Suggestions for Birdshot

[ThePatrick]

That also means longer rounds....later getting home... there would be other problems created by that.

[scoot_er]

Originally Posted by ThePatrick

That also means longer rounds....later getting home... there would be other problems created by that.

How many people have been coming in from 2+ hours away? Heck I think I am usually the "out of town" guy at these events.

[DPdiscer]

I'm sure glad I started this thread. Now I can log in and read all the Birdshot bashing on one thread.

[ERicJ]

Still waiting on the announcement of the aforementioned scoot_er run B-Tier at Tom Bass this year. I'm sure we're all anxious to see how an event should be run.

[ERicJ]

Originally Posted by Suemac

Just cause I could blog my back end about all my golf doesn't mean that I should...

And just 'cause you could bash Birdshot for following the PDGA guidelines doesn't mean that you should either.

I think most of us here would rather you direct your energy towards those that make the policy you disagree with and those that have the power to change it, i.e. the PDGA... instead of the members that are just following the policy.

ERic

[tarazarr]

I agree with TBender.

It is fair as long as they are up front about it, where it goes and so forth.

Day of sign-ups creates a burden - no doubt.

The preference would be for all to sign up early - no doubt

These are local C-Tiers, aimed at bringing in the newer non circuit playing player...So yes I agree these could be a Friday evening decision for many.

Does it pay off in the end? I think it has the potential to, by geting some newer players "hooked" on tournament competition, they soon become regulars and eventually they start signing up early. They then encourage their other "non tournament playing friends" to try it out and so on and so forth.

Thank you Birdshot...And no one is forcing anyone to pay 5 dollars more, it's a personal choice.. just like playing in Birdshot tourney's at all.

[scoot_er]

Originally Posted by ERicJ

Still waiting on the announcement of the aforementioned scoot_er run B-Tier at Tom Bass this year. I'm sure we're all anxious to see how an event should be run.

Probably not going to happen as I will be moving even farther away in a few months. Also it would have to be during one of the rare moments when Bass is mowed.

[XgImP]

Good lord can people just calm down. Seriously.

I never had the privilege of playing a Birdshot tourney, but I hear things I expected to hear about the beginning of the series and things I was glad to hear about the later years (well run, fun, etc.)

When Scott and myself started GCCS and later LSCS, we had MUCH higher ambitions. We wanted to not only offer MORE than entry fee to the AMS, a fun laid back tourney AND make a little cash.

Now for people that know about disc golf economics (gas prices, time put in, etc.) they know very well that there was not much money to be made. Especially considering the risk (THOUSANDS of dollars worth of discs for instance that we were very lucky not to have stolen).

The way we did things...

#1 - offer events in Houston since no one else wanted to (less expensive regular sanctioned events)

#2 - pay back 100% of AM entry fees in pick your plastic payout (plus players packs later). We kept a pretty good stock too.

#3 - raise sponsorship money and product donations that were 100% given back to the players. Raffle tickets always went back as well.

#4 - pay back 100% of pro money back after fees (sometimes we added players packs and other perks, but these were never intended to be big pro events)

#5 - Make a little $ from disc margin and disc sales.

Now we always advertised exactly what to expect and for the most part we got tons more compliments than complaints.

Birdshot...

This is what I have heard from the beginning.

FUN events
EASY to run
PREREG only (guess now they take late reg with $5 - Late reg SUCKS and anyone who saw Team D take late reg knows how insane it is. I commend them for taking extra especially since they don't keep it)
AM centered events
SOMEONE ELSE dealing with discs
THEY WERE PLAYING (We did too)

Seems like they have stuck with that and followed the rules. They filled a hole left by us so that HOUSTON CAN HAVE EVENTS AT ALL!!!

Pat these guys on the back if you want to play the events. If you want to suggest something, talk to them on another day than the day of the event and in private. Message board suggestions come of too harsh imo

[XgImP]

OK how about Pro concerns. Sadly Houston has never developed a huge group of pro players. All efforts for extra cash were essentially focused to States and drawing out of town players and having a significant national event.

It amazes me that no local pro has stepped up to run at least ONE event that was more focused on pros. AMS are flat out not going to do it. Especially when the same AMS typically help raise the money for States.

Go out there and beat the doors and raise a little money. Get Birdshot to run your event. They would probably do it for FREE to do something for the pros without having to do all the work.

Is it really that hard for a few pros to go out a raise a $1,000 or so for a cool little added cash event. Pros compaining that they have to pay this fee or that fee is similar to a baby throwing a tantrum on the floor. It is not like someone STOLE the fees from you. If they are advertised and you do not like it, don't play. (I have ran events everywhere this is not directed at Houston only pros).

Thank these guys for throwing an event that gives you something to do to hone your skills and have some competition.

[DPdiscer]

Good to hear from our mentor, Gimp Edwards. Yes, we are trying to follow most of his procedures, but not all. We charge a 10% management fee so that we can play for free. Is that too much to ask for running a tournament? Probably. We would be glad to help a pro run a Houston tournament. We would be glad to help anybody run a tournament close by. That is what we are about. We will probably never run tournaments as good as Team Disaster, but we will try to get close. The main thing is to hit all the local courses and keep them in good shape. Birdshot considers Team Disaster a Houston legend in Disc Golf.