Do you like TD's to temporarily change a course?

[Keokuk Discer]

We're having a tournament here this weekend and I was talking to a couple of guys when this was brought up. I don't mind new holes, but changing the course can get confusing and could cause possible mistakes that could cost players strokes.

[biscoe]

i didn't answer the poll because i sometimes like some aspects of change but not all of them. adding holes just for the sake of getting more people on the course is a particular peeve of mine. adding a little OB here and there is fine as long as it's well marked and documented in event programs and the players meeting.

[ERicJ]

As long as the changes are for the better and well documented I'm okay with it.

[kmrynders]

I enjoy changes at courses I've played a lot - that way they get new challenges and shots.

On courses I haven't played I don't really mind them, but I'd like to play at least one round 'normal'

On both accounts they do need to be 'well documented'

[Dave242]

Good courses should be left alone. These are the courses that players are addicted to trying to tame the course. But some need lots of changes to make them a worthy challenge for tournament players. These of course are the ones that most tournament players do not frequent frequently.

[mashnut]

I like changes to make holes more interesting and challenging, as long as they are very clear (on the scorecard for example). Added holes can be cool if done for a good reason, a tournament I played recently had a temp hole that brought a lake into play that is otherwise only in play on really bad shots on a couple other holes.

[BogeyNoMore]

The thing I like about changing up an existing course for a tourney is that it reduces home course advantage, and increases the liklihood that division winners are the best golfers (or at least the one's threw the best on that day) rather than the guy who knew the course the best.

[TalbotTrojan]

Look if you are good it shouldn't matter what the TD throws at you. I have seen some crazy new holes on courses before and as challenging as they were and as different as the course played for that tournament it was a great layout that you wouldn't get to play otherwise.

[DavidSauls]

The thing I like about changing up an existing course for a tourney is that it reduces home course advantage, and increases the liklihood that division winners are the best golfers (or at least the one's threw the best on that day) rather than the guy who knew the course the best.

I've always felt the opposite. You'll see a few new tee locations or added holes, which a handful of locals have played and everyone else is seeing for the first time at a tournament.

If it's not my home course, but one I've played a handful of times and am familiar with, the new holes put me at a disadvantage against those who put them in and presumably tried them out.

On the other hand----

Adding O.B. to stiffen up the course for a tournament doesn't change the basic tee shot. I've seen a lot of this and generally liked it.

[cydisc]

As long as everyone plays the same course and the holes and OB's are well marked, who cares?

I don't mind the adding of holes to let more in if it's a lower tier or unsanctioned tournament. Being an active TD, I can attest it's no fun to turn people away.

[biscoe]

i actually kind of enjoy turning away people who were too lame to register in a timely fashion.

[Vegan Ray]

i actually kind of enjoy turning away people who were too lame to register in a timely fashion.

http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2007/121207/Grinch.jpg

[discgolphinmafaukner]

It doesn't really matter to me. Changes such as adding OB are a good thing when the OB is meant to protect people teeing off on another hole. I played at a tournament recently at Patoka Lake and holes 3, 4, and 6 all had OB added because it was easy to hit people teeing off on 4 with an errant throw on hole 3 (for example).

I know at otter creek they sometimes added more open holes (the actual course was mostly wooded) so the addition of open holes added a great deal of variety to the course.

So I guess it just depends on whats added and their reason. Personally, it doesn't matter to me as long as everyone is playing the same course w/ the same rules.

[Camgolfer]

Adding a mando to an easily birdieable hole makes sense in a tournament. Adding OB helps if it protects other players/non-players/neighbors. Adding extra OB just to add it takes away from the course design. I like the addition of extra holes. The is a tournament coming up this weekend in Arvada, CO and the have a few extra holes that are not normally set up on the course. They add a new challenge to all players because no one has played them before.

[Countchunkula]

I recently played a tourney, where the TD had added an faux island hole, featuring roped off areas to simulate the water hazard. It was a short wide open temp hole using the practice basket that got way more interesting with the roped off OB.

If you wanted to make a run at it the "island" was only about 10' x 10'. Talk about risk vs. reward. I got a 3 and a 4 in my two rounds, scores ranged from 2-7 I believe.

I think if the guy laying out temp holes is creative enough and knows course design well enough, temp holes and added OB can really enhance a course.

[cydisc]

i actually kind of enjoy turning away people who were too lame to register in a timely fashion.

You generally have a 15 player field, then?

[Innovastar]

My thought is that is the course is good enough for a tournament then there shouldn't need to be any changes.

[biscoe]

You generally have a 15 player field, then?

if i had 15 player fields why would i be turning anyone away? haven't had an event in 5 years that wasn't full in advance. last year one of my events filled in 4 hours.

may have to take day of reg for a couple of events this fall though- the economy is really crushing pre-reg.

players in virginia have pretty much learned that if they want to play spotsy events (not just mine) they need to pre-register well in advance.

[cydisc]

Players around here are starting to realize the need to pre-reg. Especially after we started discounted fees for pre-reg. It was common, though, for most players to wait until day-of to register.

I just think that if you have the room for add-ons, why would you turn down the extra cash?

[wallace]

in regards to the course layout. I like it when there are some added holes or changed holes. Its nice to play the cool holes already on a course, and hopefully TDs will "improve" some boring holes for the sake of competition. I think it also levels the playing field for locals vs. out-of-towners. If the hole is brand new, it is more fair. (maybe)

[biscoe]

Players around here are starting to realize the need to pre-reg. Especially after we started discounted fees for pre-reg. It was common, though, for most players to wait until day-of to register.

I just think that if you have the room for add-ons, why would you turn down the extra cash?

my goal as td has always been to attempt to optimize the experience for my set amount of players rather than squeeze in everyone i can. i don't put fivesomes on the course and 36 holes in a day is plenty. (possibly more than enough at hawk hollow)

i actually have 9 more permanent holes on site that we don't use for the Hawk Hollow Open. we do use them for the Virginia Team Invitational however.

ymmv.

[bmeyaard]

These of course are the ones that most tournament players do not frequent frequently.

Ha ha.

[DavidSauls]

My thought is that is the course is good enough for a tournament then there shouldn't need to be any changes.

Didn't know there were minimum quality standards for tournaments.

Even good courses can use an improvement here and there.

Sometimes a TD may want to do something that you couldn't do full-time---like rope-off additional OB. The rope would be stolen if left there.

I dislike adding holes, or radically different tees.

[Vegan Ray]

I just think that if you have the room for add-ons, why would you turn down the extra cash?

EDIT - OOPS, BISCOE BEAT ME TO IT.

Because the goal of an event (at least for Mr. Biscoe & other right-thinking TDs) is not to rake in a few extra shekels, it is to provide the absolute highest quality disc golf tournament experience for those who attend. Cramming fivesomes onto the course (one of my biggest pet peeves) or adding lame-ass extra "holes" (often featuring a lovely 10-year old Skill Shot at their conclusions) just does not contribute to that goal.

Come to one of his events & you'll see what I'm talking about.