What makes a good tournament?

[Tom McManus]

My question is...would disc golfers like everyone called up that cashed for their prize or should just the top 3 of every division be recognized?

Top 3

[Tom McManus]

There is also another aspect to the question of calling up everyone for their prizes. The TD does not necessarily know who everyone is. By paying out rewards publicly in front of everyone, the chance for a charlatan to walk away with the prize for someone else is greatly reduced.

Have you ever known this to be done?  Not heard second or third hand, but know for a fact that it has been done?

[AO]

My question is...would disc golfers like everyone called up that cashed for their prize or should just the top 3 of every division be recognized?

Top 3

That's kind of my take on it too.  Allows for quicker award ceremony.

[pickax]

There is also another aspect to the question of calling up everyone for their prizes. The TD does not necessarily know who everyone is. By paying out rewards publicly in front of everyone, the chance for a charlatan to walk away with the prize for someone else is greatly reduced.

Have you ever known this to be done?  Not heard second or third hand, but know for a fact that it has been done?

I haven't ever heard of this. Just thinking through possible unintended consequences of not doing all of the awards in public.

[Bruce Brakel]

With this issue, the TD and merch guy should do what works best for them.  At IOS tournaments where we only have one pool of players, we run through the 40 or so prize winners pretty quickly.  Doing the top three in order and the rest randomly off to the side would not save any time for the average player.  It would probably take more time and it would be harder to catch and correct mistakes in the payout process. 

But, if you have some pools getting done a couple of hours before other pools, like at the Rockford A-tier, it makes sense to pay them out when they finish.  If the ams are going to finish the tournaments at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday and the pros won't be done until 5:00 p.m. and the plan is to keep the prize winning ams around as prize-hostage-spectators, advertise that in advance.  I have not been back to several A-tiers that have done that by surprise and don't want to go to A-tiers where that is the plan. 

[can't putt]

Top three works for me!

As does awards by division if there are different finishing times.

As does holding ace fund throwoffs, games, etc. after the awards.

[CEValkyrie]

I'm not sure where but the discussion of the awards ceremony has been discussed before. I was a big advocate of awarding only the top finishers.

I've put Dan in charge of reminding me for the CAC next year. I will award only the trophy winners at a nice awards ceremony where more focus is on the top finishers. The other cashing players can come see me and i'll pay them out on the side.

[tjdub26936]

I'm not sure where but the discussion of the awards ceremony has been discussed before. I was a big advocate of awarding only the top finishers.

I've put Dan in charge of reminding me for the CAC next year. I will award only the trophy winners at a nice awards ceremony where more focus is on the top finishers. The other cashing players can come see me and i'll pay them out on the side.

Consider what this will do to the merch feeding frenzy:  Will you pay out places 4-through-whatever before the awards are announced?  If so, they can hit up the merch tables right away, leaving the top finishers with less of a selection.

Have IOS tournaments allowed people to set aside merch before they get their payout?  That seems like a reasonable request, with pro-active people benefiting from thinking ahead.  However, there could possibly be a $ limit on what could be set aside to avoid abusing the system, something like a maximum of three discs or $50.  This typically isn't a problem at Scott's or IOS tourneys because they have a big selection.

[CEValkyrie]

I'm not sure where but the discussion of the awards ceremony has been discussed before. I was a big advocate of awarding only the top finishers.

I've put Dan in charge of reminding me for the CAC next year. I will award only the trophy winners at a nice awards ceremony where more focus is on the top finishers. The other cashing players can come see me and i'll pay them out on the side.

Consider what this will do to the merch feeding frenzy:  Will you pay out places 4-through-whatever before the awards are announced?  If so, they can hit up the merch tables right away, leaving the top finishers with less of a selection.

Have IOS tournaments allowed people to set aside merch before they get their payout?  That seems like a reasonable request, with pro-active people benefiting from thinking ahead.  However, there could possibly be a $ limit on what could be set aside to avoid abusing the system, something like a maximum of three discs or $50.  This typically isn't a problem at Scott's or IOS tourneys because they have a big selection.

I plan on awarding the top 3 of each division BEFORE anyone else gets their prizes. That way the 9 guys that shot the best golf on the weekend get the 1st choice at prizes rather than last chance. I'll be on the side with 4 thru last cash immediately after. We'll see how it works.

[CEValkyrie]

bigger pay outs cough pitner cough any way looking forward to j town championship

That Guy,

I'll be asking for dates from TD's for the 2010 Tour later this fall. I expect you to step up and run a PDGA event next year since you know what good payouts are. Please do so. I'm not sure if you noticed but there a lot less Chicagoland sanctioned events this year. It looks like there will be less next year.

Just be glad you have the opportunity to play a PDGA event in the area. At least have the balls to give your name when expressing your opinions of an event you just played.

[pdga#7648]

great idea Brett.

[tacimala]

That Guy,

I'll be asking for dates from TD's for the 2010 Tour later this fall. I expect you to step up and run a PDGA event next year since you know what good payouts are. Please do so. I'm not sure if you noticed but there a lot less Chicagoland sanctioned events this year. It looks like there will be less next year.

Just be glad you have the opportunity to play a PDGA event in the area. At least have the balls to give your name when expressing your opinions of an event you just played.

With IP addresses being logged, it wouldn't be hard to address them by first name.

[4u2nv]

OK so here is my take on the whole thing.  As much as I appreciate TDs and all they do but there are well run events and there are some not so well run events.  For instance any IOS events I have been to has been well run with people checking scores, TDs very respectful and getting to know the players, most courses have been closed to the public, extra holes, decent prices decent payouts.   However, I will not name names but I have been to other tournaments where they needed players to help check scorecards, payouts very low, an hour after the event finished the awards finally started, TDs taking advantage of the players, TDs not understanding the rules, TDs padding their own pockets by jacking up prices on discs or having a different price cash/funny money, TDs who complain that they are not going to see a return on their investment.

Things I think make a good tournament. besides hype, I mean hype gets people there but things after you are there.
1. Starting on time every round!!!
2. Score cards with the distance clearly marked along with OB.
3. Tournaments that help cater to women and help bring more women into the sport by various means
4. A TD/TDs who know my name, or at least make an effort to address me directly.
5. A course that is easy to navigate or has tournament signs to help navigate.
6. 10m circles so there is no guessing about jump putting
7. A course that is closed to casual players.
8. Lots of players and a good course.
9. A tournament where all teepads, OB, Mandos, drop zones, etc. are clearly set before during and after the tournament
10. A players pack with a choice is always a nice thing to have. 
11. Scores are posted with in a few days and turned into the pdga in a reasonable amount of time.
12.  A tournament with Officials who roam the course in case people have any questions/disputes
13. Nice tropies, or at least an effort to have trophies onsite.  Waiting to get them later sucks
14. Having food for sale at the event is nice.  Having lunch/dinner is nice but not high on the list.
15. Adding a couple of extra holes is a bonus and makes it a bit harder for local yokals to bag too much.
16. Good selection of Disc stock
17. A tournament with smooth transitions between rounds, lunch, and awards.
18. A tournament that offers better payouts to higher divisions.  1st int should not get more then 1st ADV even if it is all one entry fee.  Pay down futher in a lower division if they have more players.
19. Offering all divisions instead of being elitest. (Exception A-Tiers)
20.  A TD that makes sure to have enough help on hand.

Things I don't like.
1. TDs that complain about not making a return on their investment.  If you are a good TD and have decent prices people will talk you up and seek you out.
2. Courses open to the public.  Nothing throws my game off more then a couple families on the course with kids. jumping around on the teepad in front of you or behind you talking and goofing off etc.
3. TDs asking too much for their discs... (You want what? $30, That is a Glow destroyer not a Champ Roc!)
4. TDs who are late.  If you say it will start at 9:30 or 2nd round starts at 2:00pm then that should be when it starts, don't sounds the 2 minute horn 2 minutes late.
5. TDs that look the other way when someone if found to be cheating, or using illegal drugs.
6. Anything contrary to the top 20 good things!

[Jon Brakel]

That Guy,

I'll be asking for dates from TD's for the 2010 Tour later this fall. I expect you to step up and run a PDGA event next year since you know what good payouts are. Please do so. I'm not sure if you noticed but there a lot less Chicagoland sanctioned events this year. It looks like there will be less next year.

Just be glad you have the opportunity to play a PDGA event in the area. At least have the balls to give your name when expressing your opinions of an event you just played.

With IP addresses being logged, it wouldn't be hard to address them by first name.

jdunk is the name

[OvEr HaNd AsSaSiN]

Jason Duncan.. get um

[Sr.]

OK so here is my take on the whole thing.  As much as I appreciate TDs and all they do but there are well run events and there are some not so well run events.  For instance any IOS events I have been to has been well run with people checking scores, TDs very respectful and getting to know the players, most courses have been closed to the public, extra holes, decent prices decent payouts.   However, I will not name names but I have been to other tournaments where they needed players to help check scorecards, payouts very low, an hour after the event finished the awards finally started, TDs taking advantage of the players, TDs not understanding the rules, TDs padding their own pockets by jacking up prices on discs or having a different price cash/funny money, TDs who complain that they are not going to see a return on their investment.

Things I think make a good tournament. besides hype, I mean hype gets people there but things after you are there.
1. Starting on time every round!!!
2. Score cards with the distance clearly marked along with OB.
3. Tournaments that help cater to women and help bring more women into the sport by various means
4. A TD/TDs who know my name, or at least make an effort to address me directly.
5. A course that is easy to navigate or has tournament signs to help navigate.
6. 10m circles so there is no guessing about jump putting
7. A course that is closed to casual players.
8. Lots of players and a good course.
9. A tournament where all teepads, OB, Mandos, drop zones, etc. are clearly set before during and after the tournament
10. A players pack with a choice is always a nice thing to have. 
11. Scores are posted with in a few days and turned into the pdga in a reasonable amount of time.
12.  A tournament with Officials who roam the course in case people have any questions/disputes
13. Nice tropies, or at least an effort to have trophies onsite.  Waiting to get them later sucks
14. Having food for sale at the event is nice.  Having lunch/dinner is nice but not high on the list.
15. Adding a couple of extra holes is a bonus and makes it a bit harder for local yokals to bag too much.
16. Good selection of Disc stock
17. A tournament with smooth transitions between rounds, lunch, and awards.
18. A tournament that offers better payouts to higher divisions.  1st int should not get more then 1st ADV even if it is all one entry fee.  Pay down futher in a lower division if they have more players.
19. Offering all divisions instead of being elitest. (Exception A-Tiers)
20.  A TD that makes sure to have enough help on hand.

Things I don't like.
1. TDs that complain about not making a return on their investment.  If you are a good TD and have decent prices people will talk you up and seek you out.
2. Courses open to the public.  Nothing throws my game off more then a couple families on the course with kids. jumping around on the teepad in front of you or behind you talking and goofing off etc.
3. TDs asking too much for their discs... (You want what? $30, That is a Glow destroyer not a Champ Roc!)
4. TDs who are late.  If you say it will start at 9:30 or 2nd round starts at 2:00pm then that should be when it starts, don't sounds the 2 minute horn 2 minutes late.
5. TDs that look the other way when someone if found to be cheating, or using illegal drugs.
6. Anything contrary to the top 20 good things!

Doesn't sound like much wiggle room here for the poor TD. There's alot of TDs that are this good but things do happen that are not the fault of the TD. I do believe patience is a TDs best friend.

[Dan Michler]

Number 1 thing that makes for a frickin AWESOME tournament...................me shooting good.


(feel free to post your jokes about how all tournaments must suck)

[Chainmeister]

Those tournaments are great. When Dan implodes its usually a couple rating point bonus for us lower rated players. Unfortunately, that does not happen very much any more as the Danimal has become the Zen Michler..

[jack]

This tournament looks to have a lot of the things that make for a good event: http://www.discontinuum.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&&topic=4779.msg67281;topicseen#new

I've played in a few Iron Lion events, and Chase and crew have always done a great job.

This one, too:
http://www.discontinuum.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&&topic=4802.msg67297;topicseen#new

There ARE cool tournaments out there. Sometimes you just have to be willing to travel a bit to play them.

[jdunk]

jdunk did what? i didnt write that another disc golfer did that was at that tourny. and Im not naming names and i dont care eveyone can have there own opinions all i did was tell him where to post. il be at j town tourny if u have problems!