Steady Ed Headrick: Why His Picture Hangs in Our Shop

If you’ve spent any time inside Another Round Austin, you’ve probably noticed the photo on the wall. A man with a steady gaze, often holding what looks nothing like the discs we throw today. That’s Ed Headrick — known throughout the sport as “Steady Ed” — and there’s a reason his picture hangs here.

There’s also a reason we give away free Steady Ed stickers.

Disc golf didn’t grow out of a boardroom, a venture fund, or a marketing plan. It grew out of a simple idea: that flying discs should be fun, accessible, and shared with everyone. Steady Ed wasn’t just part of that idea — he was the one who made it real.

The Father of Disc Golf

Ed Headrick is widely known as the Father of Disc Golf, and that title isn’t symbolic. He was instrumental in shaping the sport as we know it today — from inventing the modern disc golf basket (the Pole Hole) to founding the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). Before Ed, people were throwing discs at trees, poles, or whatever target happened to be around. After Ed, disc golf had rules, structure, courses, and a future.

But the most important thing he built wasn’t hardware or organizations. It was a philosophy.

Steady Ed believed disc golf should be free to play, easy to learn, and available to everyone. He famously encouraged course designers to place courses in public parks and insisted that disc golf remain accessible to kids, families, and casual players — not just competitors. That belief still defines the sport.

If you want a deeper look at Ed’s life and impact, DiscGolf.com has an excellent overview of his legacy here:https://discgolf.com/disc-golf-education-development/ed-headrick-father-disc-golf/

Why His Picture Is on Our Wall

We don’t hang Steady Ed’s photo because of nostalgia. We hang it as a reminder.

Every time someone walks into our shop — whether they’re buying their first disc, grabbing a beer after a round, or arguing about which putter is “the truth” — they’re participating in something Ed helped create. A sport that values fun over ego, community over exclusivity, and growth over gatekeeping.

His picture is there to ground us. To remind us that disc golf isn’t about chasing trends or squeezing margins. It’s about creating a welcoming space where anyone can throw a disc and feel like they belong.

Why We Give Away Free Steady Ed Stickers

Giving away free stickers might seem small, but it’s intentional.

Steady Ed didn’t believe disc golf should be locked behind paywalls or prestige. Sharing his image freely — no purchase required — is our way of carrying that spirit forward. Take one. Put it on your bag, your water bottle, your mini fridge. Let it be a quiet nod to where this sport came from.

Disc golf only works if it stays generous.

So if you’re ever curious why that photo is watching over the shop, or why the stickers are free, now you know. Everything we love about disc golf — the accessibility, the weirdness, the community — traces back to Steady Ed.

And that’s worth honoring every day.