🧅 The year of disc golf lawsuits

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that’s better at talking about disc golf than actually playing.

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If you missed LVC’s recap, then I got you: Some Guys Can’t Handle Vegas

Let’s get into it.

ANOTHER LAWSUIT IN DISC GOLF

Starting with Natalie Ryan’s 1st Tour win at DGLO (JUL 2022), the ongoing transgender discussion is like an onion. It’s got layers.

And peeling back each layer brought controversial surveys, policy changes, and finally a lawsuit filed by Ryan. Chris Clark from discgolf.law peeled back that final layer, Shrek-style:

The facts…

• FEB 23: Ryan sued the PDGA, DGPT, and 1000 Rated Productions (host of OTB Open) in California

• Her claims against them:

  • Violation of CA’s Civil Rights Act - trans women are entitled to equal privileges of the PDGA/DGPT

  • Gaining an unjustified monetary advantage at Ryan’s expense

  • Preventing Ryan from earning Tour winnings and bonuses from sponsors/sales

• Her intended results:

  • Allowance to compete at OTB Open (May in Stockton, CA)

  • PDGA/DGPT must allow trans women to compete in FPO

  • Otherwise, cancel OTB Open

  • Additionally, she’s asking for monetary damages and fines

Clark considers this case to be way more complex than Prodigy v. Buhr. It’s less likely to be settled out of court and could be the 1st of its kind for any pro sport.

As the defendants are prepping a response, there appears to be one option to make the lawsuit go away… Cancel the only Tour stop in CA. Otherwise, we’ll see how this plays out in 3 months, and Ryan’s play at this weekend’s A-Tier.

THE MCMORIAL MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIP (A-TIER)

PREVIEW (3/2-5)

Last weekend was Innova’s homecoming, now it’s time for Discraft’s. While it won’t be as well attended as years past, many top-rated pros are stopping on the way to TX.

As always, Arizona’s 2 most known courses - Fountain Hills & Vista Del Camino - will be showcased with 2 rounds each. The water and wind are the defining features of these public parks.

Without McBeth in attendance, it will no longer be the McMorial and will go back to its nickname of the Hyzer Olympics. Plenty of 1030+ players like Buhr, AB, Gibson, Marwede, & Isaac Robinson are still attending.

LAST YEAR RECAP

MPO/ 🥇Paul McBeth (-40) 🥈Anthony Barela (-37) 🥉Aaron Gossage (-35)

It was looking to be an easy walk-in victory for the man of this event’s namesake. After 2 rounds, McBeth averaged an 1103 rating and had a 6-stroke lead.

He used that lead to take down this championship for the 7th time. Little did he know, this was Gossage’s starting point for their eventual showdown.

FPO/ 🥇Kristin Tattar (-8) 🥈Jen Allen (-5) 🥉Ohn Scoggins (-4)

It was Tattar’s 1st time in AZ, and she quickly learned how many discs she could lose at Fountain Hills. But she’d go on to take down her 1st win out of 10 others in 2022.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Gannon Buhr - Yeah, I know he's not a sleeper pick, but this is Buhr’s 1st time out here. And even though his preferred angle is not a hyzer, his putting stats and distance will come in handy.

If Buhr doesn’t podium with this limited field, then we should start worrying about the lawsuit’s impact on his play. His 30th place at LVC was subpar by his standards - averaged 7th last season.

Terry Miller “The DG Guy” and his crew will be working hard to bring us coverage of 4 cards. Support him and watch whenever they get released.

THROW LIKE BIG SEXY WITH POWERGRIP USA

Originally in Finland, Powergrip is the world’s 1st disc golf retailer to operate on 2 continents. They’ve finally brought their talents to the US and along with it the nicest team in the sport - Sexton, Koling, & Lizotte.

Releasing today (3/2) at 12PM ET is the latest mold to enter Dynamic Discs’s Supreme lineup - the Fugitive. Pick up the prototype that revolutionizes the mold from dead-straight to ole reliable.

RANDOM DUBS

1️⃣ In 1976, the PDGA was created, and its 1st 100 memberships were issued at a cost of $10. 41 years later, the membership count would finally hit 100k.

Another 4 years passed, and that number doubled on Dec 24, 2021. Many attribute the insane growth to the Covid boom.

Now, just over 14 months later, the PDGA hit the quarter million mark with 250k members. While there have been gripes and boycotts, this milestone is something to celebrate for our “grassroots sport.”

2️⃣ The name Coach Chris Taylor isn’t new to those obsessed with formwork, but he got name-dropped in a recent DG Prescription podcast. If you haven’t heard of him, here are 2 truths and a lie:

• He’s a ball golf coach

• Has been doing biometric analysis on pros’ throwing forms

• Hosts disc golf clinics with DoubleG & David Wiggins Jr

Actually, those are all truths. But the one tidbit from the podcast was this quote: “The faster you can horizontally abduct is the highest correlated thing with distance.”

So what can we learn from this? Increasing acceleration through the power pocket is the most efficient way to throw far.

MEME OF THE WEEK

Thanks for reading today. Get out and carry your partner this weekend!

- Charlie