2007 AM WORLDS--MILWAUKEE, WI

[Bruce Brakel]

It depends upon [A] how good you are and what those other three tournaments are, but I would guess you need to play at least 15 tournaments and you need to be disciplined about playing the division where you can beat the most players, except perhaps at the Michiana or other select A-tiers. 

The standard for an Illinois player to get in this year was 1000 points.  You can get 75 to 150 points playing rec if you are playing well for rec at an IOS.  I don't think we had any point inversion scenarios at the IOS events where the same level of play would get you more points in a higher division.  However, at the Michiana so many players played up to Advanced that for the same level of play most amateurs would have received more points in advanced than in a division indicated by their rating.  And at many A-tiers you can get 40 or 50 points merely by finishing in Advanced becase you do get points on all the Advanced DNFs.  At A-tiers that do not offer lower divisions there will usually be local rec players playing for fun in Advanced.  So there are lots of strategies with A-tiers.

I worked these angles to get invited to 2004 Am Worlds.  I played intermediate instead of am master for the points.  I looked for some tournaments that did not have rec divisions because intermediate then gets those rec players as pool fodder.  But the intermediate strategies are different from the rec strategies.

And no strategy beats actual practice. 

[Mike S]

Well I have no business in ADV at Bowling Green but I'm doing it anyways.  Not that I'm not taking the tournament seriously, but I know I dont have a chance in hell even if I play my best.  I'm playing ADV because if I'm driving all the way down there, I'm playing the good courses.  I have friends in Bowling Green and I'm there to have a good time more than anything.  Just playing competitively on those courses is good enough.  Plus, I find that I play much better around good players.  I wont get as frustrated if I miss a putt or something.

[Bruce Brakel]

You seem to have a fairly stable rating, but if you have been playing a lot over the winter maybe you've moved up.  If you shoot close to your rating in Advanced at Bowling Green you might get clost to 100 points.  Do the same in intermediate and you get 600-700 points.  If points and prizes don't matter, the Advanced pools do play the better courses, and you will be in the lower advanced pool with other players about your skill level. 

[Mike S]

You seem to have a fairly stable rating, but if you have been playing a lot over the winter maybe you've moved up.  If you shoot close to your rating in Advanced at Bowling Green you might get clost to 100 points.  Do the same in intermediate and you get 600-700 points.  If points and prizes don't matter, the Advanced pools do play the better courses, and you will be in the lower advanced pool with other players about your skill level. 

I've only played a handful of rounds this winter.  I'll probably be pretty rusty at the tournament.  I think I've gotten smarter with my play though...  I dropped a few molds out of the bag and stopped worrying so much about distance off the tee-  Now I'm shooting the same scores as I was this summer, but I'm out of shape and the weather sucks.  I should play better this year.

Anyways, from what I hear it doesnt really matter if you get enough points for an invite.  On the PDGA boards they have been saying that pretty much everyone on the waiting list gets in.  I plan on playing enough tournaments this year to get 1000 points anyways.

[Dan Michler]

getting smarter is always good...i'm still pretty dumb though when i play.  the best way to improve is to play ALOT.

[Tenny Schimo Fan]

I agree with Dan. Repetition is key when striving for consistency. Being smart doesn't hurt either.

[DiscGolfSchodt]

WHO IS "TENNY SCHIMO" AND WHY ARE YOU HIS FAN?

[Tenny Schimo Fan]

Tenny Schimo is a legend in his own right. There is nothing Tenny Schimo cant do. I hear he likes Aviars. Me too!!!!!