The growth of the game in this state is perhaps most visible in the sudden explosion of series activity. The state will play host to no less than four different series in 2000: The MDGO Series, the Lake Michigan Players Series (LaMPS), the Northern Michigan Disc Sports Organization's (NMDSO) “Northern Waters Disc Golf Series,” and the Can-Am series, which remains the longest-running series in disc golf history.

LaMPS ringmaster Larry LaBond of Kalamazoo is well known in the region for his tournaments, which nearly always include some player favorites: free lunch and a keg of Bell’s, the tastiest of tasty local microbrews.

"Try to focus on the fun aspects of the game,” LaBond suggests when asked about keeping a club strong. “If everyone’s into doubles, do that. If a new player brings a friend, let them play together. Be flexible to the needs of the players, and they’ll keep coming back.”

LaBond and the Kalamazoo club pulled out of active participation in the MDGO this year so they could focus on building the new LaMPS series, which includes stops in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. “Sponsorships are really important, whether you’re building a club or a series,” he said. “Even small items like gift certificates for CTPs (Closest To the Pin contests) can go a long way in adding to the overall impression of your event. We try to always pay out more than 100 percent of entry fees, and without strong sponsors on your side, that’s hard to do.”

1999 PDGA Amateur Points Champ David “Aquaboy” Feldberg, another Kalamazooan and the newest member of the Winnicrew, sees the value of strong clubs. “People take the game more seriously here,” he says. “Nearly all of our Michigan leagues have over one hundred members, whereas most states have leagues around 20 people. A big league in some states is 35, and they get pumped up. We’d be bummed out here.”

NMDSO President Tom Pluister of Charlevoix says the Northern Waters Series is a result of a need to publicize the area’s many new public courses, which have grown from zero to seven over the past five years. “Our organizational goals are: 1) Increase awareness of disc sports, 2) To develop disc golf courses in our area parks, 3) To introduce disc sports into area school curriculum.”

“A series is a great way to introduce our general population to the successes of our organization and their new disc golf courses,” Pluister said. “The series will also help us begin clubs at each course, get league and intramural activity going, and will also serve as a revenue base for the organization, allowing us the financial flexibility to produce curriculum proposals and to fund in-school demonstrations and general administration.”

Healthy sponsorships are another reason for Michigan’s strength.

Jay “J-Bird” Matthes of J-Bird Discs is one of the state’s most prolific supporters. J-Bird has dyed over 100,000 discs since 1995, which have found their way to nearly every corner of the globe. If there’s a dyed disc in your bag, chances are good it’s a J-Bird.

“I started to dye discs because a former girlfriend didn't want a white putter,” said Jay. “She knew I dyed shirts, so she asked me to try.” To help build awareness for his discs, J-Bird has sponsored dozens of tournament players over the years. It’s not uncommon to hear several winning players at any given tournament -- in any state -- thanking J-Bird for his support.

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