🧯 How GK Pro saved disc golf's fyre festival

Big Money Memes, New Season, and YEET

October 26, 2022

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that doesn’t give up looking for your lost disc.Email Read Time: 5 Minutes & 27 Seconds

If you missed the Finale recap, then I got you: A DGPT Finale to Remember

Let’s get into it.

“Worst purchase I ever made”

Once Saturday’s live coverage finally started, there was an outpouring of confusion about its quality, disarray, and non-existence. It was just the tip of the iceberg that was Big Money Skins.

That day there were 2 broadcasts planned. The morning one cut off soon after starting, while the afternoon was eventually streamed for free on GK Pro’s channel.

The recorded stream has since been deleted because it was unwatchable. GK Pro and Eagles Crossing announced all PPV will be refunded with Sunday’s final round post-produced on YouTube.

After the dust settled Saturday night, Terry Miller “The DG Guy” recapped with info straight from GK Pro:

  • EC paid nearly 6 figures to Mason Agency who promised an “ESPN-quality broadcast”

  • They lacked appropriate staffing, prep, and equipment resulting in terrible camera work, audio issues, their dismissal, and memes

  • Rich Gould - ‘Dean of St. Louis sports’ and commentator - took over the show in a bad way. Everyone including the audience clearly knew more about DG than him

  • Players were somewhat aware of the train wreck, but the largest paycheck ($50k) in our history was still awarded Sunday

  • GK Pro vows to make it right for everyone

While rolling with the punches and having their hands tied, GK Pro promises to deliver their best video all year. Watch and see if they saved the event’s future when it gets released.

Lake Marshall Open (Silver)

PREVIEW (10/28-30)

It’s the start of the 2023 season! Well, sort of… The 1st wrap-around event starts Friday in Montross, VA.

This Silver event will count towards players’ point totals for 2023 and is played on the Mid-Atlantic’s crown jewel - Lake Marshall. This property has been privately owned for 10 years, features 3 courses (Lambs, Lair, & Lions), and is a must-play for those passing through.

This weekend features the Lions course. With holes surrounding the large lake, it offers challenging woods and rolling hills.

LAST YEAR RECAP

The 2021 Lake Marshall Open was only a B-Tier and held in the middle of May. As a result, there weren’t many notable pros playing.

In MPO, Zach Melton took it down over Andrew Fish and Matt Hammersten. While in FPO, Natalie Ryan (VA-local) won by 17 strokes in a field of 4.

PLAYER TO WATCH

While most of the Tour is taking a break, there are a few road warriors spending the weekend in VA. The highest-rated player is Chris Dickerson.

He’ll be facing off against players like Joel Freeman, Ezra Aderhold, and some East Coast legends. Expect Dickerson to follow up his late season slump with fireworks in the woods.

The property has poor cell reception, so you’ll only be able to watch next-day coverage on the DGPT YouTube channel.

Fresh Plastic

Sponsored by Powergrip USA… A PRETTY GOOD disc golf shop.

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: Clash Discs Steady Peach (4|5|-2|1)Marking their 8th new disc of 2022, the Peach fits into Clash’s lineup as an easy-to-throw, US midrange. It hits all the marks you’d expect: nice turn, soft fade, & glide for turnovers or hyzer-flips.

It comes in their Steady plastic, which compares directly to the gold standard of premium - Kastaplast K1. There is no shortage of grippy and slightly gummy mids, but the Peach puts a new spin on other iconic, US molds.

If you’ve fallen in love with Clash or want to try them out, this disc will easily replace your Discmania Origin or Discraft Meteor. Starting on Friday (10/28) at 7AM ET, you can grab one for your bag.

If not sold out already, there were two other releases yesterday: Heimburg’s Toro (Champ/Star, 4|2|1|3) & Mint Discs Eternal Phoenix (9|3|0|4). Use POWERGRIP20 for 20% off any of these discs.

Random Triples

1️⃣ Ever wonder how much it costs to have Terry Miller say YEET dozens of times? The DGPT VP of Partnerships - Sean Jack - broke down their Partnership Program on SmashBoxxTV.

  • Min spend: $1k for ads

  • Max: Season-long sponsors hit close to six figures

  • On-the-course assets go from $5k - $25k

  • Ex: Hole sponsorship (tent, table, basket wrap, feather banners) = $20k

So if your uncle or friend owns a company that’s a good fit for DGPT’s audience (you), then hit them up and maybe get some commission from Sean.

2️⃣ Natalie Ryan might be playing her last event on the Pro Tour this weekend at Lake Marshall. On social media, she shared that there’s a slim chance the PDGA will continue to allow transwomen in FPO.

Conversely, some FPO players started their off-seasons turning heads. Competing in MPO, Catrina Allen snagged 3rd place at the 2022 Big Sious Shootout, while Ohn Scoggins also got 3rd at The Fling XXV.

At the Oklahoma Open, Kat Mertsch won in FPO with a 1038-rated final round on the same layout as MPO. Her round finished just behind Jon Nicholson’s who won MPO.

3️⃣ The DGPT wants YOU to help them determine end of season player awards. Vote here for:

  • Most Improved Player (FPO & MPO) 50% fan vote, 50% media vote

  • 2nd and 3rd Card All-Stars (FPO & MPO)25% fan vote, 25% media, 25% points, 25% avg finish

Supposedly, Kona Panis is very much in the running to be an All-Star even with her lackluster season. Maybe DD knew all along that their investment in her comes off the course. Voting ends at midnight (12AM 10/27).

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and play a Halloween round this weekend!

- Charlie

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