USDGC

[CEValkyrie]

What a major disappointment. The USDGC will be held every other year on even years.

August 25, 2010
This year marks the 12th anniversary of the United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC). Since its inception in 1999, the USDGC has grown into one of disc golf's premier championship events. Innova Disc Golf, in association with the event's many volunteers, sponsors, USDGC Partners, Winthrop University, and the Professional Disc Golf Association, is extremely proud to have been such an integral part of our game's history.
Innova considers it a privilege to be in a leadership position. We have seen disc golf, and our business, grow and change tremendously over nearly three decades. The disc golf market is continually expanding and Innova is more committed than ever to improving our service to this incredibly diverse community of players.
In recognition of the growth of disc golf around the globe, we have decided to move the USDGC to a biennial schedule. Effective immediately, the USDGC will alternate years with Europe's major event – The European Open. The USDGC will be held in even numbered years and the European Open in odd numbered years. This will enable better global promotion of professional disc golf, as well as afford us an opportunity to serve another important segment of the disc golf population.
Amateur and recreational golfers represent the fastest growing portion of the disc golf community. With these players in mind, a new event will visit the famous grounds at Winthrop University in 2011. Details will be forthcoming, but two of the guiding principles will be: Amateurism and Fun Competition in a Professional Setting at Winthrop. Despite these changes our mission remains the same; to live disc golf and to enable others to discover such a wonderful lifetime sport.
We are excited about the future of disc golf, more so than ever before. Opportunity for the game's advancement abounds. We are confident that this new schedule will allow the USDGC to sustain its tradition of excellence, while building an even better fan base for the game's elite.
One thing you can count on this fall is that Innova and the USDGC family are steadily preparing for our greatest tournament experience to date. We look forward to October, and to seeing you here.
Warmest regards,
Innova Disc Golf

[philvb85]

I wonder what caused this decision.  From what I've read on the PDGA boards, this is regarded as the top Open event year after year.  I would assume this would be based on financial reasons. 

Edit:  I read over the article again and must have missed the part about the Amateur event.  I wonder if it will follow the same format with qualifying, etc as the current USDGC.

[CEValkyrie]

I wonder what caused this decision.  From what I've read on the PDGA boards, this is regarded as the top Open event year after year.  I would assume this would be based on financial reasons. 

Edit:  I read over the article again and must have missed the part about the Amateur event.  I wonder if it will follow the same format with qualifying, etc as the current USDGC.

I'm not sure what to think about this but not having the best Professional event sucks. It's the best event and biggest payout of the year.

They could run an Amateur event the weekend prior or weekend after.

[pickax]

The USDGC takes a ton of work for Innova to pull off. I'm not sure they want to double that for a given year.Here's a couple of guesses on reasons they haven't stated:: a) Fundraising for tournaments has become more difficult in this economy and b) They wish to challenge Discraft's position in running the premier Am event.

[smyith]

this is straight up stupid. One of the best parts about the USDGC is the ability for local pros to be able to qualify and go down to it year after year. how are these people going to afford flying to europe? Also, what about the USDGC Rocs? looks like all the ones ive been saving just doubled in their worth. sweet...i guess.

The USDGC takes a ton of work for Innova to pull off. I'm not sure they want to double that for a given year.Here's a couple of guesses on reasons they haven't stated:: a) Fundraising for tournaments has become more difficult in this economy and b) They wish to challenge Discraft's position in running the premier Am event.

no way are they concerned about the work or labor. there are thousands of people across this nation who would love to have a job involving disc golf and would work the butts off to pull this off. if innova was concerned about the economy they'd help people out and employee more of them. if they are concerned about the USADGC they shouldn't be. Discraft is incredibly stupid about their promotion of that event. First off they should be doing something very similar to how innova does the USDGC rocs. second this event barely gets publicized. i am a fan of disccraft but they are very stupid in the way the run it. i personally think they have a better more consistent product than innova but their lack of production capabilities and lack of self promotion is holding them back. I am disgusted by the fact that most tournaments now don't have discraft at their stores (sometimes 1 or 2 bins). i know that they are always playing catch-up because their factory isn't big enough, then expand. simple solution. Their worries over consistency, not a big issue. the machines they have now should focus on buzzzs, challengers, and the other couple of popular disc they have. for the rest buy new machines and produce the less popular models on them. minimal effect on your clientele. 

anyway back on topic:
it seems to me like the major players (companies) in our sport, have a self-defeating attitude towards promotion of this sport. less tournaments is not the answer here. we need BIGGER BETTER tournaments, with more money added to 'em. And more of them. Instead they want to get rid of one of the biggest events in the sport. WTF!!!!!!! I find it hard to believe that innova can't afford to throw a tournament with $50k added to the purse. i bet you they make that in a day (maybe 2). Discraft should be doing them same thing. All the big boys should. If they started doing this, they could easily get other big name companies involved. money talks people. How is Merrel or Keen not more involved. A huge population of dgers use these brands and disc is all about beiing outdoors it goes right along with their company motos. if their having trouble with running tournaments then by a crew to do it. there are some fantastic TDs out there who don't have the funds to really throw great invents. You get a few of them together and tell them their new job is to go all around the country and world throwing huge events and promoting the sport i guarantee they'd be all over it.
i guess its time for me to stop bitching and do something about it.

[Dan Michler]

The PDGA should take any money they put into the National Tour or Pro Worlds and put it towards running a USDGC event annually if Innova can not sacrifice the time and money to make it happen.  I'm not sure how the National Tour is even growing the game other than putting a few extra bucks in the hands of the top handful of players.

USDGC has become the highest level of competition in disc golf and should be maintained on an annual basis at Winthrop Gold, in my opinion.  I don't care how many other events they'd have to get rid of to make it happen, this is the only one that is really worthwhile.  Pro Worlds is a travelling tournament that is played on less demanding, less 'fair', courses.  Anybody can play Pro Worlds or any other pro event.  The closest thing we have to a real test to determine who the best players in the world are is USDGC.  There is something to be said for maintaining that.

[CEValkyrie]

It just sucks to me since this tournament has been labeled as THE biggest professional tournament out there. From my experience the event was just that. The best players have qualified. It's had by far the biggest payout year after year. There are a ton of people who want to play it but cannot every year. The Monday qualifying is always a blast to follow and it's one event that has really changed the way disc golf has been viewed with the climo/schultz batle and the dots.

Innova has the resources to do both. They could PAY a great TD to run a huge Major Am event. They could have a HUGE player pack and payouts by using their merchandise at cost. The differnce could pay the TD's salary for the time he/she has put in. They've used the course in the past for the doubles event the weekend prior.

I don't relly understand why the disc companies are not doing more. The DGLO used to be a big event and now it's just another event. USDGC is going to be every other year. Gateway? Time to step it up.

[Steven Jacobs]

This is very disapointing. the Euro Open does not deserve to replace the USDGC every other year.  USDGC should go every year, end of story.

[Brad]

What a bunch of bull.  I wish Innova would say they want an event that makes money.  Trying to say they want to reach the future of the sport.  It kind of feels like we just went backwards today. I am with Brett. I think the disc companies should do more and not less for disc golf.  I think it just went from hard to impossible to qualify for the USDGC.   This sucks!

                                                     Brad

[Jon Brakel]

I think the real question for this thread is why is the USDGC going to an every other year formula? I bet it has more to do with trying to keep the tournament special year in and out without getting burnt out. It isn't easy to hand over control of your "baby" to another TD or group of TDs. Trust me, I know! 

[discin311]

i saw this on facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=146403195391458

[CEValkyrie]

Going back to the topic, I think they are perhaps doing it every other year so they can save money for a bigger tournament that year instead of every year.  Only thing I can think of

That is why i'm pretty disappointed about them not running this event every year. I didn't read that at all. Maybe they will add way more money next year but I don't think that is their intention.

If they want to raise money they should take the USDGC Rocs straight to EBAY instead of shipping them out.

[philvb85]

2) If you had $1,000,000 of seed money to invest in disc golf, what would you do with it?

I am actually pretty curious how people would answer this question.  Personally, my number one goal would be to construct sort of what Lemon Lake has.  Several courses in one area that cater to all skill levels.  I would supplement that with the addition of a pro shop that would also function as a teaching clinic with (budget permitting) permanent teaching pro.  Whatever is left over would be used to run tournaments at this location.

I feel this would not only help in what should be the number one priority (spreading the sport) but also with the intent of creating more tournaments at more attractive venues to appease current players.

[gratefuldad]

from val jenkins email list...just passing on...

Innova and staff has sent out a Press Release that they are going to start doing the United States Disc Golf Championships every other year. This is by far the best event that Disc Golf has and we can't let that tradition go to the biannual format. We started a Petition so everyone can show their support and show Innova that people really care about this event whether they are players, or family and friends of players.

Sign the petition and write why you want the USDGC every year here::

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/usdgc/

** After signing, a screen will pop up talking about "donating to ipeitions" this is not necessary. The petition is free, and if the screen pops up it means your signature went through. So don't spend your money!

Thanks!!

[Jon Brakel]

The posts that have more to do with the future of disc golf and how to promote have been moved to a new topic in the PDGA section. Please keep this thread to a discussion about the USDGC changing.

http://discontinuum.org/forums/index.php?topic=5257.0

[dana]

Aparently USDGC is not moving to a bi annual event.
There will be a USDGC in 2011.

[Steven Jacobs]

I read it was gonna be a handicap event 

[CEValkyrie]

very interesting.