Is Spirit Dead:(

[7ontheline]

Hello friends,

Just a question, where do you draw the line?

Let's say we're at the biggest tournament of the year, lots of new faces. There is a safari six where the top 4 finishing Pros randomly select a partner to split their winnings. The TD collected $600 from selling $5 tickets so each of the six skins are worth $100 each.

So it comes down to the last hole, there are three skins on the line so a clear winning team would split the $300 or if no team wins then $300 will be divided equally between the eight players. As it happens, two of the teams all land 50'+ out from the basket while the other two teams both have inside 25' putts.

The two Pros that are inside the circle agree to miss if the other team makes. Therefore creating a winner, that they will then split the $300 with the other team instead of possibly also making the putt creating a push/tie in which case all eight players split the $300.

So long story short is the jump putt teams both missed, the Am on the first team with a putt misses but his Pro partner makes. The Pro on the last to putt team throws his disc 10' short and almost gets to the pole. The Am then has a similar result from inside 25' where the disc hits the ground 3-5' short of the pole.


The first sentence in the Official Rules of Disc golf is:

800 Description of the Game
The object of the game of disc golf is to complete a course in the fewest throws of the disc.

The first page of the Competition Manual for disc golf events right after a brief Introduction:

The Spirit of the Game
Disc golf is typically played without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the player to show sportsmanship, integrity, consideration for other players, and to abide by the Rules of Play. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. Make the call. Accept the call. It's not personal; it's the rules. That is the spirit of the game of disc golf.

What am I missing? The Spirit of the Game says play by the rules and Rule's first sentence is fewest throws?



*expects Streets to have some slick sarcastic reply that gets lots of nices*

 

[wericsson]

Unfortunate consequence of a bad format. Not going to comment more broadly.

 

[F.Luke]

I may have had too much fun behind the bar earlier but I can't wrap my head around this one.

*also if it pushed who woulda got the money? Sour grapes?

 

[DiscGolfCraig]

What he did today has to do damage to a lot of these kids that really care about him.

:doh:

 

[Karl]

Take money out of the equation and this (scenario) probably doesn't happen; but since it IS in the equation, well, let's just say we've all heard of worse things that have happened "because of money".

 

[Streets]

RIP Spirit of Disc Golf

*I'm getting way to much mileage out of this GIF :|

 

[7ontheline]

*also if it pushed who woulda got the money? Sour grapes?

If they pushed, all eight players would have gotten $37.50 instead of the four players getting $75.

 

[7ontheline]

Unfortunate consequence of a bad format. Not going to comment more broadly.

They called it a "showcase". A couple of the Pros threw 500'+ on a couple holes, amazing to see from the gallery. They turned the Safari Six into a form of Wolf for the extra $37.50. The first Am player that missed his putt inside the circle wasn't aware of the collusion until his Pro partner was dividing up the money for the three skins. He went along and took less money but Ams look up to Pros to set the example.

 

[jenb]

Skins match isn't subject to the rules so sprint of the game does not apply.

 

[MattS]

They called it a "showcase". A couple of the Pros threw 500'+ on a couple holes, amazing to see from the gallery. They turned the Safari Six into a form of Wolf for the extra $37.50. The first Am player that missed his putt inside the circle wasn't aware of the collusion until his Pro partner was dividing up the money for the three skins. He went along and took less money but Ams look up to Pros to set the example.

Everything about the "Showcase" sounds really cool, except for the scoring format. Skins are really dumb and reward collusion.

If everything is the same, except you do straight match play and split the money for every hole among the best scores (instead of rolling it over), everything's cool.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

Why / how was there a tie? I thought generally skins after last set hole you go to a playoff. On the first playoff hole if just two players/groups tie for the lowest score, only those two continue to the next playoff hole. The others drop out.

 

[Fly_High]

I have never flown Spirit but I think they are still around.

Should I have read this thread?

 

[Discette]

The correct term for this is: Discappointment.

Many moons ago, our club did a $500 9 hole skins match after the annual Championship event. It was an entertaining match and the pros ended up pushing every hole. Well whatever excitement there was turned to complete discappointment when the pros all laid up on the final hole to split the guaranteed payout.

Our club never did another skins match again.

 

[7ontheline]

Take money out of the equation and this (scenario) probably doesn't happen; but since it IS in the equation, well, let's just say we've all heard of worse things that have happened "because of money".

thirty-seven fifty fools

Skins match isn't subject to the rules so sprint of the game does not apply.

like foot faults, OB, or any of the other rules that makes DG more than just throwing Frisbees at trees:\

Everything about the "Showcase" sounds really cool, except for the scoring format. Skins are really dumb and reward collusion.

If everything is the same, except you do straight match play and split the money for every hole among the best scores (instead of rolling it over), everything's cool.

:thmbup:

 

[7ontheline]

Hard to justify paying $5 to see someone layup. Most of the folks there already donated. I'm done for now

 

[SonicGuy]

I believe that Spirit is pretty much Randy California's show so yes I would say Spirit is dead.

 

[ejvogie]

Note to self: Require playoff holes in case of a tie if ever running a skins match

Also: Never run a skins match

 

[joegraham]

You could ask Phil Mickelson what he thinks.

 

[philstine]

Whatever. Pros been makin' side agreements to split the pot since day one. Doesn't matter if it's a sanctioned event, unsanctioned event, reindeer games: if it's close going into the final round, or there's a playoff, someone's gonna ask the question. Sure, wins look nice on your resume, but if you're good enough to be in the hunt week in and week out, it ain't about rackin' up the wins, it's about takin' care of your bottom line: you pocket a few less $$$ on the weeks you win, you pocket a few more $$$ on the weeks you don't. Hate to bust your bubble, but that's the way it is.

[And don't think it only happens in disc golf: it happens in high profile televised events, too. Go back and watch the final round of the WSOP the year Chris Moneymaker won, where they show Moneymaker and Sam Farha huddling with Chris Ferguson to figure out the split while Norm Chad explains what's up.]

 

[ThrowBot]

Wait, you're telling me that pro/am doubles skins isn't a format that fosters the truest nature of competition?

Who could have possibly seen that coming?