So I'm playing disc golf a few days ago and meet a few players. We introduce ourselves. One of the players asks, "Did you lose a _______ disc at _________ Park?" I respond affirmatively and the players says, "I know where it is" and also indicated where he found it. It turns out that the same group knows where another disc, lost by another member of my group, is. He remembered the names written on the disc, but neither I nor the other member of my group ever got a call or voicemail about the lost disc. We went on to play our round . . . still no call about the discs.

So, when you find a disc with a name and number on it, shouldn't you at least call. One member of my group found a disc at a local park that another player had apparently abandoned in a ditch because they didn't want to climb down after it (it was easily visible from the fairway). My friend called and the owner was happy to get the call and came immediately to pick up the disc. Should he have bothered?

Back in June, when I first started playing and realized that I would probably need to practice with more than a couple of discs, I purchased a lot of used discs on Ebay. When I got them I saw that most had different names and telephone numbers clearly visible. What was kind of ironic is that about half of the discs had one name and telephone number blacked out and new name and number on them. It kinda looks like they were lost and found at least twice. They are all kind of old and I didn't pay much and the seller indicated that he had called the number on each disc, but after getting the discs, I kinda doubt that. Should I call the numbers on the discs and offer to return? Should I ask for reimbursement for the amount paid for the discs? (this is more a "for future reference" example, as the ones I got are so beat up now they aren't useful for much)

When I find a disc on a course with no name or number on it, should I turn it in to the "office," if there is one? E.g. park office, ranger station, gift shop, etc.

Just looking for perspectives.

1. If there is a name and/or a phone number on the disc - call them or track them down in an attempt to return the disc.

2. If the disc has no markings to identify it, it gets a little harder! I will ask around to see if anyone has lost one, but, bottom line, the chances go WAY up of getting one back if you just take the time to put contact info on the disc!

3. I wish I had a nickel for every "unmarked" disc I have known to be thrown in a tournament!

Dg Guy - Disc GOlf Plaques & Awards
662-660-0339

Know what you throw. . .
. . . throw what you know!

I return all disc i find cause i dont want the jinx of throwong someone else's plastic:-)
call the number be respectful never steal plaztic bad etiquette , thats my motto :-)

The ones that chap my tail are the ones that rake your discs out of a poud or lake lake and then call you wanting $2-$3 for your disc... Like imposing a finder's fee. Generally when I get that call I tell the person to just keep it. I'm not paying twice for a disc. And when I chunked that sucker in the water, I don't expect to get them back.

Agreed. However, if it was a special disc that I tried to find and couldn't I would give someone a couple of bucks for finding it for me. As for requesting money. I would never do that. I figure if I do the right thing and get a disc back to it's owner then next time my disc will come home. What bothers me is when you call and let someone know that you have their disc they don't call you back or try and set up a time to get it back. Then you end up with a backseat full of other people's discs.

I found a disc about three weeks ago, called the guy. He was very happy that I called and wanted to return the disc. I didn't hear from him for a week. I called back and got no answer...sent a text, no answer. I don't want his disc. Probably going to just give it away.

I always thought having a "lost and found box" at a course was a good idea, like one of those steel jobsite boxes that can be locked, where people can just drop the disc in and forget it. Then maybe the local club or park employee could check it and contact the person to give the disc back. I just thought that may make it easier, because I have lost a lot of discs and have never been called, but call every time I find one someone has lost.

Jason O

I was griping last week about all the discs I have lost over many years, all with my name and number, and never got a call about any of them. Out of the blue, I got a call yesterday from someone in California saying he found a disc with my name and number on it, at a course I have never played! I haven't even been in California since the tournament stamp on this disc was made! It wasn't worth the postage to get it back, so I told him he could keep it (and the good karma), and thanked him for doing the right thing.

Here's a disc return story for you,

A few years ago I'm sitting at a bar down at the casinos on a Friday night and my phone rings. I answer and a lady starts saying she found my golf discs. I was like great I'll give you a call back this weekend and I can get it from you. BTW what type of disc is it, I ask. She says oh, it's a whole bag full, probably about 15 discs in all. I was like WTF?

Apparently, I left my whole bag sitting on the bench at Shelby Forest the Sunday before and she (lady working at the park) found it and called me. I never knew it wasn't in my trunk. Obviously, I was extremely grateful. I offered her $20, actually insisted she take it, but she would have none of it.

I was very lucky!

My number 1 priority for a found disc is to put it in play at its maximum effectiveness. That is usually in the hand of the one who has thrown it most or most recently, which is usually the one who lost it where it was found. That's why I always try to return it to the name and number on it but if that doesn't work I try to put it in play however the first opportunity presents. I have returned many and had many returned to me. I even have friends who put my name and number on their discs because they think it increases their chance of getting it back if they lose it. Sounds crazy I know but it has worked for them many times.

I find a good many disc, if there is a number, I call it, have been quite sucessful returning disc

I have found a good many with no name or number, I give them to younger, sometimes little kids to have, hoping it may spark some intrest.

The ones I find with names that no one seems to know, goes to a lost and found that is at all our tourneys.

So if you have played a B.R. tourney and lost a disc, odds are it will be there


Dex

Your discs are being returned to you, I had to get ahold of the guy who found them first, I never said I had your discs I said I knew someone who found them.

Funny thing is when i told you that info, you didnt ask for the guys name, his number, or nothing, you just kinda shrugged and walked away, like you didnt really care about the disc anyway

Fact of the matter is, I have your discs now, as I had the guy ship them to me, and was planning on calling you after work, but I stumbled across this first.

Hey brah,
I lost the Beast 150 yellow in the woods off hole #9, pretty much where I throw every disc off that tee. If'n you got it, call the celly on the back and I will come get it. There is also a White Gazelle at the bottom of the bayou on #10. If you happened to go swimming over there and found it Ill trade you a 6 pack of NattyLight. ;-)

I lost a flippy blizzard destroyer on 9. Whoever finds it can have it until they lose it....which will happen.

Eric, I am getting your Beast from Kee's Park, it's in package at my house now
Mung. I am getting your beast from Buhlow, it's in package at my house now.
I did not have them before, I had to get them shipped to me from the guy who found them, I thought I mentioned that the day we all met. I have to open the package, to get your numbers. But I will be at buhlow today, playing in a group of 5 at 430pm, if you wanna come get em.
You can call my cell 318-305-1636 when you get there
Ryan

Your statement:

Quote
Your discs are being returned to you, I had to get ahold of the guy who found them first, I never said I had your discs I said I knew someone who found them.

My statement:

Quote
One of the players asks, "Did you lose a _______ disc at _________ Park?" I respond affirmatively and the players says, "I know where it is" and also indicated where he found it. It turns out that the same group knows where another disc, lost by another member of my group, is. He remembered the names written on the disc, but neither I nor the other member of my group ever got a call or voicemail about the lost disc."][/

Also, you will notice that I did not mention you by real name or user name. My purpose with this post was not to make accusations or try to embarrass anyone because it wasn't really clear to me who had the discs. Even if kenw exactly who had the disc, I wouldn't have mentioned it here.

Quote
Funny thing is when i told you that info, you didnt ask for the guys name, his number, or nothing, you just kinda shrugged and walked away, like you didnt really care about the disc anyway

I've already replaced the disc and then moved on to a different distance driver. It was getting late (for me, I needed to play and get home). And the the real fact of the matter is . . .

Quote
Fact of the matter is, I have your discs now, as I had the guy ship them to me, and [b]was planning on calling you after work[/b], but I stumbled across this first.

. . . I know that the discs had my name and telephone number on them (which you have just confirmed.) See, it was a new disc and the money for the disc wasn't and isn't all that important to me and it's not any special disc to which I am particularly attached. I had already lost it and didn't plan on getting it back because it had been lost a for some time (at least 3 months). What was the real head scratcher was that someone who knew where my disc was would come up to me and out his buddy for finding them and not bothering to call the number on the discs. Was that what disc golfers normally do?

While that incident certainly got me thinking about the disc return issue, I also started wondering about whether it was worth calling someone who had apparently just not wanted to do a little work to get their disc and so I started this thread. After all, it is interesting to get people's perspectives about this kind of thing because I haven't been playing long enough to get a handle on the expectations of others on this issue. I assume most people would like to get thier discs back and assumed that most disc golfers would call if the number was on the disc but I have also lost 5-6 marked discs and have never received a call. So the apparent norm wasn't exactly dovetailing with my expectations.

Do whatever your conscience makes you feel good about doing with that disc. I won't give it to you or give you permission to keep it, but I'm not exactly gonna be calling the police either. If I get the disc back, I'll happily repay you for the postage cost.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2012 03:31PM by Jazzcaster.

Cross Country race out there today...gonna be a cluster at 4:30. Parish championships. You may want to wait for the kiddees to clear out.

I'll admit he was not gonna return them, But i thought I mentioned I would try and get them back for you after having met you, If I didnt then I apologize. He also was from out of state. They are in a package at my house as we speak, i am leaving work at 4 to go get them and then i will be meeting my group at buhlow at 430 to play. You may come and pick them up there.
Ryan
318-305-1636

I have already returned disc to Tim Miller from buhlow, and another person, as these where discs i have found. through the years I have probably lost 15 discs or so, no one has ever called me.

Still no package from brown, but I did buy yet another cyclone at lunch. I have to retrieve my camper from Indian Creek today anyway.

Got the discs. Thanks Ryan. I owe you a beer.

Lost a disc at Municipal, Al on the "dam" hole. Justin got in the nasty water and found c5 discs and gave them all
to the owners. Never found my lime-green Echo Destroyer.

Got a call from Jessie from Univ. SA saying that he has my disc. I tell him to send it and I'll send him postage
and a good disc (I always trade a decent disc if I get back one of my "throwers").
He calls me the next night and asks me if I still want it. "Cause he's gettin some really good offers for it".

That was two weeks before the Howler and still no disc. I made a weak effort to find him at the Howler.

That disc cost me $15 and could have helped me win at the SNPC and maybe even get into the USDGC.

If you find this guy, take any disc that you like out of his bag and keep it. Tell him it's a gift from me.

A few years back I was at our regular sunday doubles here in Lafayette and was partnered up with a guy that was there for the first time. During the round I noticed him throw a specialty dye disc I had lost a month prior. I told him that I would be getting that back from him after the round and asked him where he found it. He told me he found right where I had lost it. I then asked him why he didn't call the number one the bottom and responded with I never call those numbers when I find a disc, finders keepers. To which I responded well not this time. And took back my disc which this guy had sharpied over my name and number and wrote in finders keepers which really ticked me off. He acted like I was being the jerk, to which the rest of the card corrected him. Then at the next hole he pulls out another of my disc, once that happened I had him pull every disc out from his bag. Sure enough this guy had 5 of my disc in his bag and 2 other disc that belonged to another guy on our card. He had 12 total disc in his bag and out of those 12 disc only two had his name and number on them, the rest had the same stupid saying mark on them. Needless to say this guy has never come back to play doubles again because he left with only two disc in that bag. KARMA at work folks!

Not in defense of this guy, but players who are new to the sport don't understand the true value of a disc.To a player who has learn what it does and can consistently make it do what he wants the disc is invaluable. New players think all discs are the same and don't understand the flight characteristics change over time. If they knew how valuable the disc was to the person who lost it they would be more likely call.

This guy had been playing for over a year when this happened. He had never come to our doubles before then but I had talked to him a couple times prior to that day. He knew what he was doing, he just didn't care. He still plays every so often, just not with the ADGA crew. And I have never seen him at any tournaments. He likes the sport, just not enough to compete in it.