Awards Ceremony

[Tom McManus]

Does the award ceremony go on too long? Not long enough?  Make your voice heard. Each option is for every group: For example when you vote for top three finishers, the top three finishers will be recognized for each and every group. Please feel free to add comments.

[pickax]

I haven't voted yet because I can argue points for multiple options. If the awards ceremony is too long, it could be sped up by having the prizes for other than the trophy spots being handed out by someone other than the one calling out the places. For example, Bruce would call out the places and butcher the names for places last cash to 4th in quick succession. Those winners would queue up over to the side and collect their winnings from Brett. The trophy spots (or top 3) would be read slower (i.e. as they have been in the past) and Bruce would hand them out in front of everyone. Only the trophy winners would get a chance to correct the pronunciation of their names.

[DiscGolfSchodt]

I think it's only fair to recognize all those that "cashed" even the CTP's. I don't think it takes that long on split day tournaments and personally its what I would like as a player even if I did'nt get in the top 3 or 5.

[skipache]

I think it's only fair to recognize all those that "cashed" even the CTP's. I don't think it takes that long on split day tournaments and personally its what I would like as a player even if I did'nt get in the top 3 or 5.

[Bruce Brakel]

This discussion is going on on pdga.com right now too.  I like Krupicka's idea of doing it fast and dirty when there are a lot of players.  I also like the idea mentioned on PDGA.com of giving higher prizing players priority at the merch with "boarding passes."  That little slip in your baggie of brass would have a big A or a B on it and we'd serve the A players first. 

[stpitner]

Bruce Brakel - the Southwest Airlines of disc golf vending

I like how it goes with one person calling out the names of those that cashed and then having another person hand out the actual prize.  It also helps so that the person reading the names can keep track of exactly what name was just said and who to say next and not announce the wrong person.

It might be tough with those boading passes unless you made them different colors every tournament.  It's a neat concept though.

[Dan Michler]

I think the Awards is definitely not even close to long enough.  I love getting to know who got 7th place in Open and 17th place in Advanced, but I'd also like to know who got last place and third to last.   Its only fair to recognize every player who played the tournament, what place they finished, what their score was, where they drove from, and then they should get a fair chance to tell us what bad breaks they got on the course that kept them from winning. 

I also would like to hear about how everybody 'normally' shoots if it was a 'normal' round instead of the completely insane round that took place on tournament day that has never taken place before.

[Bruce Brakel]

Maybe we could set up a podium and a microphone and give each non-cashing and non-prizing player five minutes to explain their round, throw by throw. 

[Chainmeister]

This discussion is going on on pdga.com right now too.  I like Krupicka's idea of doing it fast and dirty when there are a lot of players.  I also like the idea mentioned on PDGA.com of giving higher prizing players priority at the merch with "boarding passes."  That little slip in your baggie of brass would have a big A or a B on it and we'd serve the A players first. 

Not a bad idea but really less of a problem at your tournaments.  The payouts have usually been posted since lunch and most players have a pretty good idea of how much brass they have to spend. There is plenty of time after round 2 to shop and set aside an order.  This makes the post awards rush less of a problem.  Since you have enough gnomes it might be worthwhile to have a line for those preorders. If anything you should encourage pre-awards selection and reservation. This will make the post awards rush less burdonsome.

I agree with Dan that the awards should not be cut.  I am often running right after I finish as I have to get home and usually didn't win anything.  However, I like to stay for the awards if possible and see who won.  On the rare occassions when I do win anything its nice to hear my name called.  We all like to have our moment in the sun. Its our Walter Mitty moment. I am sure that a description of my rounds would be material for Comedy Central.  However, some of the material may be too blue for a PDGA event. I better decline the thinly veiled invitation to use a podium and microphone.

The only time there is a problem is when weather or other factors make the day go much longer than expected.  At Irish the rounds finished very late and Scott gave awards out in pitch black with headlights helping him read.  Lots of players, myself included, had bolted before the awards.  Fortunately, he had a few helpful volunteers to  help with the rush.

[Mukey]

I'm all for cutting & running after a day of disc golf, but I also agree that awards should not be shortened. Dave made good points, and seeing that I'm not usually in the top 10 I do like to get my name called when I do actually place, butchering aside. (Thankfully my nickname is MUCH easier)

Dave is also right about putting merch aside. Usually you know how good or bad you're shooting after the 1st round and will at least have an idea of where or if you'll get prizes. Maybe just not allow the premuim merch to be put aside so that it'll get sold.

[Dan Michler]

I think my post is being misinterpretted.  I don't really care about this topic very much, but if I had to vote I would vote for less ceremony.  I'll read about the resutls later online.

[Tom McManus]

I am certain that Dan was being sarcastic, but not sure if Mr. B was being sarcastic in his comments that he agreed with Dan's comments. There are other forms of communication besides sarcasm....  but why bother using them.

[Jon Brakel]

I wouldn't mind being pre-packaged payout Marshall. Does anyone work at a place where they have access to free plastic bags with the cut out handles? I'm not suggesting stealing but sometimes stores will let others use their bags just for the recognition of the bag at the event. Those could be handy for me to organize the pre-picked prizes.

[stpitner]

if you feel like dropping a little bit of cash into it, sams clubs sells the t-shirt bags that say "Thank You" on it for just under $14 for 1000 bags.  Not too expensive at all.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=385902

[mirth]

My concern about boarding pass style merch is ensuring you have enough stock on hand of the hot disc of the moment. Lay away certainly helps not not everyone who plays our tournaments is aware of that option. Otoh, if everyone knew about lay away would you want them all to take advantage of it?

[pickax]

The whole point of boarding pass style merch is to ensure that the higher finishing players get first dibs on the latest disc of the day.

[Bruce Brakel]

My concern about boarding pass style merch is ensuring you have enough stock on hand of the hot disc of the moment. Lay away certainly helps not not everyone who plays our tournaments is aware of that option. Otoh, if everyone knew about lay away would you want them all to take advantage of it?

The whole point of boarding pass style merch is to ensure that the higher finishing players get first dibs on the latest disc of the day.

We never have enough of the hot disc at the moment.  Boarding pass or mob rule, we're still going to have X Star Destroyers and Y players with brass to spend.  I did my order early enough that X=0 for Star Excalibers.  Innova's policy is to release the hot disc the day after I order.  Discraft's too. 

I would be fine if everyone took advantage of lay away.  The problem I have is people taking unfair advantage.  Some people put stuff on lay away, don't finish in the prizes, and their stuff stays there in lay away.  We might have to adopt a refundable lay away fee, or something, if we get a lot of that this year.  We might also start bagging lay away with the player's name on it so we can figure out who it is who puts stuff in lay away and does not come back for it. 

I like boarding pass style payouts simply because it makes the process more manageable.  I like order for its own sake.  That's a German-Dutch thing.  But if it also ensured that winners get first access, that would be fine too. 

[Jon Brakel]

As lay away Marshall, I would put people's name and division and if winning brass today is dependent on them picking up the items.

[Mike S]

My vote is for thanking the sponsors and volunteers, announcing the top 3 finishers in each division & handing out trophies, and then just posting the winnings on the board for everyone to see.  If I manage to make bottom cash, I still dont think I deserve to have my name called out.

[can't putt]

Awards ceremonies should be to honor the winners.  It's no honor if the ceremony goes so long or deep that nobody pays attention.  Announce the trophy winners only.  No sense in announcing the top three finishers in a micro-division of three.  Have nothing else going on during the ceremony and close the merch table.