our hats off.

    Now we have a base that we can build our sport up!

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