Open player vs Professional, Is there a difference

[MasonCountyDiscGolf]

Thought this would make an interesting thread as it's been a topic of discussion locally as of late. Open player versus professional. Are they the same? Is there a difference? Does being an open player make you a professional, or does being a professional entail more than just playing in the open division?

The genesis of this discussion stems from what seems like a recent influx of open players being more demanding and increasingly complaining about the intangibles. The consensus so far is that being a professional encompasses all aspects of "the life". On/off course attitude, dedication to the spirit of the game, growing the sport, etc etc. Thoughts?

 

[ODRB]

Professional means you paid $75 in PDGA dues, rather than $50.

Acting like a professional means something entirely different. And it is too rare.

 

[DavidSauls]

"Professional", in disc golf sense, just means eligible to receive prize money for finishing high in a tournament. With some restrictions on playing in Am divisions. If old enough, professionals can also play in professional divisions other than "open".

It neither means that it's the player's profession (perhaps for a few), nor says much about conduct.

Open is the division without restrictions, or without many, and may include amateurs.

 

[MarkDSM]

A self declared level of high skill the player must maintain and uphold else they are a patzer. A pro registered player would be beaten for sandbagging down to advanced.

I like the self declaration as it puts pressure on the individual and competition ratings verify.

 

[DanJon]

Anyone can play Open.

Professionals are usually the ones winning in Open.

 

[JC17393]

Professional is a designation related to compensation...cash instead of prizes.

Open in a designation related to whether a division is restricted in any way. In disc golf, that is generally related to age or skill restrictions. As in, Open is open to players of any age and any skill. Divisions that do have such restrictions are not Open.

Bringing me to one of my biggest pet peeves in disc golf...there is NO SUCH THING AS OPEN MASTERS! It's PRO Masters.

 

[VictorB]

Anyone can play Open.

Professionals are usually the ones winning in Open.

this is exactly how I think of it too.

Sometimes I play open, but don't confuse me for a professional

 

[sisyphus]

What's been said above...
Open is the 'unlimited' division in which, if you play as a Professional, you're eligible to take cash as your winnings (note Amateurs can play Open, and 'cash', but decline the winnings in order to retain their Amateur status). There are age protected Professional and Amateur divisions which are not 'Open'.
Interesting side note about State level Senior Olympics and the (International) 'National Senior Games' (for folks 50 & older): you're considered an 'Amateur', and eligible to participate, as long as you don't make half of your annual income from your sport. Whew! Most of us are safe!

 

[Doofenshmirtz]

If old enough, professionals can also play in professional divisions other than "open".

Open in a designation related to whether a division is restricted in any way.

There are age protected Professional and Amateur divisions which are not 'Open'.

Don't forget the restricted "open" division. It should definitely exist, but "open" might not be the right designation.

 

[sidewinder22]

Don't forget the restricted "open" division. It should definitely exist, but "open" might not be the right designation.

There might be a LPDGA someday. :\

 

[Broken Shoulder]

Thought this would make an interesting thread as it's been a topic of discussion locally as of late. Open player versus professional. Are they the same? Is there a difference? Does being an open player make you a professional, or does being a professional entail more than just playing in the open division?

The genesis of this discussion stems from what seems like a recent influx of open players being more demanding and increasingly complaining about the intangibles. The consensus so far is that being a professional encompasses all aspects of "the life". On/off course attitude, dedication to the spirit of the game, growing the sport, etc etc. Thoughts?

Professional: one whose primary occupation is disc golf.
Everyone else in Open: Amateurs competing in the same division as the professionals.

Acting professional is based on the individual and has nothing to do with either designation.

 

[DiscFifty]

When you've made your first $1.00 playing in Open, from that point on you can look in the mirror and call yourself a Professional, until then...you're still...just...an open player.

 

[teemkey]

When you've made your first $1.00 playing in Open, from that point on you can look in the mirror and call yourself a Professional, until then...you're still...just...an open player.

Does that include non-PDGA events?

 

[DiscFifty]

Does that include non-PDGA events?

Or ace pots?

 

[teemkey]

Or ace pots?

So ... the same criteria as a professional gambler?

Word was that Lee Trevino used to hustle at a pitch & putt using only a three iron. Anyone know a DG equivalent?

 

[Cgkdisc]

So ... the same criteria as a professional gambler?

Word was that Lee Trevino used to hustle at a pitch & putt using only a three iron. Anyone know a DG equivalent?

I've come close to doing that when I was carrying just a Zephyr and was thinking about asking some newbie youngsters to play for $10.

 

[`cjc]

The true professionals make a living off of disc golf.

Everyone is either an open player or an am.

How many professionals are there?

People who make a living playing disc golf.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[DavidSauls]

Of course. Our pros aren't really professionals, and our ams aren't really amateurs.

Within the disc golf world, those terms are used to distinguish between those playing for cash, and those playing for merchandise. They don't match the larger world definitions. But they have the merit of being concise ("pro", "am") and clear which is the higher level.

But the original question wasn't whether our professionals are professionals, in the wider sense.

Except whether a higher standard of conduct is expected of them.

 

[teemkey]

I've come close to doing that when I was carrying just a Zephyr and was thinking about asking some newbie youngsters to play for $10.

Style points for being super classy.

 

[deft]

So ... the same criteria as a professional gambler?

Word was that Lee Trevino used to hustle at a pitch & putt using only a three iron. Anyone know a DG equivalent?

Barsby used to play with a plastic shopping bag with a few disc when he was a kid.