Interesting article on PDGA.com today. http://www.pdga.com/nonstop-disc-golf-tour (http://www.pdga.com/nonstop-disc-golf-tour)
I like their idea to run these events and clinics while they are out on the road. However, I wouldn't pay $55 to play an Advanced tourney that has one 18 hole round on Saturday and another on Sunday. I think they'd be better off running a more typical 1 day 2 round event, and running a clinic the day before the event for $10/person.
I enjoyed reading Schusterick's blog post on nonstopdiscgolf.com.
That was a good read.
I like the concept. I do agree with Dan I wouldn't do the 2 day thing. Had this been several years ago I would be more than willing to pay the $55 to spend the weekend around these guys.
I think by doing it as a two day deal, they are really trying to make it an event such that people aren't in a rush to grab a quick bite before the second round, beat daylight, etc. We have always tried to squeeze as much golf into one day as possible. By spreading it out, they can do a lot more of what people want the Pros to do (e.g. teach, be ambassadors, draw in the media). It's too difficult to do that in one day. With two days things can be a lot more relaxed.
I think their draw might be diminished by doing a 2 day event, but I think the impact/goodwill will be a lot greater.I thought I saw that they want to do this where there isn't another event for 500 miles. I don't know that you could find a weekend like that around here (at least when the weather will be above freezing).
There are a lot of regions where two-day events are typical and one-day events are called "minis". I think they have an interesting idea.
If there was one of these events in the area I would go. These guys are the best playesr in the world, there is a lot to learn from them.
I like the payout structure from their first event in New Mexico.
17 player field:
1st $600 (23%) 2nd $550 (21%) 3rd $500 (19%) 4th $425 (17%) 5th $250 (10%) 6th $150 (6%) 7th $100 (4%)
Very flat payout for 1st-4th. I'm sure you can guess who finished 1st-4th. I'm not saying they funneled all the money to themselves, I think 10% of the payout for 5th place is probably fair. I think 1st would have typically been worth about $900+ with such a large payout. They clearly just structured it so they wouldn't be playing against each other for much cash.
I wonder where the added cash came from? Entry was just $75 for Pro which adds up to $1275, meaning there was at least $1300 added to the pro payout for this event in the middle of nowhere. 44 total players.
My guess would be Ams and disc sales.
Just looking at MM1:
Entry Fees $250
Merch Payout $155
Assume $10 PP = $50
Puts their merch cost at roughly $105 leaving $145 to go to tourney expenses/purse.
But that still doesn't scale to $1300 added cash.
You are miscalculating their merch cost. Top tier sponsored pros have a radically different merch cost from the rest of the planet. ;D
Also, added cash you pay to yourself is free. Talk to your accountant if that is not entirely clear. >:D
Quote from: Bruce Brakel on March 15, 2012, 12:08:06 PM
Also, added cash you pay to yourself is free. Talk to your accountant if that is not entirely clear. >:D
I had the same thought. But if its their own cash, I don't get why they would throw so much more than the B tier minimum at it, even though its just coming right back to them at the end of the day. It seems like some sponsor must have thrown some added cash at them for this tournament, which is a pretty sweet deal when you know you'll be winning over 80% of that added cash yourself. If this is happening at all the NSDG tour events this year, I wonder if some other travelling pros will take notice and crash their party.
I'm not sure if it makes a difference or if it is what is going on, but maybe total winnings for the year helps in certain rankings or extra bonus formulas.