2010 IOS #6 @ West Park, Joliet, IL August 14th ONLY - Nothin' But Chains

[stpitner]

Did you notice when I posted that I had to change it because Indiana States was on Sunday and was too close to Joliet so that Karolyn at the PDGA wouldn't let me run both Saturday and Sunday?  She didn't care how you were running your event.

Fantastic.

[stpitner]

Results from the tournament are posted here:
http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=10847&year=2010&include_ratings=1

Thanks to Adrian, the Brakels, and the Jacksons for their help pulling this tournament together!

See everyone next week - EVERYBODY report to Jericho Lake in the morning!!!

[Kevin Cunningham]

thanks everyone for another great, smoothly run IOS.  Glad to see one down south so I could easily get out and play.  Had a great time.  Good luck with getting the store up and running Scott.  I can't wait to come check it out.

[CEValkyrie]

Did you notice when I posted that I had to change it because Indiana States was on Sunday and was too close to Joliet so that Karolyn at the PDGA wouldn't let me run both Saturday and Sunday?  She didn't care how you were running your event.

Fantastic.

I also think this is some important information to add. Scott got his dates in for the beginning of the year very early. In May he ran IOS #1 as a Pro/Am B-Tier at Channahon not too far from West Park. Lemon Lake hosted a C-Tier event that weekend. The role is reversed and the PDGA puts their foot down. This is why Scott did what he did.

[kcunning]

What do people think about PDGA having a rookie division or rookie status.  If you have no rating or less than one year of experience, or are non PDGA you can play Advanced, Open or Rookie.  I've spent four years establishing my 859 rating, I put two good rounds together for me that averaged a 891 rating and I finish tied for 8th in my division. 6 of the 7 who finished ahead of me had no rating, less than one year, or were non pdga.  The top two, who both had no rating at all, shot two plus 900 rounds and will have to be playing intermediate come the end of the month.  Granted this would eliminate half my division, but it would be nice to get beat by similar competition and not guys who will quickly be moving up.

Just my little gripe.

[pickax]

I looked over the data points for this tournament. Typically one needs to average about 20 rating points over the cap to win an Am division. The winner in MA3 averaged 924, the winner in MA4 averaged 872. Sounds about right... neither I would consider baggers by that measurement alone. None of the non-members (or new members) were over the ratings limits in the elf database (the IOS team keeps track of non-member players to prevent bagging), thus none were known to be in the incorrect division prior to playing.

You tied for last cash since pretty much everyone in your division was shooting better than their rating. I would agree its frustrating to be beat by those that are quickly moving up. There's not much to do except let them move quickly. When the IOS offered MA4 before it was officially part of the PDGA scheme, it was a PDGA members only division. All others had to play MA3 (or higher). There may be some benefit to that (but unfortunately, you wouldn't be a beneficiary).

There's a fine line between providing fair competition and not completely demoralizing players who come out for their first tournament.

btw (having floated around either side of the 850 line for a while, I feel your pain).

[Jon Brakel]

When I was able to play "competitively" I was a Rec player and thought about that same thing. The one huge argument against protecting amateur divisions from non-rated players is that it promotes exclusivity rather than inclusiveness. I think most PDGA players played several tournaments before joining and they joined in part because they played with PDGA members that told them about ratings and other benefits. In addition you would wind up with a division, the Rookie division in your proposal, that would turn into the wild west of disc golf. Many of those guys would be first time tournament players and would be unfamiliar with all of the rules, procedures and etiquette of tournament play. This would further divide the members from the non-members. Where do the new PDGA members come from? The non-members.

[stpitner]

TD Report has been submitted for the tournament (deadline was tomorrow), so the ratings will be up with the August 31st ratings update!

[Chainmeister]

Kev

There really is no solution.  I have seen this for years.  If anything, IOS patrols this better than most with the so-called Elf ratings.  The non rated player who plays 925  will not be in MA4 the next event.  I have watched players pass by for a long time.  The weird thing about MA4 is that there is no player who is truly at the top of the division.  If you are an 890 player you will likely cash in most MA3 events.  An 840 player is not guaranteed cashing in MA4 because of the volume of new players or soon to be  better players who still have a rating under 850 but can throw 350+ feet yet still cannot putt or drive with accuracy.  They will have a sub 800 round and a >900 round on the same day.

Take heart.  The glass is more than half empty.  After spending some time  just under 850 where you will seem to do well  but never win  some tournaments and languish in others you will elevate your game a touch so you can be assured of coming in the bottom of the heap in MA3.  After all, Murphy wasn't a lawmaker. He was a prophet.

[Jon Brakel]

At some point everyone tops out and is playing the best game they will ever play. At that point every player has to figure out if they can continue to play for the love of the game or do they go where ever disc golfers go that we never see again. For those of us whose game topped out in the 800's, we have to make that decision sooner rather than later. I certainly compared my scores to other players but while I was playing, I was always playing against the course and the elements. I played because it is fun to make frisbees fly and to hear the ching at the end of a good hole.

Find the fun and then winning or losing becomes secondary.

[pdga#7648]

well put Jon.
I play for the love of it and for the competition. I know who the good Advanced players are, and try to compete with them. Not saying I have to win to be satisfied. I can be satisfied just by hanging in the top half. Being 38, it's hard to compete each and every week with these young kids in my division. But my rating wont let me play Intermediate(I wouldn't anyway) so I have to go out each tournament, pick 1 player(of the better 5 at the event) and try to beat or compete with him. Doing good enough to win, or get a trophy is just a bonus. I have over 100 brand new discs, so something must be working to my advantage.
Jon mentioned some players max out at certain ratings... I am the perfect example. I cant get over 955, but I usually wont drop below 945, so I'm stuck for 1 more year, before I can jump up to Advanced Masters or Open Masters. Then it's game on every week. 

[Bruce Brakel]

If anything, IOS patrols this better than most with the so-called Elf ratings. 

All that I wanted to add is that, yes, we do not employ actual elves. 

[Jon Brakel]

If anything, IOS patrols this better than most with the so-called Elf ratings. 

All that I wanted to add is that, yes, we do not employ actual elves. 

But we aren't anti-elf! Just no actual elves have applied to work on ratings!

[Chainmeister]

If anything, IOS patrols this better than most with the so-called Elf ratings. 

All that I wanted to add is that, yes, we do not employ actual elves. 

But we aren't anti-elf! Just no actual elves have applied to work on ratings!

Unless Mr. X has carpal tunnel syndrome no actual elves have been harmed in the production of the Elf Ratings.

edited in order to keep the head elf's name a secret. We don't want anyone to take retaliation on our elves!