Playing my first tournament

[mobster]

I'm playing my first tourney in 2 weeks and was just wondering what to expect. Because I'm a newb, I'm in the "recreational" bracket and I'm sure things will be covered in a players meeting, but I was seeing if any of the seasoned veterans have any advice and whatnot.

[timg]

I played in my first tournament recently and one thing that was a big change for me was the pace of play. It was SLOW. I'm not sure how quickly you normally get a round in but I tend to play pretty fast so I felt like I hit a brick wall at the tournament.

[magictenor1]

That is one of the reasons I have never played in a tournament. I hate slow play. I also work on Sundays so that makes it hard to play many around here. I would say be careful of the rules. I understand that most tourneys are pretty strict as opposed to casual play with your friends.

[timg]

That is one of the reasons I have never played in a tournament. I hate slow play. I also work on Sundays so that makes it hard to play many around here. I would say be careful of the rules. I understand that most tourneys are pretty strict as opposed to casual play with your friends.

Yea, the slow play was brutal for me. After I was out there for like 2 hours and only made it through 7 holes or so I was ready to pack it in :)

Regarding the rules, mobster probably won't run into too many players that are real sticklers when it comes to every little rule in the rec division. Usually it's in the higher divisions where you'll find guys that are really uptight about it.

[Midnightbiker]

I played in my first tournament last weekend and I had a blast. It is a little slower than regular play, but it was a lot of fun. I made a lot of new friends, and it was cool to be playing with people you don't usually play with.

As far as playing in your first, I would say, bring plenty to drink, wear a hat, bring plenty of sun block, ( I got sun burned) , and I would recommend going to the local sporting goods store and getting portable chair. It really helps. Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes.
Also make sure you get a mini marker disc, because you need to mark you lie in a tournament.

Other than that, have fun. For all of you saying you would not play in a tournament, I say at least try it once. I had a great time, made some new friends, and I won two disc. I won a disc for coming in 8th place, and I also won a disc in the "Ring Of Fire". That is a putting contest they had at the end of the tournament. Go and have a great time.

This is what the Ring Of fire looks like. They do this at the end of every tournament for prizes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50PuX_Jibec&feature=related

[ERicJ]

Don't set your expectations for a Ring of Fire at every tournament. Only one of the six or seven tourneys I've played so far had one. But I do agree that they're fun.

They're sometimes used for paying out the Ace Pot cash if no one hit an Ace. But CTP's seem to be the preferred method for that; probably because it seems to be a more fair chance for everybody based on skill rather than much luck.

ERic

[Midnightbiker]

Well, all I am saying is that I had a blast at my first tournament. I didn't expect to do that well, but I actually came in 8th out of 27 in the Rec. Division. I impressed myself. I also made several new friends and just enjoyed a great day of Disc Golf. I say if you never have played in a tournament, you have to do it at least once. I know I had a great time. My wife came just to watch, and even she had a great time.

[adlacro]

My first tournament was at Conrad Weiser outside of Lebanon, PA. I had played for well over a year, yet I shot 170 at a par 108 (54-54). I have played two more since then and have scored much better. My advice is to listen to what everyone else is posting: Have fun, take your time, and bring what you need. Don't expect a best round from yourself; I did and I paid a dear price. Enjoy your tournament! Andrew L.

[Texconsinite]

Going to be playing my first tournament this weekend: The 1st Annual Dairyfest Fling, in Marshfield, WI. I'm pretty stoked. Gonna get there the night before and hopefully stay at a campsite if there is one nearby. It'll be fun to meet a lot of Wisconsin DG players

[Midnightbiker]

Going to be playing my first tournament this weekend: The 1st Annual Dairyfest Fling, in Marshfield, WI. I'm pretty stoked. Gonna get there the night before and hopefully stay at a campsite if there is one nearby. It'll be fun to meet a lot of Wisconsin DG players


You are going to have a great time. Make sure you give us a full report. I am playing in my second tournament on June 14th.

[radsnowsurfer]

As a person who has played many tournaments large and small my advice would be to not expect to shoot your best, the slower rhythm, new people and tournament atmosphere will probably effect your score (as well as most people's), so just relax and have fun, in my first tournament I finished last in rec and last of the 144 player field but everyone was nice and I picked up a few tips and just kept coming out.

[ERicJ]

I guess every experience is different. The first tournament I played was also the second time I'd ever thrown real disc golf discs. It was at a new course, walking distance from my house. I saw the notice for the tourney in the homeowners' association newsletter. I was playing from the Rec tees and shot 61 & 54 (par) (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/scorebook.php?vall=1&vcrse=1264&mid=519&page=1&sort=date_asc)... and thus I was hooked.

http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=7316#Recreational

It helped that there were a lot of trees, water, and OB on that course (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1264), because I think that suited my newbie style of play at the time. While the guys that had been playing a while were x-step'ing and chunking long drives, hitting trees and bouncing all over the place... I wasn't trying to (nor could I) boom any drives. I was just using my catch-and-throw Frisbee form to throw get the first drive straight through the trees, another simple upshot to get close to the basket and then putt in for three on most holes. I had a great time, maybe because I didn't know what I was doing back then. ;)

Don't get all worked up over playing in a tournament. Just play by the rules (you have read them once right?), i.e. mark your lie with a mini, don't flip your disc, etc.. Play your game the same and it shouldn't be that different from your casual rounds.

ERic

P.S. Most of the DNF's in that tourney were from a Boy Scout troup that signed up with the intent to only play the morning round.