USDGC - Actual Tournament...

[Flick Maniac]

About the cancellation... I think everyone ought to watch the recap vid on SpinTV and if they are not satisfied, check a) their skull for a brain (for the reasoning and background for cancellation and b) their chest for a heart (for the championship being decided after R3) Some pretty powerful stuff on that video. Koling is a standup guy and I applaud him.

Another thing (unrelated): How does one card a 2 on #12 as Stephen Schroeder did on R3 according to the DGWT live scoring?? Isnt that the hole that has the massive open drive with the 600 sign calling for big shots?? Must have been a hell of a field ace.

 

[cheese dog]

I agree that the tournament should have been canceled, I wish some forward thinking and planning would have taken place last week to keep it from happening. Did they cancel after backlash from the players after proposing postponement? Big jerm would have went on to win anyway, he was in the zone.

 

[lyleoross]

About the cancellation... I think everyone ought to watch the recap vid on SpinTV and if they are not satisfied, check a) their skull for a brain (for the reasoning and background for cancellation and b) their chest for a heart (for the championship being decided after R3) Some pretty powerful stuff on that video. Koling is a standup guy and I applaud him.

Another thing (unrelated): How does one card a 2 on #12 as Stephen Schroeder did on R3 according to the DGWT live scoring?? Isnt that the hole that has the massive open drive with the 600 sign calling for big shots?? Must have been a hell of a field ace.

I don't even have to look at the video to know this was the correct call. I've never met an organiser who spent months planning an event, and years building it's prestige, who wanted cut it short.

 

[august dupree]

Was a 9 hole final round ever considered? It seems like the weather improved and the safety window had in large part passed by a certain point in the day. Was it even possible to have a 9 hole final round? What about a 9 hole final round and a Final 9 for the top 5 on Sunday?

Just trying to think outside the box here.

 

[paulw]

Live stream -- one vote for "I never watch it anyway". I guess I'd watch if it was similar to ball golf coverage but I really don't watch much of that either. The post round productions are way better than live coverage -- most times I don't even know who won while I'm watching since I watch then come here.

 

[DiscJunkie]

Harold,
Thanks for coming onto DGCR and opening yourself up to the slings and arrows of outrageous accusation.

First, I would have preferred the live coverage, but as long as I get coverage, I'm okay with waiting a day or two.
This is the first year since 2009 that I have not attended the USDGC as a spectator (partly due to work pressures and partly due to weather concerns). Nevertheless, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I would have paid for live coverage. Just because 40 people get on DGCR and scream bloody murder doesn't mean that live coverage is either necessary or worthwhile (just one persons opinion).

Second, not generally in favor of triple mandos, especially for Major competition. They just seem gimmicky to me, just sayin'

Agreed with the decision to cancel the final round. Could the cancellation have been avoided with planning and preparation? I'll leave that determination to you and your team. You're all smart guys, you'll figure it out.

I loved that you demonstrated the courage to radically change Hole #9. Perfect risk/reward play.
Also liked the new tee location for #13.
Didn't like the change to #3. Too small, too "lucky".
I'm still waiting on a really creative way to lay out Hole #15. Not sure you've hit the sweet spot with that one yet.
Generally speaking, I thought that this year's layout was an incrementally better test of skill than in the past.

Last, I don't think anyone will look back on this year's USDGC as one of your best, but I'm already looking forward to attending next year.
Keep them coming. People may criticize, but you guys put on a fantastic event every single year. I know it's a lot of hard work that is not appreciated nearly enough.
Thanks,
Like I said, can't wait.

 

[Mspot]

It is pretty obvious now that the last day needed to be cancelled. Happy to see Koling win. :clap: It is pretty hard to argue that no live streaming is NOT a step backwards, considering that there has been live streaming of the USDGC since even before smashboxx was doing their thing. I remember paying for a membership to some service to watch the usdgc with billy crump and greenwell. I didn't like most of the changes to the holes. I would rather see more use of drop zones than the stroke and distance. Hole 13 obviously did not play as was expected. I don't understand why hole 3 needs a hazard area to the right in the bushes... the bushes themselves are a hazard to throw out of... so now it is like a double hazard. bush hazard and rope hazard at the same time.

 

[Harold Duvall]

Regarding live stream: I am one of the people who enjoyed live stream in the past. The three issues are cost, quality, and fairness to other contributors of the USDGC. Quality is less of an issue for the group of viewers who already love disc golf. If they are anything like me, they have played the game in the rain, after dark, with the howling wind, in rough neighborhoods, until their fingers bled and appreciate being able to see any action live. Quality and presentation is more important to those unaware or new to the game. I am impressed at the number of views that the Spin TV videos have garnered. I believe that both live and post production presentation have benefits. Unfortunately, it would take significant funding to provide both. That funding was not an option for 2016. 2017 may be different.

 

[Harold Duvall]

Regarding the yellow and white whiskers that marked the the 3-meter and 10-meter circles: The whiskers are akin to the bristles on a push broom. There is a possibility that they could affect a shot, but our tests indicated that this was not likely. I did not see or here of this happening. We also have some experience using these whisker markers in the past. We have used them the last two years to mark the opening to several of the greens like 9 and 10 where we did not want the tope and posts to interfere with shots. While far less prevalent, our experience with the whiskers seemed to indicate that they would not likely affect throws. Aesthetics are a different issue. I am still uncertain whether the whiskers are part of the decoration or just a distraction.

 

[Halcón]

Regarding live stream: I am one of the people who enjoyed live stream in the past. The three issues are cost, quality, and fairness to other contributors of the USDGC. Quality is less of an issue for the group of viewers who already love disc golf. If they are anything like me, they have played the game in the rain, after dark, with the howling wind, in rough neighborhoods, until their fingers bled and appreciate being able to see any action live. Quality and presentation is more important to those unaware or new to the game. I am impressed at the number of views that the Spin TV videos have garnered. I believe that both live and post production presentation have benefits. Unfortunately, it would take significant funding to provide both. That funding was not an option for 2016. 2017 may be different.

Cost and quality are not issues. Didn't the PDGA offer to pay for Smashboxx (who we know delivers a high quality product) to cover the event live?

 

[curt]

I'm really curious to hear how the players feel about the whiskers. As a spectator watching online, they present an aesthetic issue, but I wonder if they would make the course more enjoyable as a player. It looks like you may be able to see the circles from much further off while you're actually playing the course, which I think may be an advantage as a player.

 

[DanJon]

Cost and quality are not issues. Didn't the PDGA offer to pay for Smashboxx (who we know delivers a high quality product) to cover the event live?

They came in at the 11th hour, putting the USDGC camp and DGWT in an awkward position.

Media plans are set well in advance of this event.

Those plans are tied into other aspects of the tour, so not always easy to just change something up last minute.

 

[Anon]

Media plans are set well in advance of this event.

It wouldn't have been an 11th hour issue if the media plans were announced earlier.

 

[cheese dog]

Great point Anon, and does anyone know just why they waited to the 11th hour to post their media plans?

 

[paulw]

Nobody needs to defend the behavior, but you need to get over it. Sports have emotional players. People throw tantrums. If the card takes issue with it they have rules for that.

Sigh -- so sad . . . . just me then.

 

[Harold Duvall]

From what I know, there was no formal offer from the PDGA to USDGC to fund the live broadcast production. There was also no written plan from Smashboxx. Good point about posting the media policy earlier.

 

[Harold Duvall]

Hole 9 and 13 were redesigned to reduce the amount of video of roadways. This is a continuation of the process that we started a few years back with hole 5. While 13 still plays over the parking lot, the road coverage is far less. The tee on 13 was probably 30 to 50 feet too far and the teeing area was not as flat as we would have liked. The ideal tee spot was about 30 -50 feet closer, but it was unfortunately in an area with no grass - only red clay. The area would have been very, very, muddy with the rain. We hope to be able to plant grass and move the tee before next year.

The triple mandatory on 15 allowed us to eliminate two single mandatories and over 1000 feet of rope. It was also far easier to spot. The gap lane was actually wider and higher this year compared to years past due to the trimming we did to make sure the mandatory visible from the tee.

I added the Hole 3 hazard to bring more balance to the hole (left vs. right) and to try to compensate for the reduction and destruction of the trees on the right side near the green. While I think it played fairly, I do not think it improved the hole either. Over the off season, we plan to use a new sleeve to give that green and tree area a chance to recuperate. If we are successful, the right side hazard will probably not be used in 2017.

 

[tbird888]

After last year's very stringent media policy what changed to have you guys all but ignore (what seems to have happened) it for this year? I was pretty impressed at what seemed like you guys breaking ground last year in actually working towards media rights and dealing with a seemingly rapidly growing facet of the pro side of the sport.

 

[Harold Duvall]

Can you help me understand your question? I don't quite understand it now.

 

[Old Dog]

Personally I prefer VOD over live coverage. I don't have the time or desire to spend 3+ hours watching someone else play. Especially when 2/3 of it is wasted watching players walk to their discs. I would much rather spend 30 minutes watching the highlights of a tournament, lead card, featured card, etc. and spend a couple hours playing a round myself at my local course.