Disc golfers are a unique species. They roam among us, disguised as ordinary suburbanites—teachers, accountants, software engineers who swear they could “go pro if they just practiced more.” But step closer, tilt your head, and you’ll notice the subtle quirks that give them away. They can’t help it. Disc golf has a way of spilling into every crevice of a person’s off-the-course life.
Lucky for you, I’ve developed a foolproof field guide. Here’s how to spot a disc golfer in the wild when they’re not actively hurling plastic into chains.
The Tell-Tale Fashion Choices
If you see someone wearing athletic shorts in February, odds are they’re either a hardcore runner or a disc golfer. But the disc golfer takes it a step further: mismatched socks, a flat-bill hat with some obscure disc manufacturer logo, and a T-shirt that says something like Big Disc Energy. (And yes, Tee Shop USA has you covered for shirts that scream, “I throw plastic for fun and call it a sport.”)
Also, look for dirt-stained trail shoes paired with a polo shirt at Sunday brunch. That’s the disc golfer “nice outfit.”
The Water Bottle Test
Disc golfers don’t carry water bottles—they carry gallon jugs of hydration. Not the sleek, motivational “You’ve Got This!” bottles either. No, it’s either a dented, sticker-bombed Nalgene or a fluorescent jug that looks like it’s been to war. Bonus points if it smells faintly like Gatorade powder from 2018.
I once asked a buddy why he carries around an entire gallon jug just to run errands. He shrugged and said, “I might get a round in later.” That’s a lifestyle, not an accident.
Conversations that Randomly Drift to Disc Golf
You’ll know you’ve found one when the small talk takes a sudden, unsolicited turn into disc golf territory. Ask them about their weekend? They’ll tell you about “this one throw” that skipped into the basket. Bring up the weather? “Perfect for a round, honestly.”
These people are incapable of going three topics deep without circling back to disc golf. I once mentioned I was buying a new couch, and my disc golf buddy replied, “That’s cool, I aced hole 7 last week.”
The Car Trunk Giveaway
This is the dead giveaway. If you ever get a chance to peek inside their trunk, it will look like a mobile sporting goods store. Discs everywhere—loose, in bags, rolling under the seats. Some are cracked, some are still in shrink wrap, and at least three are “water discs” they fished out of a swamp but refuse to throw away.
You might also spot a portable basket jammed in there “just in case,” like they’re preparing for a spontaneous round at a Taco Bell parking lot.
Odd Flexes in Public
Disc golfers have a habit of practicing in places that make absolutely no sense. Parking lots, living rooms, grocery store aisles—it doesn’t matter. You’ll see them pantomiming a throwing motion like they’re warming up for a world championship, even though they’re just waiting for Starbucks.
And if they’re holding anything round, they will spin it in their hand like it’s a driver. Frisbee, coaster, tortilla, baby’s toy—it doesn’t matter. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
The Aura of “Chill but Competitive”
Disc golfers are the only people who can look like they’re on vacation while simultaneously being irrationally competitive. They’ll show up to a barbecue in flip-flops and sunglasses, but then casually mention their PDGA rating like it’s their credit score.
They somehow project both “laid-back stoner philosopher” and “cutthroat stats nerd.” It’s impressive.
In Conclusion
So the next time you’re out in the wild—Target, Panera, a backyard barbecue—look closely. The clues are there: the disc-branded hat, the gallon water jug, the awkward throwing motions in the produce aisle.
Disc golfers can blend in with regular suburban humanity, but they’ll always reveal themselves eventually. And honestly? That’s half the fun. Because once you spot one, you’re only about five minutes away from hearing the story of “the sickest throw I ever made.”
And yes, you’ll probably want to buy a disc golf shirt after reading this. Luckily, we know a place.
👉 Check out Tee Shop USA’s disc golf collection and rep your “in-the-wild” identity with pride.
