YORKTON - When it comes to golf discs there are hundreds of choices from dozens of companies, so it’s always interesting when a company does things just a little differently and attracts your attention by doing so.
Take for example Trash Panda discs, which in addition to the catchy name, definitely do things just a bit differently.
They make golf discs using recycled plastic.
“We only use 100 per cent recycled plastic,” notes the company website.
“We’re proud to have produced over 100,000 discs without purchasing a single ounce of virgin plastic
“We use plastic from the sporting goods, automotive, medical, and agricultural, and other industries.”
Now before even tossing a Trash Panda disc it’s a tip of the hat to the company for the ‘green’ initiative. It’s rather clear our society’s addiction to consumerism and the resulting impact of throwing things away – from landfills overflowing to plastics in the oceans to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – is detrimental to our collective future.
Certainly taking some of that waste plastic and turning it into golf discs isn’t going to move the overall needle even a fraction, it is through 10,000 efforts like that of Trash Panda we might actually make a much needed difference.
That said it’s impressive when you peruse the Trash Panda website and see a post “our community has helped us recycle 50,000+ pounds of plastic since November 2022.
“That means we’re diverting a pound of plastic every 1 minute and 15 seconds!
“In other words, we’ve recycled the weight of 15,727 toasters, 31,452 squirrels, or 3,774,267 marshmallows (which is a lot of marshmallows, if you ask us!)”
The disc I tossed for this review was made from recycled cellphone covers – which I admit I found strange in the sense I can’t imagine that many covers being trashed for anything other than vanity in most cases.
That said the Inner Core putter performs just fine on the course, although in truth most putters do that.
Trash Panda spokesperson Kelle Stedman said a putter was the company’s first disc for that reason.
“It was a very natural place for Jesse (TP founder) to start,” she said, adding that in general putters are a disc that can be thrown by beginners to the most experienced players. “. . . We want to make our discs available to any type of player.”
The initial putter was soon joined by a mid range and fairway driver, and soon a distance driver although those I have not experienced.
And Trash Panda takes being ‘earth-friendly’ one step farther.
Again the website notes they are a “proud member of 1% For The Planet -- meaning that one per cent of our revenue is donated to climate-focused efforts.”
So how did this enterprise start?
“Trash Panda was created in 2020,” said Kelle, adding the company founder has been an avid “player of disc golf since he was really little.”
That long interest had him wanting to create something for the sport and he finally settled on the idea of using recycled plastic as a way to offer something a bit different from the crowded field.
“He taught himself everything about plastics,” she added.
The founder then went into his garage and like something of a mad scientist began to experiment, eventually creating a disc that work – although making just one was a half hour effort.
Obviously that wasn’t workable, but in time a production model was made, said Kelle.
Even today Kelle said the design team are “just scientists” as they work on varying plastic blends which will ensure consistency in new discs.
“They have to perform when you throw it,” she said, adding that consistency starts with the plastic.
Kelle said while the idea of doing something good for the planet will, and has garnered interest for its positivity.
“There is a level of interest when people learn they’re made from recycled plastic they’re intrigued,” said Kelle.
But, ultimately, the discs need to please the player with their performance.
“You don’t have to sacrifice your game . . . and still help the Earth,” said Kelle.
Certainly the Inner Core putter does that. While it may not out perform other putters, it is the equal of most I’ve tried, and that feel good about the purchase element pushes this one up a notch too.
You can check it out at trashpandadiscgolf.com
