Just because the weather gets colder doesn’t mean that all disc golf activities have to stop, as the idea of winter events and putting leagues has taken over the sport in full force. Of course, this concept requires the use of a large indoor space, so as long as you’re able to make friends with a local business owner or utilize a recreational area, you’re all good.
But beyond just securing a spot to host a winter event, what are some of the essential elements that will make it a success? We’ve put together a quick guide that will help you to flesh out your idea and turn your town into a winter disc golf mecca.
Promote, Promote, Promote
Like with any event that’s related to disc golf, your efforts in spreading the word can often make or break your big idea. As soon as you have the details hammered down, whether it’s an indoor putting league or an urban disc golf experience, utilize all of your resources in order to maximize attendance. Partnering with the owners of the space you’re using can also bring a big benefit to both parties, so coming up with some sort of giveaway or grand prize that connects the two dots could help to drive traffic.
The disc golfers in your area may not be super plugged into the winter events going on, so the earlier in advance you can plan your event the better. Often times starting a putting league that runs through the off-season can pick up right where your last local C-tier leaves off, so aiming to have as small of a gap as possible between events will help to boost your attendance.
Endless Possibilities
If you’re starting a winter event for the first time and aren’t exactly sure what it should look like, take some time to research other events across the nation. Winter putting leagues in Memphis, Charlotte, Emporia, and countless other places have years of experience under their belts and can help you to dial in exactly what you want your own league to look like. Even our own Ambassadors Dustin Keegan and Zoe Andyke have run events in Oregon to keep players engaged during the winter months.
Splitting your league into professional and amateur divisions may not be a bad idea either, as these areas of competition can actually attract more people to your event. Depending on the location of your activity, you may even be able to include junior divisions to make the entire experience a family-friendly event.
We’ve really only addressed putting leagues and the occasional urban disc golf experience, but that’s not to say that you can’t host some sort of outside event as well. Plenty of disc golf clubs across the nation promote tournaments that play on the idea of freezing your behind off, so encouraging your fellow players to get off of the couch and out into the cold may be another way to keep everyone engaged.
Have you run a winter event before, and if so, how did it go? Share some of your helpful tips for organizing these types of activities in the comments below!
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