Here is a website Jason found. I'm not sure how long it has been on the net. I have never seen it & I look @ tons of disc golf sites. Check it out. http://illinoisdiscgolf.8m.com/index.html
I agree that playing is important, but paying is a pretty large factor for some people. Regardless of winnings, a lot of my discgolf playing friends looked at me weird when I suggested they come play in leagues with us.
I definately think that our league & club membership fees are very affordable... especially when you take into consideration all the sweet deals Jim gives! :)
Some of my friends are the type that say, 'Why pay to play something that is free?'
I talked to the illinoisdiscgolf.8m a while back - our link is on his site and his is on our links page. He seems slow about getting more stuff online, but at least he's doing something. The Peoria crowd has been online much longer and host many great events, including the Greater Peoria Open and, later this year, the US Womens Disc Golf Championships!
Mirth - Imust be slipping. Why have people looked at you funny re: leagues? Money? Low turnout or payout? I thought it was pretty OK.
Do you know what I like? I like to play disc with other people who like to play disc. I like to see people try it for the first time and get hooked. I like to see families play disc together (and the kids out-throw the dad, jeesh!). If some of 'em need incentives like prizes, then cool. If some of 'em like money, fine, but I know none of us are pocketing any cash.
You guys have donated time, money, and creative effort in making baskets, cleaning up the course, teaching kids, and more.
I have been invited to attend the Waukegan Park District's Annual Appreciation Dinner for Volunteers and Sponsors, of which DISContinuum is one. We are being recognized for providing a service to the community, and that's pretty cool. If we happen to win some kind of award or get mentioned, I will make sure that they know it's a group effort - and that we're just getting started dammit! :-)
Any money that we make through leagues and memberships is going to go for quality prizes at tournaments, new baskets, membership packages, and other things to improve disc golf in the area.
By the way, do I post too much?
by the way. the http://pfcdiscgolf.org is the peoria frisbee club. they have a forum as well. let's make a pledge not to become a club like that one. i'm sure they have some +'s but there are a lot of posts bitching about $$$. it's all about playing not $$$.
Later
I agree! The deals are very awesome. Membership fees & league fees are very minimal compared to a few clubs i've seen. We also get some great stuff. It is very worthwhile for me. I'm looking for people to play with & some competitive spirit.
PS-Jim-any t-shirts in the process of being made?
Later
TC
I didn't want to start anything negative. I was reading tons of posts on the pfc disc golf forum & there were tons of posts about how pfc was pocketing money & over charging club members for merchandise & events. === As for discontinuum, I don't think it can get much better. For $10.00 you get a disc, mini, & club bucks. It doesn't get much better than that. I also believe the league fees are very reasonable for a well organized league with a bunch of great guys to throw with. Try to play in any leagues of any sport. You can't even start to compare. Yes, I love the sport. Yes it is free. Playing in leagues & tournaments doesn't compare to playing casually. This is why I like discontinuum. It shouldn't be a big deal anyway. If you don't want to pay, you don't have to join the club or play in leagues. It's as simple as that. --- I guess the main concern the pfc was having is that they were not rewarding it's members. Basically stealing money. I was making sure we didn't go that way.
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TC
Hell no you don't post too much! I like being able to chat. Some of it is down right funny and weird!! Jim-you sail a good ship. I feel everyone is happy & things are going great. I just wanted people to see the pfc & how something good has gone wrong some how. Seems like some hostility towards the group for pocketing cash. It's all about the disc golf. Not $.
Later
TC
I'm one of those people.
Yet, I look at my payments to the league, and I say payments because I have hardly ever won Best Shot, as a contribution to an organization that I don't mind supporting.
In the few kids (juniors) that I'm around, I have seen the positive effects of organized competition. Especially if its on a friendly social basis. It really gives the kids something to look foreward too, getting them off their ass from in front of the almighty TV. It's also one of the few fun activities that adults and kids can do together and not spend a ton of money. I don't mind supporting an organization that promotes this kind of activity.
I'm sure if the club went down the tubes, there would still be a group of us playing best shot on the weekends. But bigger prizes attract more (and sometimes better) competition. And I've found that one of the best ways for me to improve my game is to continually play against someone who can kick my ass. So I enjoy the good competition, and if it costs $5 a week for a lesson, I think I'm getting a pretty good deal.
That's my philosphy anyway.
I would definitely have to agree with Brett. Let's not go the direction of the PFC. It wasn't just a money issue for them either. It looked as if everything that went wrong was someone else's fault down there. It looked like they spent too much time placing blame and too little time finding a solution to the problem. I think the $ we pay to Discontinuum is extremely reasonable for as much as we get out of it. It's worth a little bit of $ for the competition. I think playing for money gives everyone that extra incentive to keep competing and not slack off when things are going bad. I would also agree with the Van Master in that we all get better because of the extra competitiveness.