Screenshot of the “Everyone” league on Fantasy Disc Golf. Screenshot from playfantasydiscgolf.com.
From traditional sports to even The Bachelor, fantasy leagues exist in all spectrums of “sporting” competitions. But if you’re a fan of disc golf, where do you play?
For Aaron Brooker, a middle school teacher and disc golf enthusiast from Omaha, the answer is easy. He started Fantasy Disc Golf with the help of Rob Hruska, and provided an arena for disc golf fans to interact in online competition, and take the experience of the sport to next level.
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“Disc golf is bigger than people realize,” Brooker said in an email interview. The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) lists more than 30,000 members in 20 countries spanning 5 continents. “[The PDGA] hosted more than 1,000 sanctioned tournaments, which have consisted of more than $2 million worth of cash prizes,” Brooker added.
With such an active sport under the radar, this could mean big things for the world of fantasy sports. In February, Brooker and Hruska created playfantasydiscgolf.com, where the fantasy of Fantasy Disc Golf became a reality.
“PlayFantasyDiscGolf.com,” Brooker said, “is capitalizing on the niche market with our program that allows people to compete against their friends in choosing which of the best athletes will win at the PDGA’s best events.” (Left, Brooker, screenshot from FantasyDiscGolf on YouTube.)
Like many fantasy sports leagues, Fantasy Disc Golf allows users to hand-pick teams of athletes based on predictions for the upcoming tournament tours. All selections are made prior to the season’s kickoff, and once the season begins, points are given based on the team’s performance. The users with the most points at the end of the season win. Although they don’t win a prize from Fantasy Disc Golf, they claim bragging rights until the next tournament tour begins.
The idea for a fantasy league had been tossed around in the disc golf community in recent years but never before in this way. Prior to Fantasy Disc Golf’s Feb. 4 launch, Brooker said there had been little more than an “organized Excel guru” that put on a league and emailed results.
“Our model is more sustainable because it puts the power in the users’ hands,” Brooker said. “People that want to ‘commish’ a league can easily [do so] through our site.” Brooker said that the company intends to continue adding more control for users.
Brooker said it’s easy to sign up and the site is free to all users. Setting up a league requires a fee, but it gives users the leeway to compete in private competition head-to-head with only specified users.
Disc golf clubs, businesses and other retailers can also sponsor a league for their customers and purchase side bar advertisements. Disc manufacturers can also sponsor their athletes, and Fantasy Disc Golf will place those manufacturers’ logos next to their golfers’ name anytime the name is viewed.
So far, the buzz in the disc golf community has circulated with great return. With nearly two months under its belt, Fantasy Disc Golf is making headway with more than 1,200 users and almost 900 daily visits. The site has attracted users from across the United States, and it has an increased popularity in the Nordic countries. Brooker said that there are more than 100 users in Sweden and Finland alone.
“Most of our sign-ups will be people interested in disc golf from a recreational to professional level,” Brooker said. “Those most involved will already have a knowledge of the sport’s best professionals.”
However, disc golf fans of every variety can participate in the fantasy series, and Brooker sees disc golf as a sport for all, regardless of experience.
“If you’re looking for a great outdoor activity,” he said, “disc golf offers challenge, fun, and exercise for a minimal cost.”
And if you’re just getting familiarized with the sport, what better way than to sit on the sidelines and live the dream through fantasy play?
Currently, Fantasy Disc Golf is in the middle of the first tournament tour of the season, which will finish June 12. The second half of the competition season will begin June 25, and the series will host the last four tour events and include the Pro Worlds championship tournament.
Here’s an introduction and walkthrough of the site Brooker posted to Fantasy Disc Golf’s YouTube channel on January 9, 2011.
To learn more about Fantasy Disc Golf, visit playfantasydiscgolf.com.
