Post by evanjabr on Sept 12, 2007 13:10:28 GMT -5
The problem of poor turnouts for league play these days certainly has many causes, and there are no clear cut ways to improve the situation (thus all the debate we’ve been having over this issue). I fear that the biggest strength of competitive disc golf in Fort Collins right now is also the cause of this problem. I’ve been playing leagues and tournaments in Fort Collins for the last ten years or so. I’ve also run various weekly leagues, doubles, and a few local tournaments over the years.
I’ve been really psyched this season by how many high caliber golfers there are in the Fort right now. In past years there were always 3 to 5 professional level players actively participating in leagues and tournaments at any given time. This season there have been more than double that amount of elite players from earlier seasons. Personally, I’ve enjoyed the competition and it’s one of the reasons I’ve played a lot of golf this year.
Unfortunately, while the pro turnout has been good, the amateur turnout has not. In past years there were always way more ams than pros at all the leagues and local events. This is generally how a healthy disc golf scene operates, as there are always fewer elite level players than average players. Why then, while there is a higher pro turnout than ever for local events, is the overall turnout down. There are plenty of amateur disc golfers who play regularly here in Fort Collins. They are out at the course all the time, and are total disc golf addicts! But they don’t come to league. I was out putting on the practice basket a few days ago and I must have seen at least five golfers who I recognized, who I’ve seen out at the course a bunch of times, but I didn’t know their names because they never come play leagues. There are a ton of these people!
I believe the club is not providing a good enough setting at this point to attract these individuals. I fear that the elite golfers, who comprise the bulk of the active club, come off as elitist, which turns off some of the ams. I don’t think this is intentional at all, but when there is a group of pros who all know each other well and always play with each other, etc., they come of as a clique that could be very intimidating or just plain uninviting to newcomers. This is not really due to the actions of individuals, but is more just a side-affect of the group as a whole. Nobody wants to feel like an outsider who doesn’t belong in the group. When a few ams do show up they end up paying five bucks, without any chance of winning anything and they don’t have much fun because they aren’t part of the clique. The turnout has been so low that the chances of a couple ams having enough fun to come back the next week are slim.
It’s always harder to draw a lot of people over the winter months, but if Edora is still packed then there is no reason why local events shouldn’t be packed as well. Weeknight events don’t really work over the winter because of the lack of daylight, so this relegates us to the weekends. Sunday League has not been worth the trouble lately and it will probably only get worse as winter comes along.
With this in mind, I propose that we discontinue Sunday league and pool our resources into something else. I think we should do small monthly mini-tournaments instead. We can set a consistent time and place… say first Sunday of the month at Edora. I would say $10 entry fee, two rounds of golf. Get flyers up and the word out ahead of time. Get sponsors, stuff to give away, $100 ace pool, etc. Maybe Saturdays would be better with Football season going strong now. Local monthlies are something that should be going on anyway, and this would allow us to get enough people to come out at once to provide a decent am field. We could also do the same thing once a month up at Sundance (say the third Sunday of the month).
This would alleviate the issue of needing somebody to be committed to every week for a league (Though B has done a great job of this) but would still provide a format for consistent competitive disc golf in this area. I am willing to organize and run these events, though the help of the club and individuals would be important.
I think this kind of thing has a better potential for participation, and would be a good thing for the club to focus their energy towards over the winter. This is not the complete solution, but it could be helpful in getting more players out and involved. Let me know what you all think? Questions? Suggestions? Does this sound like something worthwhile?
- Evan Brummet
I’ve been really psyched this season by how many high caliber golfers there are in the Fort right now. In past years there were always 3 to 5 professional level players actively participating in leagues and tournaments at any given time. This season there have been more than double that amount of elite players from earlier seasons. Personally, I’ve enjoyed the competition and it’s one of the reasons I’ve played a lot of golf this year.
Unfortunately, while the pro turnout has been good, the amateur turnout has not. In past years there were always way more ams than pros at all the leagues and local events. This is generally how a healthy disc golf scene operates, as there are always fewer elite level players than average players. Why then, while there is a higher pro turnout than ever for local events, is the overall turnout down. There are plenty of amateur disc golfers who play regularly here in Fort Collins. They are out at the course all the time, and are total disc golf addicts! But they don’t come to league. I was out putting on the practice basket a few days ago and I must have seen at least five golfers who I recognized, who I’ve seen out at the course a bunch of times, but I didn’t know their names because they never come play leagues. There are a ton of these people!
I believe the club is not providing a good enough setting at this point to attract these individuals. I fear that the elite golfers, who comprise the bulk of the active club, come off as elitist, which turns off some of the ams. I don’t think this is intentional at all, but when there is a group of pros who all know each other well and always play with each other, etc., they come of as a clique that could be very intimidating or just plain uninviting to newcomers. This is not really due to the actions of individuals, but is more just a side-affect of the group as a whole. Nobody wants to feel like an outsider who doesn’t belong in the group. When a few ams do show up they end up paying five bucks, without any chance of winning anything and they don’t have much fun because they aren’t part of the clique. The turnout has been so low that the chances of a couple ams having enough fun to come back the next week are slim.
It’s always harder to draw a lot of people over the winter months, but if Edora is still packed then there is no reason why local events shouldn’t be packed as well. Weeknight events don’t really work over the winter because of the lack of daylight, so this relegates us to the weekends. Sunday League has not been worth the trouble lately and it will probably only get worse as winter comes along.
With this in mind, I propose that we discontinue Sunday league and pool our resources into something else. I think we should do small monthly mini-tournaments instead. We can set a consistent time and place… say first Sunday of the month at Edora. I would say $10 entry fee, two rounds of golf. Get flyers up and the word out ahead of time. Get sponsors, stuff to give away, $100 ace pool, etc. Maybe Saturdays would be better with Football season going strong now. Local monthlies are something that should be going on anyway, and this would allow us to get enough people to come out at once to provide a decent am field. We could also do the same thing once a month up at Sundance (say the third Sunday of the month).
This would alleviate the issue of needing somebody to be committed to every week for a league (Though B has done a great job of this) but would still provide a format for consistent competitive disc golf in this area. I am willing to organize and run these events, though the help of the club and individuals would be important.
I think this kind of thing has a better potential for participation, and would be a good thing for the club to focus their energy towards over the winter. This is not the complete solution, but it could be helpful in getting more players out and involved. Let me know what you all think? Questions? Suggestions? Does this sound like something worthwhile?
- Evan Brummet