Safari Series 2003

[Bruce Brakel]

Nice shooting Jo-Jo.



Could whoever is responsible for the task please update Safari standings?

[Bruce Brakel]

I have not seen Shawn C at a Safari since he and I tied and he got bumped up.  You can do current standings without breaking the tie, and we will break the tie the next time we see each other.  



I played Jay "Bird" Mathes's private course last week.  He invited me out to the Sinnissippee.  Anybody know when that is?  Anybody from Discontinuum going?

[Bruce Brakel]

Sat Jun 28

Sun Jun 29

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Region:

Tier:B

Sanctioned:  YES  

Rod Fritz

815-564-9275

Sterling, IL Email: ripper2777@hotmail.com

 

Webpage:

Results:

[Bruce Brakel]

Someone posted above:



"Suggestions for changes to next year's Safari are definately welcome..."



I like the whole 1 round, 12 courses, best seven, and points format we are using this year.  This makes the Safari uniquely different from anything else going on in disc golf.  I'm fine with amateur payouts in upper and lower.



I think the series would attract more players if there was some mathmatical relationship between entry fees and prizes.  For example, at Fairfield we had 15 players, or about $111 in entry fees, and we paid out two discs and a CTP?



Maybe next year we could go 60/30/10 on each event:  60% of entry fees paid back in prizes at each event at cost, 30% reserved for overalls, and 10% to the club.  It really depends on what we want this series to be, a private club thing for a dozen club members or a bigger thing that offers something to the guy who only plays one or two legs.



The series would make a little more sense to the nonmember if Upper and Lower had some definition.  The easiest definition would be the PDGA rating limit for playing PDGA Recreational.  No one with a rating below 875 should have to compete against Shawn or I.



I like the low entry fees and merch payouts for both divisions because it keeps the whole thing about shooting competitive rounds with friends for a small prize.  In other words, it is good shark repellant.  



But if we wanted to attract sharks while keeping them well fed and out of the lagoon, we could offer a $20 cash payout division, a pro division above the current upper division, with the same 60/30/10 payout.



I'm just throwing out some ideas here since I'm precluded from throwing out ideas in the ops-only area.  If Mirth wants to move this to club-members only thats fine.

[Bruce Brakel]

At some point Damon bumps up out of the lower pool and takes his points with him.  Is it after four wins?

[Bruce Brakel]

I've done the math.  The Safari has already paid for itself unless you are paying retail for those prizes.  If you are paying retail for those prizes, look around for a new sponsor!  ;)



I was convinced that there was some kind of bump rule and that Shawn C. bumped himself one win before.  If there is no bump rule, I'm not in favor of creating one halfway through.  Damon is fine in lower.  If you have all forgotten that there was a bump rule, that's fine too.  



I wasn't implying that Damon was bagging.  Someone has to be the best of the worst!  



PDGA ratings will be updated July 14 to include pretty much everything submitted by the end of June.  I'm looking forward to seeing if I'm an advanced player yet!

[Bruce Brakel]

Jim must have told me this at Pizza Hut or somewhere and it never made it onto something durable and official because that's what I remember.



On average, Damon is 6.5 strokes out of first in upper at the Safaris he's played.  Throw out his hi-lo and he's still 5.66 out of first.  No evidence of bagging there.  And it's not like Damon is a lock to win lower.  Josh and Steve are right there with him.



If it feels like it would be a new rule to everyone but Jim and I, then it wouldn't be right to be adding it in July, but I have a self-interest in Damon staying in lower, so I'll recuse myself from this discussion.  I did scour the Safari thread looking for the bump rule and did not find it anywhere.

[Bruce Brakel]

Damon or somebody asked about the Safari in Joliet:  



"Now to really get off the 'club ratings' thread: Jay, is the Safari round in Joliet long or short tees? I think only about half the holes have long tees, isn't that right, Brett/Brakels? I think 4, maybe 8, definitely 9, 10, 12,14, 15 &/or 16, 23, I forget the rest.... "



From the longs the course is still fairly short.  I shot it three down from the longs and felt like I shot poorly.  There are long tees on 1, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 23 and 24.  The long tee on 23 is cool because it turns a nothing-burger 145 foot open straight hole into a tricky 200 foot lefty hyzer.

[Bruce Brakel]

The Memory Giant weighs in:



[I only say that because my four concussions and fever related brain damage have given me a memory like a well oiled machine, a stump grinder to be specific.  It mangles everything that goes in.]



Hole 1 has been Hole 1 in every configuration since the first time I played the course.  It has always had long and short tees.



The long tees at West Park are more lefty favorable than the shorts.  Hole 4 offers the righty a straight shot under the tree from the shorts.  It is harder to hit that route from the longs.  Hole 15 loses its righty hyzer route from the longs.  Hole 23 is a lefty hole from the longs and a straight shot from the shorts.



The course is not a lefty course from the longs, but there is a little more balance from the longs.

[Bruce Brakel]

I think it is a more interesting and challenging course from the reds.  The reds don't make it a long thrower's course.  The reds just add some lefty balance and make a couple of easy deuce holes become easy par holes.

[Bruce Brakel]

There are obvious things we could do to increase attendance next year, if higher attendance is a goal.  Changing dates and locations after the schedule is published is not really one of them.



I could draw up a format that would be more attractive to the average player, yet look a lot like this year's concept.  It has never been clear to me that higher attendance is a generally accepted goal for this series.  Currently it is designed only for those who want to support Discontinuum financially.

[Bruce Brakel]

Jon, Brett and Bruce seem to think it should be a playoff on the last day.  Mathmatically, unless the Shawns start playing the series again, or Brett drops out, the upper division is going to be won by Jon, Brett or Bruce.  [Sorry, Jim, but its just math at this point...]  Can we agree that the tie-breaker in upper will be some kind of last-day playoff?  And then start fighting about the details?  8-)

[Bruce Brakel]

As to the 2004 Safari schedule, Damon, I'd be surprised if there was a 2004 Safari Series.  The people running it this year don't sound interested in running it next year.  If a different group of people step up to run it, I guess it will be what they decide it is going to be.



I think that the Safari Series is a cool concept and have enjoyed playing it.  I won't be able to play it again in 2004.  But if someone steps up to run it, and they want to make it more attractive to the average player, I have some ideas to share.

[Bruce Brakel]

Jim (09-02-2003 05:42 p.m.):

Jay is the big Safari Kahuna now.

We've heard the arguments.

Unless we're waiting for Angela Landsbury or Peter Falk.

Give to us your commandment, oh Lawgiver!

If Jim is saying its Jay's call because Jay is the TD, I'm fine with that.  I've always said that the guy running the event should be given some leeway to run the event.

[Bruce Brakel]

Jay:  Check your e-mail

[Bruce Brakel]

How about super ultra long number 8, where you back up the tee all the way to Bevier #8?

[pat]

I will not be playing the Safari Series this Saturday. I will be in Madison for a hockey game. Maybe the Ice Bowl too.

[pat]

Who's on first?

[pat]

Damon - no tickets on weekends.



Jim - You want long tee's? You got them. Think Prairie Open. 5,11,12,13,14 and 16 were moved to the long placements about a week ago. 17 is at the placement on the left (tough shot over, around or under trees). 8 is right of the mound on the edge of the rough and 18 is still short. They couldn't get the lock open. Good luck.

[pat]

I am going to try to make it.