Movement in top 10

[tahoe]

The Reddit thread linked below analyzes the Udisc ranking system by referencing their own ranked course directory on their app. To see their own ranked directory yourself go to Udisc course search, put nothing in the search field, click on the 'star' to sort high to low by ranking, then tap radius "50 mi", twice. I think Caliber comes up as #1 (4.9).

This ranking already includes adjustments in course ratings of more recent reviews. Read the thread to understand why the Udisc adjustment for regional rating seems very flawed! There are 8 courses from Sweden in the top 100 this year. One of them is a 4.4 on Udisc! Yeah we all know Udisc course ratings can be 'inflated', but would a 4.4 course with enough ratings ever make a dgcoursereview top 100? Why did Swedish courses get such a huge assist from the Udisc algorithm?
https://www.reddit.com/r/discgolf/comments/10xpzfr/worlds_best_disc_golf_courses_3_skellefte%C3%A5/

 

[Shallows]

The Reddit thread linked below analyzes the Udisc ranking system by referencing their own ranked course directory on their app. To see their own ranked directory yourself go to Udisc course search, put nothing in the search field, click on the 'star' to sort high to low by ranking, then tap radius "50 mi", twice. I think Caliber comes up as #1 (4.9).

This ranking already includes adjustments in course ratings of more recent reviews. Read the thread to understand why the Udisc adjustment for regional rating seems very flawed! There are 8 courses from Sweden in the top 100 this year. One of them is a 4.4 on Udisc! Yeah we all know Udisc course ratings can be 'inflated', but would a 4.4 course with enough ratings ever make a dgcoursereview top 100? Why did Swedish courses get such a huge assist from the Udisc algorithm?
https://www.reddit.com/r/discgolf/comments/10xpzfr/worlds_best_disc_golf_courses_3_skellefte%C3%A5/

Speculative international growth will always be the macguffin for current execs to pitch to potential investors...

 

[Mando]

The Reddit thread linked below analyzes the Udisc ranking system by referencing their own ranked course directory on their app. To see their own ranked directory yourself go to Udisc course search, put nothing in the search field, click on the 'star' to sort high to low by ranking, then tap radius "50 mi", twice. I think Caliber comes up as #1 (4.9).

This ranking already includes adjustments in course ratings of more recent reviews. Read the thread to understand why the Udisc adjustment for regional rating seems very flawed! There are 8 courses from Sweden in the top 100 this year. One of them is a 4.4 on Udisc! Yeah we all know Udisc course ratings can be 'inflated', but would a 4.4 course with enough ratings ever make a dgcoursereview top 100? Why did Swedish courses get such a huge assist from the Udisc algorithm?
https://www.reddit.com/r/discgolf/comments/10xpzfr/worlds_best_disc_golf_courses_3_skellefte%C3%A5/

Interesting read.

 

[playrecords]

I think I've played 34 out of that list. Thanks for the link elmex. There's some courses I've never heard of on there.

Played 21 out of the top 25 on the DGCR list.

 

[ru4por]

Hitting a bunch of what should be pretty good courses on my detour through 'Bama, Mississippi, and Louisiana on my way home from Florida, including Inverness along with The Admiral near Mobile and Bowers Park in Tuscaloosa.

Really looking forward to some of the best offerings in three new states for me.

Knocked out Inverness today. Terrific track. Pretty physical, but not awful and it is not a huge long course. Just lots of trouble abound, via tree kicks. I was a bit confused by the A/B basket positions. They have yellow and blue baskets, but don't assign a color to a position. Some holes yellow is the A basket position and others the yellow is the B basket position. Kind of baffling. Have fun bogey!! :hfive:

 

[elmexdela]

Knocked out Inverness today. Terrific track. Pretty physical, but not awful and it is not a huge long course. Just lots of trouble abound, via tree kicks. I was a bit confused by the A/B basket positions. They have yellow and blue baskets, but don't assign a color to a position. Some holes yellow is the A basket position and others the yellow is the B basket position. Kind of baffling. Have fun bogey!! :hfive:

some of those rollaways kicked my ass out there and had to learn angle control quick

us flatlanders take some things for granted

 

[elmexdela]

Interesting read.

just makes me wonder

why isnt udisc being transparent with their rating system

or did i miss that article

 

[elmexdela]

ps it seems you can now search by "rating" on udisc (at least on laptop)

why did that take so long

 

[tahoe]

just makes me wonder

why isnt udisc being transparent with their rating system

or did i miss that article

Udisc states that they adjust their ranking of courses by considering "...rating norms in different regions and other factors"

First off, How in the Wide World of Sports does Udisc think they can account for regional rating norms? Makes zero sense. Even on Udisc when a course is really lackluster it gets nailed with really low ratings. In Sweden there's tons of short, neighborhood park courses with absolute minimum improvements. Those courses just don't deserve higher ratings, it's not that Swedes are really harsh critics, they're just calling it like it is. When a beautifully developed course on interesting,dedicated land in the same region goes in though, they rate that appropriately also. Udisc gives a huge boost in rankings to these 'diamonds in the rough'. I'd say its actually much harder to attain a high course rating in areas with lots of other high rated courses; to stand out in a sea of diamonds is much harder. They have it ass-backwards...

And what in the world are these 'other factors'? Why are they a secret? I think it's clear that Udisc wants some x-factors to create suspense and interest in their list every year. Keeps everyone guessing and gives Udisc more control.

 

[wolfhaley]

It seems like at least 20 percent of the courses on the list are either DGPT stops, Silver series courses, former DGPT or National Tour stops, or some other course that was prominently featured on Youtube in the last few years with some pros playing during the coverage.

Maple Hill
Brewster
Eagle's Crossing (big money skins)
Fox Meadows
W.R. Jackson
Lake Marshall-Lions
Hillcrest Farms ( Canadian Nationals)
Idlewild
Moraine ( PFDO and World's not too long ago)
The Fort ( World's recently)
Airborn Preserve- Timberwolf (DGPT)
Milo McIver (DGPT )
Northwood Black ( DGPT)
Dela (DGPT/ whatever it is now )
Hornet's Nest (1st DGPT Championship site I believe)
Pickard Park ( DGPT)
Airborn Preserve- Lynx (DGPT with Timberwolf)
Disc Side of Heaven

You can argue, to a lesser extent about some others.
BRP (The Majestic)
Rollin Ridge/Silver Creek (Silver Cup)
The Canyons (Clash at the Canyons)
Renegade's Trail (not sure of the name of the tourney)

And I'm not up to date on my Euro courses, but I'd be shocked if I haven't seen at least a few on some Youtube videos. A lot of the other courses they play on DGPT aren't actually "courses" for normal people to play.

Not making accusations or anything. Just my initial observation. There's some amazing courses on that list for sure. But some others that wouldn't be rated nearly as high with less eyeballs on them.

 

[DavidSauls]

And what in the world are these 'other factors'? Why are they a secret? I think it's clear that Udisc wants some x-factors to create suspense and interest in their list every year. Keeps everyone guessing and gives Udisc more control.

Lists are news. Look at the media -- particularly local media. Every time someone creates a 10-best-places-to-something list, or a 10-worst-places-for-something-else list, that mentions anywhere local, it gets published. College and high school sports and recruiting news are full of subjective lists, as well. Because people will publish and share and argue about them.

When a list is created with chosen criteria or formulas (like Udisc), and you realize that any change in the formula changes the results, then you have to think the list is as much the result of that chosen formula, as the subject itself.

 

[MikeK]

Flip City is at 15 on Udisc too!!!

Will Mike K boycott Udisc like he did DGCR? Will Udisc suffer the same sorry fate as DGCR? Will Mike K resurrect DiscGolfScene and save the world from impending doom....opcorn:

Find out tomorrow. Airing for free, in the Landfill.

LoL. My review boycott is not because DGCR deletes bad reviews about Flip City. I don't write many reviews at UDisc but I'm not boycotting. UDisc's methods to determine their top 100 seem a bit unscientific if the allegations in this thread are to be believed, so that would be grounds for me to start boycotting just as with DGCR. I'm consistent if nothing else.

Will UDisc suffer the fate of DGCR? No, because UDisc's owners cared enough to monetize their operation much more than DGCR did, giving them an incentive to listen to user feedback and improve their operation.

I didn't realize DG Scene was in need of resurrection. See y'all in the Landfill if they bring back my awesome conspiracy thread.

 

[ru4por]

some of those rollaways kicked my ass out there and had to learn angle control quick

us flatlanders take some things for granted

Lol....the wife struggled mightily. My soft, anhyzer approach shot worked well for many greens. It was such a beautiful day.....man, going south for part of the winter is truly a retirement blessing.

 

[tahoe]

Lists are news. Look at the media -- particularly local media. Every time someone creates a 10-best-places-to-something list, or a 10-worst-places-for-something-else list, that mentions anywhere local, it gets published. College and high school sports and recruiting news are full of subjective lists, as well. Because people will publish and share and argue about them.

When a list is created with chosen criteria or formulas (like Udisc), and you realize that any change in the formula changes the results, then you have to think the list is as much the result of that chosen formula, as the subject itself.

Spot-on DavidSauls. But I have a feeling its backfiring a bit on Udisc. I think the main drivers and potential sharers of the Udisc Top 100 are fairly avid disc golfers who at least pay some attention to quality of courses in different regions. Udisc knows that more new courses making the list creates excitement with the folks who play and love those courses (yay, my course made the list post). But overall I think their list is losing traction. I believe this is because the integrity of this list is going down the toilet. They count on these avid players to create excitement, but this year it seems discussion of the list on social media has gone way down... If a rising tide raises all ships, it would be better for disc golf public awareness if the list had more integrity. The list is now so 'off' that it discourages much of the debate that Udisc craves.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Lol....the wife struggled mightily. My soft, anhyzer approach shot worked well for many greens. It was such a beautiful day.....man, going south for part of the winter is truly a retirement blessing.

Spending 3 weeks working remotely from FL, and taking some vaca time to meander through the south on my way back home.

 

[Mando]

Udisc states that they adjust their ranking of courses by considering "...rating norms in different regions and other factors"

First off, How in the Wide World of Sports does Udisc think they can account for regional rating norms? Makes zero sense. Even on Udisc when a course is really lackluster it gets nailed with really low ratings. In Sweden there's tons of short, neighborhood park courses with absolute minimum improvements. Those courses just don't deserve higher ratings, it's not that Swedes are really harsh critics, they're just calling it like it is. When a beautifully developed course on interesting,dedicated land in the same region goes in though, they rate that appropriately also. Udisc gives a huge boost in rankings to these 'diamonds in the rough'. I'd say its actually much harder to attain a high course rating in areas with lots of other high rated courses; to stand out in a sea of diamonds is much harder. They have it ass-backwards...

And what in the world are these 'other factors'? Why are they a secret? I think it's clear that Udisc wants some x-factors to create suspense and interest in their list every year. Keeps everyone guessing and gives Udisc more control.

For lack of a better word, it seems like Udisc is massaging the ratings for the gentrification of disc golf courses.

 

[DavidSauls]

Ultimately, it's the UDisc Top 100. Subjective reviews, with subjective modifications. It's not anything official or definitive (nor is DGCR, or anyone else's list).

I suspect that if you play a bunch of courses on the list, you'll end up playing a lot of good disc golf courses, plus perhaps a few that don't match your tastes.

 

[Mando]

Ultimately, it's the UDisc Top 100. Subjective reviews, with subjective modifications. It's not anything official or definitive (nor is DGCR, or anyone else's list).

I suspect that if you play a bunch of courses on the list, you'll end up playing a lot of good disc golf courses, plus perhaps a few that don't match your tastes.

Such an eloquent way of stating the obvious.

 

[playrecords]

So it appears I've played 29 of the Udisc top 100 thus far. If all goes as planned I'll be adding 7 more this year. Not too shabby.

I've played 12 of the top 25 courses on DGCR. If all goes as planned I'll add 2 more this year.

Some interesting course ratings on both places, but they're still just ratings. A few random thoughts.

BRP is vastly overrated imo. It's still much better than the 2 Airborn Disc Golf Preserve courses, Timberwolf and Lynx. Those courses have no business being in the top 100. None whatsoever. Again, IMO.

Bryant Lake is a really fun course, but Bethel University is the best in Minny. I'd put the full layout at Kaposia above it too.

Sandy Point in WI is one of my favorite courses played. Not tops in WI though. One course at Highbridge in the top 100 is comical, even after JJ let it slip.

There's a few that made me smile with their inclusion though.

Sugaree
Tjader Acres
Chain's Edge-Green
Chain's Edge-Red

Those are 4 of my all time favorite courses played to date. Private courses at that. Well deserving of the accolades.

So how does everyone else's list stack up? opcorn:

Slow your roll mister Wolfhaley regarding best in MN.

Agreed on BRP having lost it's luster. And the (3 courses now) at the Preserve are pretty lame except for the scenery.

I love the Bethel course but would prefer a round at any of the Chains Edge courses.

Hidden Lake in its early years was pretty dang fantastic but has been opened up now so probably out of the conversation.

Breezy Point is a banger. Played it for the first time last year and was impressed. Word is there might be a second course going in this year, not sure of that status. Headed back this year to confirm how much I liked it.

 

[wolfhaley]

Slow your roll mister Wolfhaley regarding best in MN.

Agreed on BRP having lost it's luster. And the (3 courses now) at the Preserve are pretty lame except for the scenery.

I love the Bethel course but would prefer a round at any of the Chains Edge courses.

Hidden Lake in its early years was pretty dang fantastic but has been opened up now so probably out of the conversation.

Breezy Point is a banger. Played it for the first time last year and was impressed. Word is there might be a second course going in this year, not sure of that status. Headed back this year to confirm how much I liked it.

Hey, I did just recently suggest Chain's Edge to medicinalfunk in the Where are you going in 2023 thread

I've played the other's you mentioned except the newest Preserve course and this Breezy Point you speak of. I don't recall hearing about that one. I'll look it up. :thmbup: