shive
Par Member
Now you see it, and now you don't.
At Pro Worlds, as recently as 2004, most divisions had eight preliminary (before the semis) rounds over the period Tuesday-Friday. Then it went to seven (2003 and 2005), and for the last few years it has been six (or its equivalent). This year the schedule shows only five.
You really have to plan to stay for at least a week, in case you make the semis. Some divisions don't have semis, and those folks will play a maximum of five and a half rounds (if they make the finals) in five days. For most of us this requires an outlay of well over $1000. Is it worth it to spend that kind of money if you might only play five rounds in the four days, when you can often get four rounds of play at a two-day weekend event for a small fraction of that cost?
We have heard talk about Worlds becoming a more "social" gathering. We are beginning to see what that means. Apparently the PDGA believes that people want to have more time to socialize, to go on picnics and visit museums. Or, better still, to watch other people play. And the less time you play, the more time you will have to fill out a gallery.
This is not a "senior gripe"; we are all impacted. No division has more than five preliminary rounds. Here's a typical response from my Divisional Tour Newsgroup: "I am disinclined to be fleeced for $250 a day for the privilege of touring and hanging out." Precisely. As for myself, I'm a player, not a watcher. How about you?
At Pro Worlds, as recently as 2004, most divisions had eight preliminary (before the semis) rounds over the period Tuesday-Friday. Then it went to seven (2003 and 2005), and for the last few years it has been six (or its equivalent). This year the schedule shows only five.
You really have to plan to stay for at least a week, in case you make the semis. Some divisions don't have semis, and those folks will play a maximum of five and a half rounds (if they make the finals) in five days. For most of us this requires an outlay of well over $1000. Is it worth it to spend that kind of money if you might only play five rounds in the four days, when you can often get four rounds of play at a two-day weekend event for a small fraction of that cost?
We have heard talk about Worlds becoming a more "social" gathering. We are beginning to see what that means. Apparently the PDGA believes that people want to have more time to socialize, to go on picnics and visit museums. Or, better still, to watch other people play. And the less time you play, the more time you will have to fill out a gallery.
This is not a "senior gripe"; we are all impacted. No division has more than five preliminary rounds. Here's a typical response from my Divisional Tour Newsgroup: "I am disinclined to be fleeced for $250 a day for the privilege of touring and hanging out." Precisely. As for myself, I'm a player, not a watcher. How about you?