2006 Thank You!

[Dan Michler]

I definitely agree with Mike on the idea of starting earlier...

[WkeBrd3]

Streamwood will probably be dropped.

NO! 

[Mukey]

Streamwood will probably be dropped.

NO! 

YESSS! Stream-hood, heh     

[WkeBrd3]

Streamwood will probably be dropped.

NO! 

YESSS! Stream-hood, heh     

I'm just a little partial since I lived there for 20+ years and it's my home course.

[maa4208]

- Silly contests (e.g jumbo toss, etc) could add something that is a little more light hearted than the intensity of the rest of the day.

I think a long drive competition (by division of course ) would be a cool thing to do in between rounds. Just my take on it though.

[pickax]

Long Drive and CTP's are close (but not the same). On the long hole at Rockford, it's the same thing. I think some girl took that one home. 

[maa4208]

Long Drive and CTP's are close (but not the same).

This wouldn't be during the round though. It would be some other side thing. You know how Gary Lewis does the throw for the pies thingy? Well, something like that. Yet again, just my take on it.

[discmonkey]

This was my first year playing and I have to say that the IOS events were the highlight of my summer.  Pretty much everyone I met was a genuinely nice person.  A sincere and heartfelt thank you to all involved, it had to have been a huge effort to run such a big thing so smoothly.
I specifically played mostly IOS events because of the overall points.  Having received one of the very cool dr. dye discs for overall points, I can say I'm looking forward to the series points chase next year. 
I also liked the rec/int on Sunday schedule.  It allowed the people that could play both days to use the t.o. day as their practice for the day that really counted for them. 
I do think it is unfair to say that the ace pool should motivate people to play t.o. on Saturday, though.  The Sat. group has a far higher chance to hit an ace than the Sun. group.  At least 3 times I showed up Sunday morning to find the ace pool was $0.  I never hit an ace either way, but there are different divisions because of different skill levels, why is it different when money is involved?
I would also probably pre-reg for the whole series next year if there were both a discount and a way for a partial refund in case of having to miss one event for unforseen circumstances.
In all, a great summer, thanks again.

[Bruce Brakel]

I'm not sure I understand what discmonkey is saying about the ace pool but I'll respond anyway.  To the extent that the roll over ace pool format is unfair, it is also optional.  I don't think it is unfair because on courses with long and short tees, usually the upper pool plays two rounds of longs and the lower pool plays one round from longs and one from shorts.  When it rolls over to the lower day, which it did several times, I always pay for Diana, Kelsey and Kira to get in.  I wouldn't if i thought it was unfair.  It is also not unfair because the upper pool pays in first.  If they don't collect their ace money back, they are putting it up for grabs on the lower day.

Trophy-only is my baby.  If it boosts attendance on either day, that's better than having half a field.  We are still experimenting with the right entry fee for it.  I'm always surprised by the number of players who do not play Pro Trophy-Only, but I think the value of the CTPs draws all the trophy-only players into the Advanced pool.  Next year Trophy-only in amateur divisions will probably be something like $14  if you pre-register, plus the pay pal fee if you do it on-line, $16 otherwise.  We are going to try to make it a little more attractive to pre-register without socking it to the people who register on the day.

[CEValkyrie]

I would have to agree with Bruce. If we thought it was unfair we would not run it that way. No one can predict when an ace will be hit. Large ace pools really help boost interest in the IOS when they get large. It also gives another incentive for players to play both days. There are going to be times when money rolls from Saturday to Sunday. There will also be times when money rolls from Sunday to Saturday.

Here is my perspective.

There was no ace at IOS #1 on the Adv/Pro Day. There was an ace from the shorts on the Int/Rec/Jr day but that player was not in the ace pool.
No aces at IOS #2.
Ace at IOS #3 on the Adv/Pro Day No Aces at IOS #3
No aces at IOS #4 either day.
I think there were 3 on the Adv/Pro Day. None on the Int/Rec/Jr day.
There was an ace on the Adv/Pro day. None on the Int/Rec/Jr day (Short tees)
2 aces on the Adv/Pro day at IOS #7. 3 aces on the Int/Rec/Jr day.

So 4 aces on the Int/Rec/Jr day.
5 aces on the Adv/Pro day.

In 2005 there were 4 aces.
1 ace was hit at Rockford when all divisions played both days.
2 aces were hit on the Adv/Pro day.
1 ace was hit on the Int/Rec day.

[Mukey]

I do think it is unfair to say that the ace pool should motivate people to play t.o. on Saturday, though.  The Sat. group has a far higher chance to hit an ace than the Sun. group.

No matter how good you throw Aces are mostly luck. I can attest to that. 

[Jon Brakel]

I do think it is unfair to say that the ace pool should motivate people to play t.o. on Saturday, though.  The Sat. group has a far higher chance to hit an ace than the Sun. group.

No matter how good you throw Aces are mostly luck. I can attest to that. 

Not only that, but in most circumstances an ace is a "bad" shot (unless the player was actually trying for an ace). Most good righty back-hand players are throwing at a spot that is somewhere in front of and to the right of the basket (again in most circumstances).

[UMphreak]

I am always a fan of the 10 meter circles, or if anything put a 10 meter string at the base of the pole.

[pickax]

So when is the IOS 2007 summit meeting? Is it open to the public? Will any of the bickering between the Brakel's be leaked to the message board? Or do we need to wait for the approved minutes to be posted next fall?

My wife and I are already starting to talk about next year's vacation plans and I want to keep the IOS in mind as we do so. Are there any dates that are already ruled out for the IOS (say due to Am Worlds)?

[Mukey]

Or Pro Worlds

[CEValkyrie]

My wife and I are already starting to talk about next year's vacation plans and I want to keep the IOS in mind as we do so. Are there any dates that are already ruled out for the IOS (say due to Am Worlds)?

I have been working on the schedule. I'm hoping to have it completed by January 1st. If plans work out there will be no August tournament. Those plans could change though.

[Jon Brakel]

You can plan on no sanctioned IOS event during Am worlds. There's an outside chance that Bruce and I may run an amateur only event that might be IOS related during pro worlds...or maybe Bruce will run one of his MI doubles events then. We're still a little fluid right now.

[Bruce Brakel]

I don't think we will be having a summit meeting this year.  Last year we met at a restaurant to iron out the last few details but this year we pretty much ironed out everything as the season went along.  

A lot will be the same:  Pick-your-own player packs, brass payouts, lots of CTPs, well run tournaments with only one minor screw up each time, various Brakels bickering at each other, etc. We are definitely sticking with Pro/Adv Saturday and Int/Rec/Jr Sunday.  For tournaments like ours that really works a whole lot better for almost everyone.  

We are going to change the prices a little so that you pay a little less if you pre-register.  We are also going to change the prices a little because 2006 prices didn't work for the venues where we had steep park use fees.  

It will be the 2007 IOS Six instead of the 2006 IOS Seven.  

[Mukey]

It will be the 2007 IOS Six instead of the 2006 IOS Seven.  

Darn! Would been cool to do 7 in '007   

[Bruce Brakel]

My wife and I are already starting to talk about next year's vacation plans and I want to keep the IOS in mind as we do so. Are there any dates that are already ruled out for the IOS (say due to Am Worlds)?

You can probably rule out close by M/NT/A tier weekends with a zone of conflict.  Except, don't rule out something on the Pro Worlds weekend.