DGPT: The MVP Open at Maple Hill

[jvphobic]

What a great event to watch. Drama right to the end. Thanks to everyone who watched live. We had 5300 concurrent watchers towards the end of the show. That is the biggest number in a while. And while concurrent viewers only tells part of the story, it is one of the bars that is easiest to look at and compare.

Either way, thanks for watching. Looking forward to Worlds in 2 weeks.

 

[Flick Maniac]

Great battle. I rarely watch full rounds live since it gets pretty late in Finland for that and the 3-year-old can sometimes wake us up pretty early, but this one I watched all the way until 1:30AM. Worth every sleep deprived minute. Likely Worlds will be worth it too at least if no one has completely run away with it the round prior to the last one.

Another thing: whats everyones take on the GoPros mounted on the baskets? Terry mentioned this in passing and said that likely they have the OK from tournament officials, BUT if they (it?) are there only for the lead card(s) then they likely ought not to be there. Its not really the same course for everybody then if one group can blast by the basket flag and go 100ft deep and another group can get the same shot deflected to drop in range by the addition of the camera.

I know other stuff can happen where its not 100% same course, a branch can come down or whatever, but I would rather not have people willingly introduce variables. Want a camera at the pin? Man it, so the man can get out of the way if need be.

 

[Royalhghnss]

I followed Ricky's card for round 3 at Ledgestone. He did tend to keep to himself, which I can't blame home for. After the round I said thanks for letting us watch as I passed him. He told me thanks for coming out to watch with a smile, even though it was obvious he wasn't happy about his round. I then watched him pose for a couple pictures with two guys in front of his van as he was leaving. Seemed pretty gracious to me...

Ricky is 100% business on the course. Hardly says a word other than his score. Off the course/done with his round he's the nicest dude ever.

 

[eman6854]

Ricky is 100% business on the course. Hardly says a word other than his score. Off the course/done with his round he's the nicest dude ever.

Seems like it. What's your take on the go pro thing Ian? Who even put em up?

 

[JC17393]

Ricky is 100% business on the course. Hardly says a word other than his score. Off the course/done with his round he's the nicest dude ever.

Maybe it depends on the level of event, or whether we're talking card-mate versus spectator, but I played with Rick a couple weeks ago at an A-tier and he was extremely personable and pleasant. Other than the handful of spectators following us, it felt like a normal round with a normal group of players to me. Some idle chit-chat, especially during back-ups, and times of quiet concentration as well.

Only two things really stuck out to me during the round. One, if you're the last thrower on the tee, you really need to be aware of where Ricky parked his cart because he is on the move before that last throw lands and if you aren't careful about where you linger to watch the throw, he might run you over. Two, his standards are, rightly so, very high for himself. As we totaled the card at the end of the round, he described his round as "sucky" when asked. "Sucky" was tied for hot round on the card (unofficially 1037) and good enough for the lead card in round 2. He wasn't surly or upset about it. Just stated it as a matter of fact. It was amusing.

 

[dscmn]

What an exciting third round, when does round 4 start? Oh.

 

[jvphobic]

I see Terry's argument about the GoPro (actually it was a 360 degree cam). And they did have authorization from Steve Dodge. So my issue is NOT with the person who was putting up the camera. Terry was right that it was a slightly different green for the lead card then. I have no issues with it, if it was discussed with the players ahead of time at the players meeting or something like that.

We already give special circumstances to the lead card with the extra buffer in tee times to help avoid backups for the broadcast. So, this isn't unprecedented.

 

[bwgort]

I see Terry's argument about the GoPro (actually it was a 360 degree cam). And they did have authorization from Steve Dodge. So my issue is NOT with the person who was putting up the camera. Terry was right that it was a slightly different green for the lead card then. I have no issues with it, if it was discussed with the players ahead of time at the players meeting or something like that.

We already give special circumstances to the lead card with the extra buffer in tee times to help avoid backups for the broadcast. So, this isn't unprecedented.

Are there other examples of altering the course for the lead card? Extra time doesn't alter the course.

 

[brutalbrutus]

I don't think the camera is a big deal. The regular cameramen/women are "changing the course" already. At any time, one of the players could have the opportunity to accidently hit a cameraman and get a good/bad kick that other players not being filmed wouldn't have. I don't really see where this is any different.

 

[JC17393]

I would think the gallery, especially when it gets to be as large as it was yesterday in a setting like that where there's not a ton of room for the people to go, alters the course and/or the play to some degree. Not that it was an issue at Maple Hill, but having all those extra sets of eyes down the fairway can be advantageous to the leader card on holes where there might be potential for lost discs. Granted, most of these high profile events have spotters on staff to cover those spots too, but an errant drive on the 15th card could result in a lost disc penalty that the lead card is unlikely to suffer because a bunch of people were within 30 feet of the disc when it landed and never lost sight of it.

 

[biscoe]

I don't think the camera is a big deal. The regular cameramen/women are "changing the course" already. At any time, one of the players could have the opportunity to accidently hit a cameraman and get a good/bad kick that other players not being filmed wouldn't have. I don't really see where this is any different.

In theory a person with a camera would not be so obtrusive as to be standing right next to the basket and they would be able to move even were they there. I believe it to be way different.

 

[biscoe]

I would think the gallery, especially when it gets to be as large as it was yesterday in a setting like that where there's not a ton of room for the people to go, alters the course and/or the play to some degree. Not that it was an issue at Maple Hill, but having all those extra sets of eyes down the fairway can be advantageous to the leader card on holes where there might be potential for lost discs. Granted, most of these high profile events have spotters on staff to cover those spots too, but an errant drive on the 15th card could result in a lost disc penalty that the lead card is unlikely to suffer because a bunch of people were within 30 feet of the disc when it landed and never lost sight of it.

Extra eyes is not a deliberate physical alteration of the course regardless of the result.

 

[brutalbrutus]

In theory a person with a camera would not be so obtrusive as to be standing right next to the basket and they would be able to move even were they there. I believe it to be way different.

Hitting a person holding the camera on the edge of the fairway can have as much or more impact on the score as a camera on top a basket. They can always still make the comeback putt if the camera isn't there but would they be OB or not OB if they hadn't hit them on the fairway. Or completely buried under a bush?

 

[bwgort]

Hitting a person holding the camera on the edge of the fairway can have as much or more impact on the score as a camera on top a basket. They can always still make the comeback putt if the camera isn't there but would they be OB or not OB if they hadn't hit them on the fairway. Or completely buried under a bush?

Sure, but that's a spectator with the ability to move out of the way instead of placing an immovable object that could stop an errant putt. There are potentially spectators for every group on the course, there are not objects on top of the basket for every group on the course. That's the difference here.

 

[Lazerface]

I agree with Terry on the Go Pro thing. He was also very passive as usual and said something like "I'm not sure if I like that....." so anyone in the chat getting on about Terry was being ridiculous. He gave his take in a very fair way and it's not like he was calling for anything to be done. He's a commentator, doing his job.

Do I think it's a BIG deal. No, until it is. I think that is where Terry was going. Imagine 1 putt that is going to blow by hitting that camera and coming to rest under the basket. That's all it would of took for it to blow up and be the talk of the entire tourney, which is why IMO Steve, or whoever approved it should of politely said no.

It's not the same as a camera man or spectator who has the ability to move. It's a fixed object on the target. Very small % change it affects the game play, but again, it's not a big deal until it is.

 

[brutalbrutus]

Sure, but that's a spectator with the ability to move out of the way instead of placing an immovable object that could stop an errant putt. There are potentially spectators for every group on the course, there are not objects on top of the basket for every group on the course. That's the difference here.

There are already objects on the baskets at that course.

Anyway, who is to say that the camera is going to help them? Maybe it causes it to deflect off and roll instead of only maybe being 15 or 20ft long? Disc golf if is game of weird things happening and the course is often different for every group, especially a wooded course. Whether that be a branch that someone broke off with a teeshot, a rock that got dislodged, a branch that someone had to move out of their lie, cameras, chairs, water bottles, people, weather, wind, a clump of mud on the teepad… I could go on and on... It isn't that big a deal.

 

[BuiltTooLong]

I inherently accept the lead card will have some advantages (as well as some potential disadvantages) but this isn't acceptable. It's a neat idea and probably captured some great footage, however I think if that someone wants to capture images this way, they need to leave it on ONE basket for the ENTIRE field.

 

[bwgort]

There are already objects on the baskets at that course.

Anyway, who is to say that the camera is going to help them? Maybe it causes it to deflect off and roll instead of only maybe being 15 or 20ft long? Disc golf if is game of weird things happening and the course is often different for every group, especially a wooded course. Whether that be a branch that someone broke off with a teeshot, a rock that got dislodged, a branch that someone had to move out of their lie, cameras, chairs, water bottles, people, weather, wind, a clump of mud on the teepad… I could go on and on... It isn't that big a deal.

You're right it could hurt them. I still don't see a justification for putting it on the basket. If McBeth has to throw in the middle of a spotter's chair (USDGC a few years ago), then that rule should be interpreted consistently and objects should not be allowed to be added or moved to the course based on which group is playing.

 

[Flick Maniac]

When have you seen a cameraman hit the last time? There is even a great Jomez video out there with their cameraman proving to be almost impossible to hit. Granted, at one European Open a few years back, the national broadcasting company dude stopped.a drive right on the ob line. Trying to get away and failing poorly.

Anyways. I like the way this guy above put it. Its not a big deal until it is. Water bottles, cars, whatever has happened but they are crowd randomness. Although even the cars can be planned for. I am not sure if the cars need to be parked right where McBeth & Conrad landed on #18 at R4. Imperfect drives yes but I would rather not have cars right there myself.

 

[mgamache8]

There are already objects on the baskets at that course.

Anyway, who is to say that the camera is going to help them? Maybe it causes it to deflect off and roll instead of only maybe being 15 or 20ft long? Disc golf if is game of weird things happening and the course is often different for every group, especially a wooded course. Whether that be a branch that someone broke off with a teeshot, a rock that got dislodged, a branch that someone had to move out of their lie, cameras, chairs, water bottles, people, weather, wind, a clump of mud on the teepad… I could go on and on... It isn't that big a deal.

I agree that it's not a big deal at all, but the difference to me between the camera and a branch broken by a teeshot is that we can control the camera not being whereas it's random for a branch to be broken during a round. It didn't matter this time, but it COULD have, and it could be a big deal when it does