Widdershins
Double Eagle Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2010
- Messages
- 1,155
This thread exists to identify the things which make a tournament good or bad. Obviously we would all like to play in perfect weather with huge payouts and TV coverage but, realistically, those issues are beyond the ability of most tournament staffs to bring to the table. Still there are some things we love or hate. For example:
Casual Tees Can Prevent Casualties
I have played in a number of tournaments where the the Tee Pads were horrible. Heck I played in a World Championships where there was not a single good pad on any of the courses I played. But sometimes the designated Tee Pad was the WORST SPOT to tee from. Why? Because the Tee Pad was slippery and/or dangerous. A Tee area may be covered in ice or under water or be one of those charming rubber mats with sand on top of it, in short, an injury waiting to happen.
The solution? Move the pad to a better spot or allow casual tees (no closer to the hole just off either edge or directly behind). This is not rocket science. If at all possible a flat, dry spot to tee is a good thing, especially for a long hole where a powerful drive is called for. I quit one tournament where the cement tees were covered in ice and we were REQUIRED to throw from them. No effort had been made to clear the pads and right next to the tees were safe places to throw from. I face planted 4 times in the first round. The TD refused to allow casual pads for the second round. I went home.
This issue has become more important to me as I get older. I no longer heal quickly and full recovery is not a certainty.
Different Tees or Baskets Every Round
Most tournaments are held on a single course. This is fine. I always prefer to have a second chance at a course in the same set up. So rather than moving baskets or shooting from different pads every round just give me a second chance at the same holes. I want revenge on any hole I messed up the first round and improvement is always possible no matter how well or poorly I played.
Locals always have an advantage on their home course come tournament time. Moving baskets or tees between rounds just gives the locals more advantage, which they don't need to deserve. TD's sometimes change the course merely to show off. It is like they are saying, "Look how cool our course is, we have all theses different options. Aren't you impressed?"
I come from an area where there are oodles of world class courses. No matter how cool your courses are, my concern is playing well during a tournament, not seeing new variations.
Delayed Awards Ceremonies
Having both played in and helped run many events, I know that Awards Ceremonies which don't happen soon after the last round become irrelevant. If no one sticks around for it, who cares? Who wants to wait for hours to get on the road home?
There are two major events which I still assist in: The Amateur National Championships and the Michigan State Finals. Both fill every year with Am Nats bringing in around 150 players and State Finals around 400. In each case, within 5 minutes of the last card coming in we host a diversion for the crowd which takes up about a half hour ( Lizard Games for Am Nats and Skins Match for States). Within 5 minutes of those events finishing we start the Awards Ceremonies. Boom. No delay. And the Awards Ceremonies themselves are fast, efficient affairs. Well, Ok the choosing of prizes takes a while but that is because we let the winners pick their prizes with funny money. If we wanted to give out pre-chosen prizes, we could cut the time in half.
No doubt there a many practices you like or hate. Let the TD's know your opinons here. Who knows, maybe a few will read this and be open minded enough to consider them.
Casual Tees Can Prevent Casualties
I have played in a number of tournaments where the the Tee Pads were horrible. Heck I played in a World Championships where there was not a single good pad on any of the courses I played. But sometimes the designated Tee Pad was the WORST SPOT to tee from. Why? Because the Tee Pad was slippery and/or dangerous. A Tee area may be covered in ice or under water or be one of those charming rubber mats with sand on top of it, in short, an injury waiting to happen.
The solution? Move the pad to a better spot or allow casual tees (no closer to the hole just off either edge or directly behind). This is not rocket science. If at all possible a flat, dry spot to tee is a good thing, especially for a long hole where a powerful drive is called for. I quit one tournament where the cement tees were covered in ice and we were REQUIRED to throw from them. No effort had been made to clear the pads and right next to the tees were safe places to throw from. I face planted 4 times in the first round. The TD refused to allow casual pads for the second round. I went home.
This issue has become more important to me as I get older. I no longer heal quickly and full recovery is not a certainty.
Different Tees or Baskets Every Round
Most tournaments are held on a single course. This is fine. I always prefer to have a second chance at a course in the same set up. So rather than moving baskets or shooting from different pads every round just give me a second chance at the same holes. I want revenge on any hole I messed up the first round and improvement is always possible no matter how well or poorly I played.
Locals always have an advantage on their home course come tournament time. Moving baskets or tees between rounds just gives the locals more advantage, which they don't need to deserve. TD's sometimes change the course merely to show off. It is like they are saying, "Look how cool our course is, we have all theses different options. Aren't you impressed?"
I come from an area where there are oodles of world class courses. No matter how cool your courses are, my concern is playing well during a tournament, not seeing new variations.
Delayed Awards Ceremonies
Having both played in and helped run many events, I know that Awards Ceremonies which don't happen soon after the last round become irrelevant. If no one sticks around for it, who cares? Who wants to wait for hours to get on the road home?
There are two major events which I still assist in: The Amateur National Championships and the Michigan State Finals. Both fill every year with Am Nats bringing in around 150 players and State Finals around 400. In each case, within 5 minutes of the last card coming in we host a diversion for the crowd which takes up about a half hour ( Lizard Games for Am Nats and Skins Match for States). Within 5 minutes of those events finishing we start the Awards Ceremonies. Boom. No delay. And the Awards Ceremonies themselves are fast, efficient affairs. Well, Ok the choosing of prizes takes a while but that is because we let the winners pick their prizes with funny money. If we wanted to give out pre-chosen prizes, we could cut the time in half.
No doubt there a many practices you like or hate. Let the TD's know your opinons here. Who knows, maybe a few will read this and be open minded enough to consider them.