HFDS Club elections - 2010 April meeting!

[Suemac]

This is thread drift, but I really don't see where any other part of the State has demontrated the ability to make a really, really good A-tier happen.

And what happens to the events that are annual in those areas? They give up dates, would they get them back? If other areas were interested in holding a high calibar a-tier, go for it. Demonstrate that we can keep the high level of "professionalism" when this event moves to another club. Just haven't seen it, and DFW has someone from Kansas who runs events in their area.

If they are interested, why can't they even run their everyday local events?

Actions speak volumes, and you new guys...............have respect for what's come before you. We need to work on some local things before we start talking about sending our event out of town............it probably would NEVER come back. It seems like everyone just wants to be a player these days, and doesn't have any understanding of what it takes to make events at this level happen.

[Suemac]

A name is just a name, as we all know that World Am Doubles aren't the best am playing teams in the country, just those who played this event.

So, let other areas "prove" they can handle a big A-tier, Dallas just finally started to get VPO back on track after a few very "questionable" years.

Talk is just so..........cheap. Has any other club EVER really stepped up and made a formal request/proposal to host States? I hear lots of "players" talking about it, but they generally don't run events. And then how do you decide where to let it go, and what happens when those clubs drop the ball.

Wow, great courses without good added payout, that would be Grand!

[ERicJ]

I'm still listening to all the debate regarding a traveling TxSDGC. I still haven't made up my mind as to what would be best for TxSDGC and HFDS. But having said that I don't understand comments like this:

Originally Posted by Suemac

We need to work on some local things before we start talking about sending our event out of town............it probably would NEVER come back.

What does that mean? "Houston" owns TxSDGC, right? How could it not come back if you wrote that into the contract befor loaning it out for a year...

Are the people opposed to a traveling TxSDGC afraid that DFW/Austin/SanAntonio would do a significantly better job than Houston and then none of the players would want to play in Houston again?

Or are the people opposed to a traveling TxSDGC afraid that DFW/Austin/SanAntonio would do a significantly worse job than Houston and irrevocably damage the TxSDGC name such that none of the players would want to play the event again no matter where it was held?

[Suemac]

The point I am trying to make is that if DFW was interested in running an additional big A-tier event, then why did no one pick up Z-Boaz Open after Maceman quit running events.

And ask some of the pro players who's checks bounced after VPO for several years.

My main point is that these folks are not stepping up, only players talking up the issue.

I DO NOT SEE ANY AREA OF THE STATE THAT IS STEPPING UP TO CONDUCT AN EVENT OF OUR QUALITY.

My problems are not with the courses, but with those who would be running these events. Would they be able to run states, raise the $$$, and keep the event as one of the better payouts per player?

I just don't see any club who could do that in our great state of Texas.

[ChingLizard]

Originally Posted by tarazarr

The fact is this tournament is not just a name. This tournament has been carefully nurtured to be of the highest caliber in the state of Texas. There are high expectations of it being very well and professionally run as Larry says. There is a history of it being one of the highest payouts annually in the State as well. The name has value. In my opinion what it has lost is "The Venue" aspect and what it is left with at this point is being a professional "A" tier tourney on a less than "A" tier course.

There is no doubt about the venue stuff Scott. There was a time when the Bass courses were the best ones we had, but alas that is no longer true. With the addition of Spring Valley, Oak Meadows, Jack Brooks' 2nd course, Conroe, Windwood and The Links, the Houston players have gotten a taste of what better courses can look like. Bass has taken a pretty good sized hit from the last few hurricanes we've had, and we all know that the precinct hasn't re-planted anything.

Originally Posted by tarazarr

First off there are other city's in Texas that have built much better "Championship" caliber courses in the last few years than Houston has.

Even local churches are building better courses than any of our public entities these days. ....sigh....

Originally Posted by tarazarr

Let's say if this tournament were rotated into those courses for the next few years, it would actually increase the value of the TSDGC name by showing those who not only live in Texas, but play in the higher end tourey's in Texas that the TSDGC tournament founders and gatekeepers are actually more intersted in holding this touranment at the very best courses in the State rather than holding it hostage in Houston.

Your expression of "holding the tournament hostage" ruffles my feathers a bit Scott. Think of the name as a Trademark. Just because we "own" it doesn't amount to us holding it hostage any more than you would consider the name of your band as holding music hostage. It's just a name like any other, but the difference is it belongs to someone.

The "gatekeepers" of TSDGC are MOST interested in holding a high quality tournament of unequalled parallel anywhere else in the state. While some might think the most important aspect to the Texas States might be the quality of courses, I think that there are many other aspects just as important, if not, more: the ambience of playing in an event where you are pretty much certain to run into everyone else playing in it...or staffing it. I think it's always been known that we don't have the calibre of courses that we'd all like to see, we make up for it in every other aspect of running a tournament.

Still, I see the value in what you are proposing...and how it could work to get folks interested in travelling around to wherever the event gets held - regardless of cities. I'd be interested in exploring a differently named option with you. I'd even be okay if we decided not to host a TSDGC for a year or two in favor of something else.

But all of this is relatively minor when it comes to the functioning of the club HFDS. TSDGC is only one very small part of what the club does, and that has only been recently acquired semi-officially.

The successful functioning of the club more revolves around running the leagues and interfacing with the city government's HPARD a lot! Figuring out payout, and the "system" for having and selecting our league vendor(s). It's about interfacing with some of the other clubs and their reps (which it sounds like you'd like to do) and in general it involves coming up with new ways to continue our stated mission of promoting the sport of disc golf (well...actually it says disc sports) in our city.

We only really only talk about Texas States in the final couple of months before the tournament. I think you have the wrong impression that the club spends the majority of it's time talking about Texas States. We don't - and it is usually rarely ever mentioned the rest of the year.

Originally Posted by tarazarr

This would do several things.
1. It would validate that this is "THE Texas Championship Tournament"
2. It would also give those who have worked so hard on putting this tournament on year after year a much needed break. A chance to enjoy the tournament themselves for a few years and allow them time to recharge their batteries before having to host it again.
3. For the sake of argument I'm going to just throw out Dallas, Austin and site "C".
Next year it's sent to Dallas. Dave oversee's that club/organizations preperation to ensure the tournemant meets all the standards as it's met in Houston in the past. Along with it we send a sponsorship check for 500, with the agreement that we will send the host city a 500 check each year fior the next 3 years and the Dallas club who is hosting will do the same.

This is the core of why I am volunteering to be president of HFDS. If those in HFDS do not see this vision or do not want to support such an undertaking, they should not vote for me. Like I said I've very content continuing on my path. I will build more courses and I will find support in doing so. It just will take much longer without all that dedicated disc golf person power that is currently working so hard to put on one big show year after year.

My name is Scott Hawkins and I approve this message.

Scott, let's sit down and have a beer or two together before April's meeting and I'll address some of the many things you speak about in the remainder of your post. The running of TSDGC has truly been an insignificant part of what the running of the club is all about. The bottom line is the club doesn't "own" Texas States - we're just the focal point because so many of Texas States volunteers are also club members and officers/appointees. I can support a lot of what you say in regards to States, but that is a different conversation than one about the club. The two entities are separate.

[tarazarr]

Originally Posted by Suemac

Actions speak volumes, and you new guys...............have respect for what's come before you. We need to work on some local things before we start talking about sending our event out of town............it probably would NEVER come back. It seems like everyone just wants to be a player these days, and doesn't have any understanding of what it takes to make events at this level happen.

I think the new guys are trying to do exactly what they are supposed to be doing, picking up the torch and forging forward. I feel the way you truly honor the pioneers who as sue said came before you us to carry the game locally to the next level, not being content in resting on their laurels. Houston gas no doubt raised the tourney bar very high for others to meet and exceed but we have fallen way behind in course quality. I want to help build better courses, many who have worked very hard putting TSDGC together year after year have indicated they are tired and are ready for a break to enjoy the fruits of their labors, I think it would be very beneficial to discuss touring Texas states with other clubs who could when asked to step it up to that level. I guess I missed what exactly was disrespectful. Thank goodness the last new guy kept running his fledgling local tourneys when day after day you kept telling him right here that he knew nothing about what he was doing.. Birdshot turned out producing a nice product even though he was a new guy..

[DPdiscer]

I disagree. I think that this tournament is the Texas Singles Championship and if you win your division, you are the Texas State Champion for that division with bragging rights until the next year and defend it.

[DPdiscer]

And another thing! I was talking to Scott today about if another city wanted to run TxSDGC, it would be a good idea for them to submit a proposal, say a club bank account statement with at least $5000 dedicated to added cash and also submit names of people that were committed to staffing which positions. Maybe that is asking too much. Neal knows what has to go into a proposal since he did the Pro Worlds proposal. There is a rumor that TxSDG might go to Jack Brooks Park next year. Cedar Hills is a championship course. Gulf Meadows is not (could it be redesigned)?. The third course we know nothing about. Sorry that this has nothing to do about club elections. Just can't help myself.

[Suemac]

The "gatekeepers" of TSDGC are MOST interested in holding a high quality tournament of unequalled parallel anywhere else in the state. While some might think the most important aspect to the Texas States might be the quality of courses, I think that there are many other aspects just as important, if not, more: the ambience of playing in an event where you are pretty much certain to run into everyone else playing in it...or staffing it. I think it's always been known that we don't have the calibre of courses that we'd all like to see, we make up for it in every other aspect of running a tournament

Larry makes good point here, and Scott, no offense but your comments imply that Houston lack of new MAJOR courses is somehow our fault. Yes, we have some new courses, but very few venues anywhere in the state have three courses together. As you play more events you will come to appreciate how vital all the "other stuff" is to a good event.

I think some of you new guys just played your first States at QV, and just don't get it.

[mattman]

Originally Posted by DPdiscer

Ed Morgan - Sargeant at Arms (love that title)
Need a secretary - can be a guy
Where does Tony Bender fit in all this? I know he is a big time HFDS guy.

I would like to throw my name in for Sargeant at Arts or something along those lines. I feel there are opportunities by working with the arts in our community.