USDGC on Discgolfplanet.tv - Page 26

jongoff09 · #**251** 10-08-2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harr0140

He is dead right there. Nice jongoff

There is a hole in my area that plays over a residential street and a couple of houses if you are brave enough to cut the dogleg (I always go for it). I have also seen courses with tournaments on TV where the pros go over residential areas while cutting doglegs. I have watched John Daly hit into a pool while trying to cut a bit too much off a dogleg.

Bhoffman09 · #**252** 10-08-2012, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cgkdisc

The PDGA already has a bit more specific dress code than the USGA which only requires neat appearance and long slacks in their Championships as you can see here:

In Local and Sectional Qualifying stages and the Championship proper, players must be neat in appearance with respect to clothing and personal grooming. The Committee in charge decides whether this requirement has been met, and has authority to withdraw the entry of a player who does not comply. The wearing of short pants is prohibited in the Championship proper, but is permissible in Local and Sectional Qualifying provided the host club does not have a dress code prohibiting such.

Worrying about anything more than the current policy at the org level (PDGA) is unnecessary. Sponsors are the ones who dictate dress for their sponsored players or their events. If the sport eventually gets spectators, it will get big sponsors. They will determine a more restrictive dress code or surprise! they may want to encourage more "rad" dress than collared shirts.

At this point, worrying about what individual players look like on camera also doesn't matter for the pro version of our sport, just the viewers' opinons of each individual since it is an individual sport. In fact, seeing less conventional dressers may help the sport at the grassroots level (coolness factor, think snowboarding). If the viewer and spectator numbers are there, a few "rogue" looking players is not going to discourage potential big sponsors. It's eyeball count that matters to them. If they decide to underwrite a future event, their policies can dictate what people wear, that is if they really care.

I understand your argument, but here's some more talking points:

Yes, but without the major sponsor input in this area, shouldn't we strive to ensure that a minimum level of professionalism is met in attire? Why wait for the sponsors and risk giving possible viewers/spectators a negative impression (e.g. our pros aren't serious) at key events?

Given the current rules and the general, free interpretation of them by the professionals, I think a definite image has been established. Shouldn't we further define our baseline rules to eliminate any questionable attire?

Cgkdisc · #**253** 10-08-2012, 11:41 PM

I think you missed the point that for now, it's only individuals who might look suspect, not the sport. We may think it's a sport, but it's not really a sport in the pop culture sense until enough people watch it, and when they watch it in large enough numbers the bigger sponsors will come, and when the sponsors come the dress codes may come as a contingency for the money to come. The PDGA does have a dress code policy already so it's not like the effort hasn't been made for the time being.