I remember many years ago when the Frisbee first became popular, it seemed like everyone was throwing one at a park, the beach or any field that was big enough to run around and catch one.

Back then, it was more for fun than for competition, and it wasn’t considered a sport - just an activity that families, friends and sometimes dogs, could enjoy

But that has changed a lot over the years. Frisbee (now disc is the official term) football games started to pop up in parks and even on city streets where kids once played stick-ball. I remember my friends and I played disc football on Sixth Street in Jersey City every Friday evening after school or work. But it never grew into anything bigger than that.

Not too many years ago, cities and counties started to accommodate disc sports as it became more popular. Soon disc golf courses started appearing in different parks across the country. At the beginning, some places just installed a few baskets and cleared a few trees to make it possible to throw long distances.

But as the sport grew in popularity, more and more 18-basket courses started to appear in many parks. Now, a good percentage of parks have disc golf courses.

I’m glad lots of people are getting outdoors and engaging in physical activity. It’s much better that sitting at home and playing video games or spending time on social media. Any time people can get to a park, it’s better than being indoors.

But there is another side of disc golf that is becoming an issue - at least with me. It seems that some players are beginning to take the game much too seriously. What started out as a fun activity is turning into a highly competitive sport. Players walk around carrying backpacks or pulling carts filled with different discs, similar to what golfers do with different clubs.

As someone who likes to do metal detecting, I have spent many hours walking through different parks searching for coins, jewelry, relics and anything else that might be considered treasure. I’m always considerate of other people who are using the park, whether it’s a picnic area, a playground, around ballfields or basketball and tennis courts.

I wish I could say the same for some of the people who play disc golf. Over the past two years I’ve been yelled at a few times to “get out of the way” when the golfers wanted to throw their discs. That impatience seems to have grown.

Just last Sunday morning it happened again when my wife Rita and I were taking a walk in Montissippi Park in Monticello. We were on a paved trail, but some of the golfers were still impatient that we were in their way.

They should remember, it’s a park for everyone to use as they see fit.

So I have a message to those who think their activity is more important that everyones else’s.

Chill out.  It’s just a game.