Bagger !?!?!

[dkoz]

I think you've missed a couple things. No one is or should be calling him a "bagger" for playing and winning Rec in the tournament last year (because you are right, first time tournament players are welcome to start at the bottom). The issue at hand is the guy wants to continue to play Rec (presumably at the same tourney this year) and he's essentially been told no. So he started the thread here looking for sympathy, empathy, or supporting evidence that he can take back to the TD in order to get his way. Obviously he's not getting it from this crowd (and rightly so, IMO).

He's not a PDGA member and he seems to indicate he's not interested in becoming a member. So there's no playing where he wants until his rating doesn't allow it since, well, he won't be getting a rating. But let's put that aside for a second and assume he is a member, and his lone tournament as a member was the tournament last year. From his rounds there, his rating would be around 950. Based on that, he can't play any Am division except MA1 (assuming he's under 40). That is the crux of everyone arguing against him being able to play Rec again (or even Intermediate).

So in all fairness, there really is no "let him play where he wants till his rating says otherwise". He has no rating because he isn't a member, not because he's never played a tournament. Without membership, he gets no privileges.

nope! Not looking for sympathy or supporting evidence, I got my way to be honest with you. I can play in Rec if I want I'm just asking for opinions and thoughts.

 

[dkoz]

Round two was your best round.

Thank god for the cart!

 

[1978]

I don't think you read the whole thread.

Why would I. All the points and counter points are predictable even mine.

 

[dkoz]

Your entry fee payed for you to play rounds of golf. I wish players would stop looking at entry fees as if they are an investment.

Move up. Play with better players and you will get better.

Also, if walking up a few stairs leaves you out of breath you may want to consider exercising.

Thumber ......Don't be a smart @$$! It has nothing to do with me being out of shape, I look good with my shirt off!

 

[Jax11]

My usual answer to a debate like this is that the OP should be playing his rating, but since he doesn't have a rating I'll use this as an opportunity to give me 2 cents on non-PDGA members playing sanctioned events. I strongly believe that only MPO and MA1 should be available for non-PDGA members. As someone else mentioned rating protected divisions should be a privilege of paying members and not a right of anyone that decides they want to play a tournament.

21 throws is A LOT of throws. More than a round's worth of bogeys. I think it is unacceptable for the OP to play Rec (MA3) again. The OP should move up to MA2. The reason I say MA2 and not MA1 is because I think MA2 is a very volatile division. It seems this is the most common rating bracket where players see wide rating fluctuations from round to round, from tournament to tournament, etc. The difference between most MA1 and MA2 players is consistently executing. If an MA2 player executes everything according to his/her game plan in a given tournament their scores should be near the upper end of MA1. The same player could go out the next week and barely shoot 900 golf, this is the MO of an MA2 rated golfer. I speak from experience.

 

[dkoz]

Rec and intermediate are $25. Advanced is ten more.

http://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Puns_Labrynth_3_2014

What makes this even sillier, is the fact that most people in his area play up. Am2 is filled with am3 rated players. And am1 is mostly am2 rated players.

I have no idea why he said this because its not true:
"So the new thing is they tried to prohibit me from playing Rec when again there's a few players in intermediate that should get moved up as well but don't."

Really E ? Garrett and Bright played Int.....nobody in Ohio moves up and you always used to complain about it

 

[DatRedDude]

Why? That's my question. 5 months out of the year I'm a casual once or twice a week player. In that one tourney I beat everybody, they had a lot of good intermediate players that normally I couldn't beat. I played very good that day and all I heard from others is I missed this easy putt or this putt.......it was a big deal when I tried to sign up again and I figured what the hell, let's see what people you don't know me think. Again those who actually put time in with good points, thanks! Those who are like Bagger 10 strokes.....blah blah :doh:

No one said bagger ten strokes. They said bagger 21 strokes

 

[erock216]

Why would I. All the points and counter points are predictable even mine.

I missed typed the ratings and then corrected myself. His second round was rated 980.

 

[dkoz]

No one said bagger ten strokes. They said bagger 21 strokes

Pundy is a very tight course, so it's very easy to get a 7 or 8 on a hole. I played smart with mids instead of drivers. I see your point I really do, but I play with a lot of those guys and I know what I can shoot on that course. That first day I couldn't do no wrong!

 

[JTdisc]

Your round ratings are your round ratings. That is what determines your division. Health issues are irrelevant. Health issues are not an excuse to play down. If, despite health issues, you shoot rounds that would place you in intermediate, you should play intermediate.

I sympathize with you having health issues, I really do. Unfortunately they should have zero impact on what division you play in. You play in the division that best matches your scores.

You don't sign up for tournaments and play down because you might have an off day.

 

[dkoz]

First off, the fact that you came on here and outted yourself is funny. You know damn well you should move up. I hate disc golfers like you. People like you are why people think disc golfers are a bunch of jerks. You should be ashamed of yourself. You and others like you always use the "i'm playing my rating card" but then you won't sign up for the PGDA and get a rating. Playing a casual round is fun. Playing tournaments is another level. The only people who talk about playing for fun are the people who are getting their asses whooped. No true competitor thinks about fun when theirs something at stake. So to all the people who are agreeing with you to play rec; you and them should all have one big casual round together. Why are people so afraid of losing to people better than them? No true competitor has ever complained about a good old fashioned ass kicking. They will tell you that it was the best thing for them. It always makes them better.
Secondly, please don't ever use that lame excuse of your health. You need to go put your head in the sand for even taking the time to type that bulls*** out. Disc golf is the best way to get your health back in tact. If you can't walk up steps then you need to get healthier. Good grief! Your statements are an embarrassment to everyone who's trying and advocating for the advancement of this sport. Please tell me you didn't go around bragging to people about winning a rec tournament by 21 strokes. Geeezzz!
Do yourself a favor and salvage your dignity. Move your ass up and play competitive. If I was the TD i would call for a public stoning if you tried that crap with me.

So when you have very bad lungs ( never smoked a day in my life ) and what I have is very aggressive plus with my oxygen intake is only 80% .......yeah I think it's ok to bring it up and make it part of my decision. Anyways........

 

[kerplunk]

I think you should play Intermediate. I won Intermediate a few times when I could only throw ~250 ft, and in NC where competition is pretty good. It is really just about being able to play consistent and smart and throw in a few birdies with your pars at that level (which btw is the level I am still at because I haven't gotten much better since then). It sounds like you are too good to be playing Rec, even with the health condition. Usually in this division you find beginners, older people, or people who have been playing awhile but still just don't seem to "get it," and it doesn't sound like you are any of those.

 

[garublador]

personally, I'd be embarrassed if I won by 21 strokes and then DIDN'T move up, regardless of any health issues, my rating, [insert xyz reason here], etc.

So if you won by 21 strokes in advanced and everyone else you played against had a 700 rating, you'd still go pro?

The point is that winning or number of strokes doesn't define a division. Ratings define a division. Someone who plays three rounds a year probably doesn't have a meaningful rating. You can get a lot better or worse in a year. Giving him the benefit of the doubt for one more tournament this year is probably fair.

 

[erock216]

Really E ? Garrett and Bright played Int.....nobody in Ohio moves up and you always used to complain about it

2 people who played am3 and 1 person who played am2 could of played am4. 6 people who played am2 could of played am3. 6 people who played am1 could of played am2. In total 14 of 20 people played up. Like i said most people in your region play up. Garrett and bright played in the correct divisions.

 

[5QU166Y]

If you are capable of shooting MA1-caliber rounds, I would suggest playing MA1. If you don't feel you're consistent enough yet to play MA1 (as is the case with many MA2 players), then I would suggest playing MA2.

To be honest, if you put down three rounds that highly rated, I can't imagine why you would even want to play Rec. The prizes get better as you move up the ranks, and you're apparently capable of winning in divisions higher than MA3. If you continue playing in Rec, you're only shorting yourself by preventing yourself from taking home bigger prizes.

I've never understood why someone who is capable of winning a higher division would prefer to play a lower division. I would rather finish fourth in MA1 than win in MA2. In my mind, the only wins worth bragging about are those in MPO.

 

[franklinturnover]

but what if winning in rec is all you can do ?

 

[5QU166Y]

but what if winning in rec is all you can do ?

That doesn't apply in this situation since he also beat everyone in MA2 by 10 strokes.

 

[Jukeshoe]

So if you won by 21 strokes in advanced and everyone else you played against had a 700 rating, you'd still go pro?

The point is that winning or number of strokes doesn't define a division. Ratings define a division. Someone who plays three rounds a year probably doesn't have a meaningful rating. You can get a lot better or worse in a year. Giving him the benefit of the doubt for one more tournament this year is probably fair.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a PDGA member, I don't fully understand their rating system, or the way in which one "chooses" their division.

To answer, garublador...while I certainly wouldn't think one good result means "going pro," it certainly wouldn't be any FUN or worth my time to compete against people that obviously are THAT FAR below my skill level.

OP asked for our opinions, so I voiced mine.

 

[mashnut]

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a PDGA member, I don't fully understand their rating system, or the way in which one "chooses" their division.

To answer, garublador...while I certainly wouldn't think one good result means "going pro," it certainly wouldn't be any FUN or worth my time to compete against people that obviously are THAT FAR below my skill level.

OP asked for our opinions, so I voiced mine.

I think that you and garu aren't disagreeing, he's just saying that it's always possible that a specific tourney is an outlier and the skill level in that same division at a different event might be different. It can be hard to predict how many people will choose to play above their rating and leave a lower division without much competition in the ratings range it's intended for.

 

[erock216]

I think that you and garu aren't disagreeing, he's just saying that it's always possible that a specific tourney is an outlier and the skill level in that same division at a different event might be different. It can be hard to predict how many people will choose to play above their rating and leave a lower division without much competition in the ratings range it's intended for.

Also it can be a regional thing. I used to live in the cleveland area where novice isnt usually offered. So rec is really novice, and intermediate is mostly rec players. I move to chicago and all four am divisions are offered. The fields are larger here, so it makes more sense to have more divisions.