DISContinuum DISCussion

Disc Golf Related => Illinois Open Series => Topic started by: CEValkyrie on August 28, 2011, 05:39:19 PM

Title: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on August 28, 2011, 05:39:19 PM
IOS #5 @ Round Lake, IL
Fairfield Park
PDGA Pro-C & Am B-Tier Event.

Check www.illinoisopenseries.com for all tournament information.

Attached is the course information sheet.



Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: jasonc on August 29, 2011, 07:02:30 AM
Thanks for the update! 

The regular locals will be handling the typical course clean up leading up to the tournament as usual.  I have not purchased the paint yet, but will most likely take care of the 10M circles again this year.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on August 29, 2011, 07:58:01 AM
Quote from: jasonc on August 29, 2011, 07:02:30 AM
Thanks for the update! 

The regular locals will be handling the typical course clean up leading up to the tournament as usual.  I have not purchased the paint yet, but will most likely take care of the 10M circles again this year.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Jason,

   Thank you! I have a few cans of paint. I talked to Chris J and he said he would help do that too. I have 2 other items to do on my list for the course. Weed eat hole #14A and weed eat the key hole path on #9 so the basket can be seen from the tee.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: smyith on August 29, 2011, 08:05:49 AM
sweet finally going to get to play a tournament this year thats less than 30min away.

any chance for island OB on hole #5? i always thought that made the hole a lil better for tournament sake.

also, what ace pool at?
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pickax on August 29, 2011, 08:53:43 AM
Quote from: smyith on August 29, 2011, 08:05:49 AM
also, what ace pool at?

I have to check the cash box from the last IOS.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: jasonc on August 29, 2011, 09:50:42 AM
Quote from: CEValkyrie on August 29, 2011, 07:58:01 AM
Quote from: jasonc on August 29, 2011, 07:02:30 AM
Thanks for the update! 

The regular locals will be handling the typical course clean up leading up to the tournament as usual.  I have not purchased the paint yet, but will most likely take care of the 10M circles again this year.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Jason,

   Thank you! I have a few cans of paint. I talked to Chris J and he said he would help do that too. I have 2 other items to do on my list for the course. Weed eat hole #14A and weed eat the key hole path on #9 so the basket can be seen from the tee.

I will bring my weed wacker out there.  Hopefully it will hold up in the Fairfield jungle!    ;D
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pickax on August 30, 2011, 06:48:44 PM
Ace Pot carry over from IOS #4 is $99.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: smyith on September 13, 2011, 05:13:49 PM
where can checks be mailed?
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pickax on September 13, 2011, 07:22:38 PM
Mail in information for preregistration is on the preregistration page.

http://www.paperorplasticsports.com/2011/2011ios5.html
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on September 14, 2011, 08:47:49 AM
I gave some paint to Chris Jordan on Saturday. Circles will be painted for the event. He gave me an idea for an extened hole #9 from the path. I'm going to go check it out and find a good area. Dan also suggest the rocks deep on #13 to be out of bounds. Those updtes will be added to the course info sheet.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on September 19, 2011, 10:21:01 AM
Time to start getting in those pre-registrations!  I've received one by mail so far, but you can pre-register using Google Checkout by following this link:
http://www.paperorplasticsports.com/2011/2011ios5.html (http://www.paperorplasticsports.com/2011/2011ios5.html)

Again, all event information can be found here:
http://www.illinoisopenseries.com/ (http://www.illinoisopenseries.com/)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 03, 2011, 07:24:56 AM
hard to believe that this tournament is less than 2 weeks away!  Let's end the 2011 IOS Season with a bang :)

Don't forget to pre-register!  Our pre-registration right now sits at a whopping 1 person right now.  I definitely know that more people are coming out than that!  Keep in mind that your pre-registration helps me stay well stocked in the discs that you like to pick up and throw!  As it stands right now I won't be able to restock on any Discraft, and restocking on Innova is also currently in jeopardy at the moment.  If you know you are playing, get signed up this week!

http://www.paperorplasticsports.com/2011/2011ios5.html (http://www.paperorplasticsports.com/2011/2011ios5.html)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: jasonc on October 04, 2011, 05:02:54 AM
Gotta wait for payday on Friday, but I am planning to pre-register.  Looking forward to the tournament!   O0
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Tom McManus on October 10, 2011, 05:04:12 AM
I will be running bag tags on Saturday.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 10, 2011, 05:53:00 PM
Chris J. and Jason C. have been doing a lot of work at FF. Circles have been painted. A path has been cut on #9 and #14A. Looking forward this weekend.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 11, 2011, 07:15:39 AM
I can't believe that it's tournament time already!  The registrations are slowly trickling in - help us run things more smoothly on the weekend and pre-reg!

Just to note: I do have a small Innova order en route that should arrive in time.  It will have the NEW 2011 Pumpkin discs in it!  I will have 10 DX Aviar (orange), 10 DX Roc (orange), 10 BLACK Star Aviar, and 5 BLACK Star Archon.

These will be sold on a first come, first served basis - hopefully no one will horde them all so that there is enough for both days.  I didn't order much else because not enough people pre-reg'd.  I should have TeeBirds and Destroyers restocked though.

Look forward to seeing everyone this weekend!
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 11, 2011, 05:26:21 PM
Painting on the course is done.

Cirlces look sweet!

I marked the long tees on 1, 9, & 14 for round #2.

The island hole is marked on 11A. There is a layup area short. The drop zone is at the end of the layup area. Around the basket the out of bounds is fairly tight. Short of the basket there is a large landing area. Hot putts can easily go out of bounds.

This will not be on your player sheet as i've already printed them. Hole #18. This will most likely come into play on the long pin round 2 but could come into play on the short basket as well. There is an out of bounds line painted from the corner pole on the parking lot following the cut grass to #11A's fairway. That line connects with the new walking path. Basically the path is already out of bounds on 18. That line comes from the path up to the parking lot following the entire right side of 11A. In the past some shots have come over by #11A from #18. Those will now be out of bounds.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pickax on October 11, 2011, 05:31:12 PM
Usually my problem has been flipping over my drives on #11A and landing near #18. :-)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 11, 2011, 06:28:57 PM
Quote from: pickax on October 11, 2011, 05:31:12 PM
Usually my problem has been flipping over my drives on #11A and landing near #18. :-)

That will be OB too  ;D








-fixed your quote box- JB
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 13, 2011, 06:57:32 AM
Weather forecast calls for highs of 62 and 68 degrees Sat/Sun, and as typical Fairfield fashion, slightly windy.

I compared the forecasted weather to what we had last year because I remember both days being pretty nice overall last year - for the most part it looks like it's pretty much the same, just a little windier on Saturday.

I look forward to seeing everybody out there :)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dan Michler on October 13, 2011, 10:01:42 AM
I like the wind.  I wasn't planning on making any putts anyways.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: discpro99 on October 13, 2011, 12:03:38 PM
IOS #5 is trending right now on yahoos front page. That should spike attendence
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dan Michler on October 13, 2011, 12:16:09 PM
Quote from: discpro99 on October 13, 2011, 12:03:38 PM
IOS #5 is trending right now on yahoos front page. That should spike attendence


:D
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: discpro99 on October 13, 2011, 12:35:42 PM
Yeah its really for APPLE but I thought it was funny
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 14, 2011, 07:57:19 AM
Are you ready for the weekend? Fairfield is going to play like a BEAST  >:D
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dan Michler on October 14, 2011, 08:29:02 AM
40 mph gusts Saturday.  Bring your Stingray.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: roman on October 14, 2011, 08:39:17 AM
Gusty Saturday or rainy Sunday. Decisions decisions. I think I may opt for rainy birdies over windy bogies.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 14, 2011, 09:51:35 AM
According to the latest forecast, the chance for rain isn't until 6pm, and the tournament should be complete by then.  Once again it will just be me being hard pressed to get all loaded up before anything gets wet - lol figures it would be on the last day of my tournament season.  Saturday will be windier than Sunday.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: airspuds on October 14, 2011, 10:11:26 AM
not making the trip ( family obligations )

have fun !

Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: damonshort on October 14, 2011, 12:26:04 PM
Quote from: airspuds on October 14, 2011, 10:11:26 AM
not making the trip ( family obligations )

have fun !



and here we thought you were ILL
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: smyith on October 14, 2011, 01:13:58 PM
Looking like saturday i can leave all the understable plastic at home. going to be an interesting day.

Quote from: stpitner on October 14, 2011, 09:51:35 AM
According to the latest forecast, the chance for rain isn't until 6pm, and the tournament should be complete by then.  Once again it will just be me being hard pressed to get all loaded up before anything gets wet - lol figures it would be on the last day of my tournament season.  Saturday will be windier than Sunday.

i just checked the hourly forecast and it said rain til noon then nice. i hope your right tho.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 14, 2011, 01:25:37 PM
i was looking at accuweather.com - where were you looking at?  wunderground.com puts it at a 40% chance in the afternoon.  Hopefully it misses or isn't much at all :)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: smyith on October 14, 2011, 01:55:57 PM
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/60014?dayNum=2&
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dag on October 14, 2011, 02:15:54 PM
Never cared for the commercial sites.

NWS Round Lake (http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w1=td&w2=wc&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w6=rh&w7=thunder&w8=rain&w9=snow&w10=fzg&w11=sleet&w14u=1&w15u=1&pqpfhr=3&w17=pqpf0&w18=pqpf1&AheadHour=7&Submit=Submit&FcstType=graphical&textField1=42.35804&textField2=-88.10074&site=all&unit=0&dd=0&bw=0)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Jon Brakel on October 14, 2011, 02:30:14 PM
The IOS has a long history of events that had predicted weather of just short of "hurricanes" that turned out to be "partly cloudy".
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 14, 2011, 06:49:43 PM
Course is looking pretty good. See you all tomorrow.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pickax on October 15, 2011, 04:55:35 PM
Saturday Results posted.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/75289
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Tom McManus on October 15, 2011, 05:29:57 PM
Thanks to the IOS team for running another smooth event. Never any issues with course routing,  which tees to tee off from or other course issues.  Scores get posted quickly, payouts are done quickly, and always lots of merchandise to choose from.  Lots of fun in the wind today at Fairfield. Thanks to everyone who chipped in to make this a great event.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Brad on October 15, 2011, 05:59:34 PM
Thank you as well,  that was a fun time.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 16, 2011, 07:46:41 AM
wish everybody was out here today!  beautiful day out here at Fairfield :)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pickax on October 16, 2011, 06:50:43 PM
What a great day for disc golf. Clear skies all day.

Results have been posted for Sunday.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament_results/75479
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: roman on October 16, 2011, 07:05:47 PM
You guys are awesome for such quick turnaround of scores. Thanks again for running such great events all year. You really do (unintentionally) make most of the other tournaments out there seem bad. If you can get me out to play a tournament at Fairfield, you know you're doing something right ;)
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: stpitner on October 16, 2011, 07:29:46 PM
I'm curious how come a lot of people didn't come on out this weekend.  I had a good time, and the weather turned out great today.  There wasn't even a Bears game that you would miss out on ;)  Was it because of the possible weather?  The course itself?  Couldn't afford it?  Too many other options?  Just played the Homie and didn't want to do back to back weekends of tournaments?  Just trying to get some opinions because running a 2-day event with 39 and 36 players, respectively, is kind of silly.  Last year we had 79 players Saturday and 50 or 60-some odd on Sunday.  I'm just curious what changed?
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: roman on October 16, 2011, 08:47:33 PM
I'm curious about the same. I remember Fairfield drawing huge numbers just a few years ago.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: whitechocolate on October 17, 2011, 04:31:59 AM
I didn't make it out because I had surgery on my chest and the skin is not healing properly.  I did not wanna to make it worse constantly stretching it all day.  I do play ring leader for a few other guys that come out for IOS events, and because I didn't make it out to any events this year, neither did they.  Although they tend to fall out on Sundays when football starts (3 REC/INT rated players). 

I'll be back around next season.  That'll generally adds 2-4 players a tourney.  Just been a horrible year for me physically. 
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dag on October 17, 2011, 04:45:29 AM
Lack of momentum?

No need to set a grueling pace like last year's 9 event series but perhaps a more compact season could be beneficial? The impact of a two month span between events also may have been exacerbated by the previous event being in a low SSA venue.

Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dan Michler on October 17, 2011, 05:20:41 AM
I came down with the flu this weekend and am pretty bummed about missing this event, regardless of the turnout.

As for why attendance was down relative to past years, I can speculate a number reasons:

1. Advertisement for the tournament was only a fraction of what it once was.

2. Pre-2003, PDGA tournaments were scarcely seen around here.  A couple years later there was suddenly a half-dozen tournaments within an hour of any Lake County resident.  I think there were a ton of new tournament players that got hooked for a brief period of time and then moved on.  Think about the peak years of the IOS when there were 200 players per event, the number of lower rated players was enormous.  You still get new players cycling in every year, but you'll never get close to the number of players you had during those years, just because PDGA tournaments were new to almost everybody.

3. The amount of competition/the economy....The South suburbs have had at least 10 PDGA events this year.  Rockford has had their own PDGA events.  Kenosha has their own PDGA events.  Terry runs quite a few events just north of the border in Wisconsin.  The number of PDGA events available within a 2 hour drive has exploded over the last several years.  Its easy to see there is a lot more competition for the IOS than there was in the past.  Many players have less money to spend.  They simply can't play every event, so the attendance at alot of the events is going to suffer.

If you want to improve attendance in the future, I think your main goal should be to actively reach out to local recreational players at each course.  Hand out flyers at leagues.  Talk to new players at the course and let them know about tournament play.  Perhaps drop the amateur entry fee and increase the value of the player pack (I think you should be able to afford 1 Champ disc with your player pack).  You've got to get a new wave of recreational players hooked on competitive play.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: jasonc on October 17, 2011, 06:49:05 AM
IOS Crew,

Thanks for running another great tournament!!!  I had a lot of fun out there in the wind.  O0
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 17, 2011, 06:55:45 AM
Whacky weekend out there. Saturday was just crazy with that wind. Sunday ended up being a pretty nice day.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 17, 2011, 08:26:30 AM
This will show how tough the course was playing Saturday. The course layout has been very similar the past 5 years since we've dropped the final 4 holes.

Open Winner Score/Year/Player
101-2007--Comincioli
102-2008--Seegert
101-2009--Seegert
103-2010--Heeren
110-2011--Swanson
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Jon Brakel on October 17, 2011, 08:39:33 AM
I had a great time despite the wind burn! Next year year will be the IOS 10th Anniversary year and we'll have our 50th event. Can't wait!
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: smyith on October 17, 2011, 02:13:26 PM
2 things

1) On the Tournament turn-out. I know alot of people were disappointed this year at the lack of tournaments in the Lake/McHenry County area, as well as the lower WI area (not that you can control the latter). I think this area only had 5 tourns total this year with 1 more left (Cold Turkey). Compared to Joiliet/I-80 area have well into double digits. I can see this having an affect in 2 ways, 1) expenses, having to make so many long trips to play might have emptied out pocket books faster than years past. 2) Discontent, many people were not happy about the lack of tournaments up this way this year and many just choose to barely compete. Heck if my boss wasn't so awesome i wouldnt have been able to play even a quarter of my tourns this year. Now add to that no Crystal Lake or Streamwood tournament, like there has been for many years, and I'm sure people weren't all too happy.
Im not going to infer as to why there was a major lack of tourns compared to years past but i think it may have something to do with poor turnout in the last few months. or it could be that the majority of tournament players currently are college students. <shrug>

2) For those of you interested in the Ashpoo Bag Straps that were given away in the CTPs both days you can email me at info@ashpoo.net or awsmith_84@yahoo.com or call 815-526-3275 (between 10am and 6pm please). You can also see Rich at Chains Disc Golf.
We are working on the bag design as well right now and should have the kinks worked out by November and ready to start selling. Planned features of the bag are 2 and 3 color tone models, 3(possibly 4) putter pocket with its own rain flap, cooler pockets (capable of holding ice...this is the part that is taking a lil time to work out correctly), 22 different spots to attach your straps, a completely redesigned main compartment flap giving you access to the discs on the outer edges without having to remove discs (revo users know what im talking about), and water shedding. Once we get this finished we will begin working on the new backpack designs we have as well. All of our stuff is designed with the competitive player in mind and we always are looking for feedback.
Also, if any of you are good at website design please email me. Maybe we can work out a deal with free gear and you could help me out with getting this pesky website finished (they make it sound so easy...it isnt...lol).
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Tom McManus on October 17, 2011, 02:54:32 PM
Quote from: smyith on October 17, 2011, 02:13:26 PM
2 things

1) On the Tournament turn-out. I know alot of people were disappointed this year at the lack of tournaments in the Lake/McHenry County area, as well as the lower WI area (not that you can control the latter). I think this area only had 5 tourns total this year with 1 more left (Cold Turkey). Compared to Joiliet/I-80 area have well into double digits. I can see this having an affect in 2 ways, 1) expenses, having to make so many long trips to play might have emptied out pocket books faster than years past. 2) Discontent, many people were not happy about the lack of tournaments up this way this year and many just choose to barely compete. Heck if my boss wasn't so awesome i wouldnt have been able to play even a quarter of my tourns this year. Now add to that no Crystal Lake or Streamwood tournament, like there has been for many years, and I'm sure people weren't all too happy.
Im not going to infer as to why there was a major lack of tourns compared to years past but i think it may have something to do with poor turnout in the last few months. or it could be that the majority of tournament players currently are college students. <shrug>

This makes absolutely zero sense. Because there were less tournaments people chose not to play? Too many tournaments would make sense, but choosing not to play because of a lack of tournaments is ridiculous.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: smyith on October 17, 2011, 03:17:05 PM
Quote from: Tom McManus on October 17, 2011, 02:54:32 PM
This makes absolutely zero sense. Because there were less tournaments people chose not to play? Too many tournaments would make sense, but choosing not to play because of a lack of tournaments is ridiculous.

how does it not make sense? if there are no tournaments you may loose interest at keeping your competitive play up. tournament comes around and you dont feel like getting your butt handed to you so you let it pass. most people play to win, if they dont think they have a legit chance they wont play. especially if youre stuck with a rating above your current skill level. the 30-50 people who play often no matter what the conditions are the ones who are there more for the competition more than the pay.

p.s. if one person can think of "it" that means many others already have.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pdga#7648 on October 17, 2011, 07:04:54 PM
Quote from: smyith on October 17, 2011, 03:17:05 PM
Quote from: Tom McManus on October 17, 2011, 02:54:32 PM
This makes absolutely zero sense. Because there were less tournaments people chose not to play? Too many tournaments would make sense, but choosing not to play because of a lack of tournaments is ridiculous.

how does it not make sense? if there are no tournaments you may loose interest at keeping your competitive play up. tournament comes around and you dont feel like getting your butt handed to you so you let it pass. most people play to win, if they dont think they have a legit chance they wont play. 

I know I'm getting my butt handed to me at 90% of the tournaments I pre reg for! but I still play because of the competition! to not play because of someone in that division, would just mean you pay to cash and not for the competition?
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Dan Michler on October 18, 2011, 05:18:17 AM
Quote from: smyith on October 17, 2011, 03:17:05 PM

p.s. if one person can think of "it" that means many others already have.

You just blew my mind!   :o
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Jon Brakel on October 18, 2011, 08:36:03 AM
Tournament history tells us why attendance is down. When we held the first Illinois Open it was the ONLY PDGA tournament in Lake County that year. There had not been a PDGA sanctioned tournament in the county in over 10 years. We had over 100 players for that first event. At the peak of the IOS attendance in the mid to late 2000s when we were getting 100 players per day, the IOS events were the ONLY PDGA tournaments in Lake and McHenry county.

Brett crunched some numbers a couple of years ago when IOS attendance started to dip. In the last 5 years the number of tournaments in Illinois and northern Illinois in particular had doubled or tripled. At the same time the number of players increased by less than 25%. Tournament attendance was up but tournament attendance at any one particular event was mostly down. If you look at attendance this year at all Illinois events you will notice a decrease in attendance. The only events that I've seen in the area that have not had a decrease are Illinois State Championship and the Homie.

When the IOS was starting and at its peak there were way fewer events in Northern Illinois. IOS ran 3, Gary ran 5 and Bryan ran 3. That's 11 events. This year I count 30 PDGA events in northern Illinois. The number of tournament players has not tripled in the last 9 years.

I think these are the factors to decreased attendance at Fairfield:

1) player dilution
2) weather
3) the economy

Players have to make choices. If you can only play one event in the month of October because you don't have as much $$$ as last year are you going to go to the Homie or to IOS #5? I think everyone's answer is the Homie. If you can only play half as many events this year as last year are you going to come out in weather like we had last weekend or hope there's better weather for the Joliet event at the end of the month?

I don't think its that hard to understand the choices being made. There are some things that the IOS team needs to work on. When Brett was involved in every IOS event he (and some of his playing friends) did at least 90% of the publicity for the IOS events. We will probably never find someone who is willing to put in as much time as Brett did for the IOS. I used to have a job that was 2 miles from home and I got 3 weeks of vacation every year plus 6 holidays and 1 personal day. For over 3 years now I've been working as a consultant. I drive 76 miles round trip per day and I get no paid time off. I'm glad to have a job but the reality is that I have much less time for hobby and recreational activities. For those reasons it seems that we are not developing many first time players or building much excitement.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Chainmeister on October 21, 2011, 09:33:06 AM
Damon and Ron fighting for the MG1 crown at Fairfield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd4VMYAMa3A
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Jon Brakel on October 21, 2011, 02:36:03 PM
Quote from: Chainmeister on October 21, 2011, 09:33:06 AM
Damon and Ron fighting for the MG1 crown at Fairfield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd4VMYAMa3A

Nice but it must have been difficult to play with all the guitar music!
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: damonshort on October 21, 2011, 04:37:01 PM
In Ron's defense, the putt he missed on #2 was a lot tougher than the one I choked on #1  :P
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: pdga#7648 on October 21, 2011, 04:42:04 PM
was it the pressure of the camera?  or just all the wind you heard in the background?
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Chainmeister on October 21, 2011, 08:04:13 PM
Quote from: pdga#7648 on October 21, 2011, 04:42:04 PM
was it the pressure of the camera?  or just all the wind you heard in the background?
Big wind. It was not as crazy as Saturday but it was very windy. There was a reason why they were challenged by short pitted.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Mitch on October 22, 2011, 04:47:18 PM
Were there any aces at IOS 5?
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Jon Brakel on October 22, 2011, 07:53:53 PM
Quote from: Mitch on October 22, 2011, 04:47:18 PM
Were there any aces at IOS 5?

Yes but I don't remember who hit it or what hole it was.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: jasonc on October 23, 2011, 06:38:53 AM
Quote from: Mitch on October 22, 2011, 04:47:18 PM
Were there any aces at IOS 5?

Chris Jordan hit one on Sunday.  I believe it was hole #8.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: Jon Brakel on October 23, 2011, 01:58:11 PM
Quote from: jasonc on October 23, 2011, 06:38:53 AM
Quote from: Mitch on October 22, 2011, 04:47:18 PM
Were there any aces at IOS 5?

Chris Jordan hit one on Sunday.  I believe it was hole #8.

Yes, that's right. Now I remember him saying it was a skip ace on hole 8. Thanks for the memory jog!
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 26, 2011, 08:08:40 PM
TD report has been submitted and all PDGA Fees are paid. This event will be on the update in November.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: aris on October 27, 2011, 07:07:17 PM
hey i won the nov dev put i was not abble to come out to round lake so who should i contact
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: CEValkyrie on October 27, 2011, 07:13:19 PM
Quote from: aris on October 27, 2011, 07:07:17 PM
hey i won the nov dev put i was not abble to come out to round lake so who should i contact

Congrats! Your trophy will be awarded at IOS #1 next year.
Title: Re: IOS #5 @ Round Lake (October 15th & 16th 2011)
Post by: aris on October 27, 2011, 07:55:09 PM
thanks