Playing to win and playing for fun both have individual benefits. Each voter in this poll could offer examples. But these motives affect sport development differently. In the past, most lifestyle sports grew faster as people started playing them competitively. Xgames, anyone?

Playing disc golf to win connects with the dominant sport culture, which makes playing/spectating competitive events seem natural, normal and appealing. Only dirty hippies, drunks and Montessori teachers play disc golf for fun.

Almost every organization with a financial stake in disc golf is trying to press the sport into the mold of dominant sport culture (dgPt, Udisc’s score-O-matic, PDGA ratings, UltiComp, etc.). Why do this? And why not create something new and different? Because…

1) promoting disc golf as a dominant sport is the fastest, most efficient, most likely way to make money, and 2) it’s what most of us know, love and feel comfortable with. But playing disc golf competitively is not intrinsically normal or appealing. That part is made up.