I'm of the mind that Worlds (and frankly other large events) started losing the "feel" as they moved to more of a tee time format. Sure, there's the host hotel and side events and all that for the reunion/party feel, but not everyone is necessarily game to participate in all that. If one is traveling with family for the week, after the rounds are done they're more likely spending time with them than attending a side event like a flymart or a beer tasting or what have you. But when one is at the course, it's all about the disc family.
And with tee times, I find there's less of a community feel. You show up 45-60 minutes before your time, warm up, do a little socializing, then you play your round. Maybe you hang out a little bit afterward to chat with people or watch other groups finish, but odds are they're the same folks you saw before your round or that you played with during the round. There's rarely an opportunity where everyone is on site at the same time. At least with shotgun starts, everyone's at the course to start the round, everyone's hanging out in the same place during the break, and everyone's in the same place waiting around for awards at the end.
Not that I think big events need to go back to shotgun starts and therefore shorter courses. I think everyone needs to recognize that choices have consequences. We can't have the big competitive event feel and the party/reunion feel in the same event anymore. One is going to be prioritized over the other simply based on the format chosen.
And with tee times, I find there's less of a community feel. You show up 45-60 minutes before your time, warm up, do a little socializing, then you play your round. Maybe you hang out a little bit afterward to chat with people or watch other groups finish, but odds are they're the same folks you saw before your round or that you played with during the round. There's rarely an opportunity where everyone is on site at the same time. At least with shotgun starts, everyone's at the course to start the round, everyone's hanging out in the same place during the break, and everyone's in the same place waiting around for awards at the end.
Not that I think big events need to go back to shotgun starts and therefore shorter courses. I think everyone needs to recognize that choices have consequences. We can't have the big competitive event feel and the party/reunion feel in the same event anymore. One is going to be prioritized over the other simply based on the format chosen.
