What Disc Golf Teaches Us About Smarter Marketing

Any disc golfer will tell you, the wind can make or break your round. A headwind can turn your most reliable disc into a wild card, flipping it off course and leaving you scrambling for par. A tailwind, though, can be your best friend, adding effortless distance and control if you know how to use it.

Business works much the same way. The headwinds (market shifts, growing competitors, changing buyer behavior) test even the most seasoned players. And when the winds shift, it’s not your power that matters most, it’s your ability to read the conditions and adjust.

That’s where smart marketing earns its keep.

Over the years, I’ve learned that having a well-structured marketing strategy is like carrying a full disc golf bag. Each disc has a purpose, just as each marketing channel serves a specific role in your go-to-market mix.

Your distance drivers are the bold plays, the campaigns that reach new audiences and grab attention. Think of them as your large-scale brand activations, paid media pushes, or product launches. They’re built for speed and distance, but they require precision. Too much torque or the wrong release angle, and they’ll turn over fast.

Your fairway drivers represent your ongoing communication channels (email sequences, content marketing, and SEO). They keep you in the fairway, moving steadily forward and maintaining your presence. They’re not flashy, but they’re consistent, predictable, and essential for long-term success.

Midranges? That’s your tactical execution (your social strategy, creative testing, and campaign adjustments). They bridge the gap between vision and conversion. You reach for them when you need accuracy and control.

And of course, the putters are the tools of precision and finesse. These are your conversion tactics, the landing pages, nurture sequences, and customer touchpoints that close the deal. You don’t muscle a putt; you guide it with confidence and a steady hand.

In the same way that no player relies on a single disc, no successful brand can rely on a single marketing channel. It’s about understanding when to reach for the right tool, how to adapt your throw to the conditions, and when to trust your form.

But even the best players know the value of a second set of eyes. Having a Fractional CMO is like having Ken Climo (the G.O.A.T. and 12-time world champion) on your bag. They’ve seen every course, every condition, every possible mistake. When the wind picks up and the stakes are high, they’re the calm voice that says, “You’ve got this. You see the line. Hot that hyzer line with 80% power to skip up to the basket and tip in your birdie.”

Sometimes, the difference between a risky play and a winning shot isn’t talent, it’s the confidence to trust yourself and throw the shot you see in your head.

When you have marketing leadership that knows how to interpret the conditions, you’re not reacting to headwinds, you’re using them to your advantage. You’re making smarter decisions about angle, form, and follow-through. You’re throwing with intention.

In business, that’s what separates the pros from the amateurs. Anyone can throw a disc. But only the ones who study the wind, trust their tools, and adapt their form will see their strategy land exactly where they aimed.

So, when the next headwind picks up and hits your business, don’t panic. Step up to the tee, take a deep breath, and read the wind. The right marketing strategy doesn’t eliminate the challenge, it helps you fly straight through it.