Awards Ceremony

[stpitner]

just a general question: if a TD were to go to a ceremony where not all names for all payout positions are called out, how do you go about distributing the payouts if you don't know who everyone is?  Just looking for ideas.  What if you run into a situation where someone that ended up near last (you didn't know who they were) came up to you to collect 5th place payout for a particular division?  Then the actual 5th place person came to collect their payout and it's already gone.  The one advantage to call out all of the names is that you won't have 2 people approaching to claim one payout, and there's a chance that someone would call out saying "hey, that's not so and so!"

What are some ideas on how to make it easy to give out the lower payments to the various divisions?

[Jon Brakel]

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.

At some point we need to hand out the money and brass. We don't have any thing else going on during the awards and merch is always closed.

[damonshort]

IOS events are usually an exception in that the results are whipped together really quickly, so announcing all the prize-winners shouldn't be that big a deal. Those not paying attention at the awards tend to be the same ones not paying attention during the players' meeting 

[can't putt]

At some point we need to hand out the money and brass. We don't have any thing else going on during the awards and merch is always closed.

Not all TDs close the merch table.  I prefer the ones that do.  I guess I might handle the awards/payouts like this:

As soon as practical after the final card is turned in hold an awards ceremony to distribute trophies to the trophy winners in all divisions by division with Open division last.  Applause and thank you speaches as appropriate.  Then distribute CTPs with name, hole and thank you to the sponsor as appropriate.  Finally distribute payouts simply by calling the names.  No need to announce place and amount.  If anyone's interested they can look it up on-line.  Distribute to Open divisions first.  No ceremony -- just get it done.  Finally, re-open merch.

Payout distribution can still be done by calling names.  Those that cash will gather round the paymaster to hear their name and will call out an imposter.  Or, distribute payouts at a table after the trophies and CTPs have been awarded.  If you don't know the person trying to collect, have them show I.D.  Scott, you could make a simple unique ID for each tournament that is distributed to the players at check-in and must be presented for the payout.  Yes, there would be a few who lost the ID token (a simple slip of paper printed with the tourney logo and signed by the player at check-in for example).  Too bad for them.  There are some that lose the payout scrip as well -- so what?

Finally, require pre-registration.  Just my 2¢.

[Tom McManus]

After the IOS event that took place this weekend, are there any additional comments or does anyone what to change their vote? It looks like the top three finishers choice is catching up to the annouce all selection.  Voting closes soon.

[Tom McManus]

It looks like most people like to have everyone's name announced.

[Bruce Brakel]

I know the women and children playing in the ratings based amateur divisions like to get their 12th place or whatever in front of everybody.  I think the main thing is to get the process going promptly after the last card comes in. 

[adoni]

...  What if you run into a situation where someone that ended up near last (you didn't know who they were) came up to you to collect 5th place payout for a particular division?  Then the actual 5th place person came to collect their payout and it's already gone.  The one advantage to call out all of the names is that you won't have 2 people approaching to claim one payout, and there's a chance that someone would call out saying "hey, that's not so and so!" ...

I think that's sad ... Identity theft at a tournament???  for what .. a few discs???

[JCthrills]

With as fast as you guys handled pay outs at IOS#1 I think your current system works great.  When you get to IOS#5 maybe announcing top three only will be a better way to go & others finishing "in the money" can show ID to claim their brass? 

[Bruce Brakel]

At the Penn State Champs they only announced the top 3.  So when I got announced I complimented them on their course and their well run tournament and mentioned that my daughter who finished fifth in Intermediate felt the same way.     I think I like giving recognition to the top 45% or however many we pay out.  It also helps the TDs and volunteers learn your names.  And Kelsey thought they way they handled paying out the rest was somewhat chaotic.