The recent surge of lame reviews.

[solomon.trenton]

This would seem to make sense, though I think it would be closer to 50/50.

It would be interesting to see the results back from a query that captured certain summary information, such as:

Number of courses played
Number of reviews
Thumbs up
Thumbs down

Grouped by courses played. Making certain assumptions, we could make some inferences based on the results to test your hypothesis.

arghh complicated math:thmbdown:

 

[bcr123psu]

Nay! We should be able to just eyeball the results and see what we need to see.

 

[jblough]

You have to remember that there are over 10,000 people on DGCR now; with such a large population, you're bound to find a bunch of terrible reviews in a given sample. Especially when some people only join to bump Flip up or down on the top 10 -- although this is for a different thread.

 

[Fender088]

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, The site is called DGCourseREVIEW, not DGCourseRATING. If you are not willing to give it a descent review, why bother?

I must agree, I feel that many new reviewers are forgetting the site's namesake. We're here for many reasons, but the main one is to thoroughly review the courses in order to help others.

 

[humchris85]

arghh complicated math:thmbdown:

For sure. Disc golf is only suposed to make me use first or second grade math.:|

 

[sloppydisc]

Just remember one key point. You do NOT have to review EVERY course you play. If you don't feel like taking notes, or paying attention skip the review. Just play and have fun. Only review when you are in the right frame of mind. My reviews have gotten better when I started realizing what situations will lead to good vs crappy reviews.

 

[RussMB]

Just remember one key point. You do NOT have to review EVERY course you play. If you don't feel like taking notes, or paying attention skip the review. Just play and have fun. Only review when you are in the right frame of mind. My reviews have gotten better when I started realizing what situations will lead to good vs crappy reviews.

This is so true, I can't do a review, unless I feel I have it in me to do. Personally, it's harder for me to retain anything if I'm rushing or playing with someone. I also like to sit down and reflect on my day and think about what I liked, didn't like, etc. If I had a bad experience, like my one of my latest reviews, I'll give it a day or two just so I don't come across as "bashing" it. There is a difference between "bashing a course" and stating the facts that made a course an unpleasant experience.

There is one thing I have noticed, I have developed my formula for what I look for in a course. Now when I go to a course, I have a set of guidelines and expectations. I also go with a certain flexibility. One course I played was in a state park, and I can understand if the park officials wouldn't want the concrete tee's to tarnish the "natural beauty" of the park.

 

[RussMB]

Oops, I was editing my last post, I accidentally deleted an extra line or two.

I left out, I don't dock a course for having natural tees, because there may be more reasons that what we realize. LIKE the course I played in a state park where they had natural tees... and so on.

 

[Jax11]

Just to go off on my own rant....why is there the people who will not give good points because of lame or no signs....and no benches......

I know a great course in MI by the name of Branstrom(Fremont).....which according to MichiganDiscgolfcourse guide as #5 in the state....but no one would ever know because it is next to flipcity and ludington....

good news....cement teepads this summer may put this course way high on the charts....signs and benches(could use more) are good for now....

for those of you who have never played.....take the time when you stop in to play flipcity....branstrom has one of the greatest variety of holes I have ever played...and I birdied 12 just to let it be known.......as a disc bounced off a tree about ten feet in back of basket...thanks STALKER!

I am currently vacationing in Western Michigan and played Branstrom right before heading over to Flip City today. That's the problem with Branstrom, is that most birdies by non-pros are lucky. With all the trees on some holes you have to have some luck to birdie. Very few holes "should" be birdies, the 637 ft par 3 is a little rough too. It is a nice course and worth playing, but it is not as put together and as seasoned as Flip City, sorry.

As far as reviewing goes, I am just starting to get into it, and am trying to find the right balance between too much info and not enough. I feel like bullet points are easier to read and write so I will probably stick to that style more so then the paragraph format. I usually let my thoughts on a course incubate for a day before I write the review. That is how I have been doing it so far on this Michigan trip and will likely stick with that.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Necro bump...

This review certainly fits into the category designated by the OP.
1) Exactly what did those 2 people find helpful here?

2) I'd love to know what "critters" this reviewer ran across on while playing a round here. This has to be the most critter free of any course I've played... course is entirely fenced in and part of an apt complex on an extinct 9 hole bolf course. I seen a squirrel or two, perhaps a few birds, but you're more likely to see no critters during a round than you are to come across one. :\

Don't get me wrong, I thing the course is very good on the whole (like playing here and do so many times per year), but even allowing for different perpectives, I just don't get where they're coming from. :|

 

[Stardoggy]

Necro bump...

This review certainly fits into the category designated by the OP.
1) Exactly what did those 2 people find helpful here?

2) I'd love to know what "critters" this reviewer ran across on while playing a round here. This has to be the most critter free of any course I've played... course is entirely fenced in and part of an apt complex on an extinct 9 hole bolf course. I seen a squirrel or two, perhaps a few birds, but you're more likely to see no critters during a round than you are to come across one. :\

I remember seeing a few malicious squirrels there.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I remember seeing a few malicious squirrels there.

If you can't handle the locals, better stay outta the hood...

 

[JNichols]

It is a bit funny to me how different courses can be rated by region, too. I have been really kind bummed with Most reviews of courses around our new place in Arizona. It seems like folks down here have a tendency to not play so well on a course, so they rate it a 1 or 2. I have a hard time with that. It gets old writing reviews for courses that are good, challenging courses, but feeling like you are the only one giving an Honest review.

 

[Nasty Nate]

My reviews tend to be bullet-point notes of what I like/dislike, and yes I include amenities even though many people think that's unnecessary. But honestly, benches and trash cans make a huge difference in overall enjoyment of a course. I try not to get too wordy because I always roll my eyes when I see reviews that outline every single hole like they are writing a book report.

Anyway... I think most people just don't know how to write.

 

[Mr. Butlertron]

My reviews tend to be bullet-point notes of what I like/dislike, and yes I include amenities even though many people think that's unnecessary. But honestly, benches and trash cans make a huge difference in overall enjoyment of a course. I try not to get too wordy because I always roll my eyes when I see reviews that outline every single hole like they are writing a book report.

Anyway... I think most people just don't know how to write.

I too like to use bullets, it gets straighter to the point. If the course is tricky to get to I'll even leave travel tips. Some of the courses I've played / reviewed are pretty far off the beaten path, making sure you cover your own ass is paramount.

 

[MikeK]

Anyway... I think most people just don't know how to write.

Here here! Or is it hear hear!

Damn I just turned into one of those people.

 

[DavidSauls]

My reviews tend to be bullet-point notes of what I like/dislike, and yes I include amenities even though many people think that's unnecessary. But honestly, benches and trash cans make a huge difference in overall enjoyment of a course. I try not to get too wordy because I always roll my eyes when I see reviews that outline every single hole like they are writing a book report.

Anyway... I think most people just don't know how to write.

Well, it just goes to show the value of this site, in sampling a wide range of opinions and viewpoints.

Personally, and in all honesty, I can state that there has never once been a time that trash cans made a huge difference in my enjoyment of a course.

But with that light jab out of the way, yes, please continue to list amenities. To the readers who value them, it will be helpful; to the readers that don't, no harm's done.

 

[Nasty Nate]

Here here! Or is it hear hear!

Damn I just turned into one of those people.

Haha my big problem is with "your" instead of "you're". Even in the 21st century people can't get this right.

Well, it just goes to show the value of this site, in sampling a wide range of opinions and viewpoints.

Personally, and in all honesty, I can state that there has never once been a time that trash cans made a huge difference in my enjoyment of a course.

But with that light jab out of the way, yes, please continue to list amenities. To the readers who value them, it will be helpful; to the readers that don't, no harm's done.

Well, it usually leads to people littering which is really a problem. I get that some courses are pretty pastoral and they don't employ people to empty trash cans and all that. It's just nice to be able to throw away your empty cans of be-- soda when you have them

Eh, I should probably update my reviews. Not that anyone cares what I have to say, but it's fun anyway!

 

[KniceZ]

All joking aside, I wonder how many people find this site, think its cool, sign up and review one of their local courses, and then never log on again? I'd imagine that the majority of the poor reviews are from casual players who are bored some evening and decide to take a stab at reviewing, rather than the people who are on here fairly frequently.

Agreed - I noticed a lot of reviews done by locals that just get on and give a 5 disc rating of their local course to bump the ratings and never return. I always like the ones that say "this is the best course I've ever played", then you look and they've only played 1-2 courses.

On the other side I'm not sure what to do with some of courses that haven't been reviewed in awhile and are falling in the standings but the 15-20+ old reviews have pretty much said everything there is to say.

 

[adlacro]

Okay, guess I'll say my piece...

I have tried very hard to knock courses unless they absolutely deserve it, and more times than not I haven't had to.

Just because one person (say, a person who is reading a review) doesn't agree with 100% of the statements by said reviewer shouldn't mean an automatic thumbs down. Rather, if you completely disagree with the reviewer then it should get a short process before a thumbs down. This could include:

1) a pm to said reviewer asking them their thoughts
2) inviting reviewer (provided they are local) to throw a round with you at said course.
3) telling that reviewer how they can improve said review.

If all fails, then thumbs down the person. One negative comment should not automatically force you to hit the "no this review was not helpful" button.

I know this thread is limited to the recent string of "lame" reviews, but any review older than two years, without an update by that reviewer, should not be thumbs downed, but rather discredited. Courses change in two years, if some people haven't noticed.

New courses should not go up for review until most kinks have been worked out by the designer. This should have been the case with Iron Hill in DE (which I have reviewed and never should have-on the condition the course page should not have been established until everything to make it more playable was done-), and I'm sure other under construction courses have had the same problem.

Finally, there should always be an option for a reviewer to have their review removed. If that was the case I would remove at least 10 of my reviews right now until I could revisit the courses.

I try my best to not write lame reviews, and I also try not to write reviews based on my lame score. Don't write angry. It never works.