The general consensus is that disc golf courses on the Disc Golf Pro Tour are too easy to score well on. Putting, in particular, plays a crucial role in that. Compared to “ball” golf, it is much easier but, more importantly, much less risky. The idea of multiple raised baskets is somewhat controversial but hear us out – it could be the best way to make putting harder(and, more importantly, riskier) and increase the difficulty of courses without adding artificial OB or lengthening hole distances.
Why Raised Baskets Makes Putting Risky
What is scarier than a 30-footer for par? A 30-foot COMEBACK putt for bogey after air balling your par putt. In disc golf, though, putting is easy enough for professionals to run putts from upwards of 100 ft. without worrying about blowing past the basket and making a comeback putt of any distance. By raising the basket(read more on how we plan to do this correctly below), putting gets more complicated and critical to scoring, increasing the pressure to put an approach shot closer. Anyone who has put on a raised basket knows that the difference between 15 and 25 ft. is critical – even at the professional level.
Plateaus – It was Always Plateaus
Forget just throwing a basket on an extended pole for it to dangle in the wind – rather than raising baskets, let’s create raised greens. On top of ascetically looking better than just raising the basket, this will also reward players that can hit the greens in the air with great touch. We don’t want it to look gimmicky, but the greens should be professional looking and can be unique.
Aside from putting being too easy, approaching greens tend to lack any excitement as professionals could approach from under 200 ft. with their eyes closed nowadays. By creating raised greens, regardless of shape or slope, professionals must be more exact with their approach shots and mindful of what putts they will and will not run.
What Could Go Wrong
This idea isn’t foolproof – by raising baskets and discouraging every player from running long putts, we will only likely see fewer highlight 80-footers made, but we don’t see that as a bad thing. We are getting a little too numb to that outside C2 putt make, and by decreasing the amount, we would only be increasing the excitement when a player hits one!
Baskets weren’t necessarily made to catch a disc moving upwards – but we don’t think baskets are even close to being considered perfect, so if there was a time to introduce a new style of chains to accommodate a course with elevated baskets, now would be the time.
Do you agree baskets and greens should be raised? Is disc golf too easy? How should we continue to increase difficulty? Let us know below!