general tourney questions

[Adam R]

Hey all -- I have never played in a tournament before and I am thinking about playing in the IOS #4 at Rockford.  Do I have to pre-register, or can I get there early and register in person?

I also have a question about the divisions.  West Park is one of my favorite courses...what would be a novice score (playing all holes as par 3s)?  Intermediate?  Advanced?

One more random question: What is the most common etiquette mistake you see from tournament rookies?

Thanks,

Adam

P.S. Anyone else from Naperville and thinking that Seager Park (near Naper and Ogden) should have a course?

[Dan Michler]

NO, you do not have to preregister.  Just show up that morning and sign up.

If its your first tournament, play RECREATIONAL division and see where you wind up, then maybe you can move to intermediate or advanced after that.

A good advanced score for the 27 hole tourney layout at West park is around 10 under.  I think 13 or 14 down might have been the hot round this year.  Intermediates prolly shoot 5 or 6 under and Recs shoot be even or a couple under.

You'll learn some etiquette during your first tournament playing Rec, so don't worry about not knowing stuff now.  If you are actually thinking about etiquette then you are already ahead of many Recreational division players     Just remember to mark your lie before you putt out, stay out of the other players line of sight, and if you are scorekeeping make sure you ask for everybody's score out loud.  Hope to see you at Rockford!

[pickax]

Seager Park in Naperville could be a very tight wooded course. You might be able to fit 9 holes, but it seems a bit small.

[mirth]

After putting you need to regain balance and stance behind your marker. If you lose your balance and step over your mini then its a falling putt & your card can force you to re-putt. Subsequent falling putts are a stroke penalty each.

[Dan Michler]

also be careful of people with names that have no vowels.

[CEValkyrie]

You don't have to pre-register for this event but I encourage anyone to do so. There is going to be a lot of people there and you will be glad when you don't have to stand in line.

Also, go to www.pdga.com & read the rule book. You will learn a lot from it. We have a first time tournament player's meeting prior to every event.  

[Bruce Brakel]

On the etiquette and rules question, another common one is not holing out.  You must complete every hole.  You can't pick up and walk on when you are under the basket, or slap the chains and walk on when withing slapping distance.  

The other is scorekeeping.  When it is your turn to keep score you do it this way when all players are present:

Adam:  Bruce, what did you get?
Bruce:  3
Adam:  3.  Brett, what did you get?
Brett:  2.  
Adam: 2.  Dan, what did you get?
Dan:  Are you nucking futs?!?  I get a $750 hole in one and you ask me what I got?
Adam:  Bruce said I have to do it this way.
Dan: 1
Adam: 1.  I got a 4.

[Adam R]

Thanks for all of the advice.  Do most tournaments ignore the posted pars and play everything as 3?

Also, my understanding is that any player who accepts a prize in an amateur division forfeits his/her amateur status.  Is that the case even if the prize is a tournament disc?

krupicka--you're right about Seager being pretty small, but there could be some relatively open holes near the entrance of the park.


Adam

[Jon Brakel]

Thanks for all of the advice.  Do most tournaments ignore the posted pars and play everything as 3?

Also, my understanding is that any player who accepts a prize in an amateur division forfeits his/her amateur status.  Is that the case even if the prize is a tournament disc?

krupicka--you're right about Seager being pretty small, but there could be some relatively open holes near the entrance of the park.


Adam

At tournaments you just count your total strokes. For purposes of penalties most courses around here are all par threes.

Players who accept cash for placing in a pro division are considered pros. For sanctioned tournaments it is not allowed to payout cash to the amateur places. Amateurs who place win prizes (discs, hats, baskets, etc.).

[Bruce Brakel]

Thanks for all of the advice.  Do most tournaments ignore the posted pars and play everything as 3?

Also, my understanding is that any player who accepts a prize in an amateur division forfeits his/her amateur status.  Is that the case even if the prize is a tournament disc?

Adam

When you turn in your scorecard you must report a total score, like 62, and not an over/under like -4.  Therefore par only becomes relevant if you are late to the tee for the start of a round and you miss one or more holes.  Then the penalty is par + 4 for every hole missed.  

Yes, most tournaments, every hole is par 3.  

The only way to lose your amateur status in disc golf is to take cash or prizes for your finish in a pro division at a sanctioned tournament.  You can take prizes in an amateur division and still be an amateur disc golfer.  [Otherwise, why would we run and play these tournaments?   ]  You can take cash for a side game, like an ace pool or cash CTP, and still be an amateur.  You can also take cash at unsanctioned events and still be an amateur.

[mirth]

don't forget you can turn your prizes into cash by selling them at area courses & still retain your am status...

[damonshort]

don't forget you can turn your prizes into cash by selling them at area courses & still retain your am status...

people actually do that???        

[Bruce Brakel]

don't forget you can turn your prizes into cash by selling them at area courses & still retain your am status...

people actually do that???      

If you wait until the crowd has cleared out you can turn your prizes into cash by selling them back to the merch man!   You might get 65 cents on the dollar selling at courses, but you will only get 50 cents on the dollar from the merch man.  Whatever works for you.    

[discglfr]

I'm curious about details regarding the DISContinuum Club Invitational.  I believe I'm an active club member but the link on the site didn't work for me.  If someone had a flyer or info it would be great if they could e-mail me.  I don't check this board regularly so an e-mail would be great.

Thanks,

[mirth]

Hey Terry, looks like we haven't received your renewal for 2005 yet. I'll email you later today or tomorrow with more info.

Al

[Brian]

Also after you make a putt, take it out of the basket before the next person putts.

[discglfr]

Also after you make a putt, take it out of the basket before the next person putts.

Brian,

Are you referring to me about taking my putter out or are you talking to someone else?  I am just wondering because I normally do take my putter out (assuming I get the darn thing INTO the basket).

Thanks,

 

[Bruce Brakel]

I'm quite certain he was referring to the original, pre-drift question:

One more random question: What is the most common etiquette mistake you see from tournament rookies?

Thanks,

Adam

[Younk]

RE: Falling Putt

At Rockford there was a person in my group whose momentum kept bringing him over the mini.  He would not place his foot on the ground until after (according to him) the disc hit some part of the basket but would then drop his foot past the mini.  It was really hard to tell sometimes because it's hard to have your eye on both.  I would listen for contact with the basket but I didn't think some of his putts were legal.  He became very defensive when another player in our group said something and then it wasn't brought up again.  So I guess my questions are:

 *If the person putting steps over the mini after the disc hits some part of the pole hole is it a falling putt?  

 *How do you handle a situation where the person accused doesn't agree?  I know that there are officials but how do you get them involved if need be?

[Dan Michler]

he has to show balance after the putt without falling forward past his lie no matter how long that takes.  when the disc hits the bin is irrelevant.