Home Message Board Events Courses J-Town Disc Golf Club
J-Town Disc Golf: Show Posts - Disc71

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Disc71

Pages: 1 ... 64 65 [66] 67 68 ... 80
976
PDGA / Re: PDGA Name Change?
« on: January 10, 2011, 05:12:59 AM »
Take the survey by  following this link:
http://www.pdga.com/whats-in-a-name
Scroll down to PDGA Name Survey, click and take the survey. Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments box.

977
PDGA / PDGA Name Change?
« on: January 07, 2011, 04:55:47 AM »
http://www.pdga.com/whats-in-a-name


Through most of its 36 year history, the name of our association has been the subject of discussion and debate. In founding the organization, Ed Headrick chose the ambitious name “Professional Disc Golf Association” as a challenge to what the game might actually become. Ed thought that adding money to the game would build interest from the public and make play more exciting. He famously said, “When they’re putting for the cash I want to see their hands sweat.” In fact, all of the early members were actually “pros” who were playing for cash prizes, but the tiny amount of money that was available made the term “disc golf pro” an inside joke for many years. Also, the game was at such a low level of development that there were virtually no opportunities for “working pros” who could make a living in other aspects of the sport. Slowly, over the years, the game actually began to grow into its name. Opportunities for professional play and purse amounts gradually developed to the point that people outside of the sport might actually be impressed by statistics that we could quote when they asked for details on event purses, numbers of events or annual winnings of our top players. And, because of the explosion of course installations, competitive events and the disc golf industry in general, there was an even more impressive growth in the number of legitimate earning opportunities for “working pros.” While we might still suffer by comparison with many other longer-established professional sports, we had our growth very quickly and it turned out that Ed was right; there actually could be “professional disc golf.”

However, at the same time that the professional aspects of disc golf were growing so rapidly, there was a broader and lower profile aspect of the sport that was developing even more quickly. While many of us were marveling at the dominance of King Climo, lots and lots of people were taking up disc golf just for the fun and challenge of the game. On every one of the new disc golf courses that were sprouting up around the world, amateur players were the vast majority of those new disc golfers. This historical sequence of events was a bit unusual. Take our ball golf cousins for example, there were many, many years of local amateur play before anybody even thought about the idea of organized play for money. (specifics?) We turned that history upside down. Our very first sweaty-palmed shots at PoleHoles were for money long before we had strong local clubs and activities to support the game.  Many of our continuing challenges in developing the sport come from the fact that we’re still filling in the local roots to support our vision of a fully-blossoming professional game.

Through this period of our development, we’ve counted on the PDGA to be the centerpiece of our organizational development. Of course, lots and lots of separate efforts combine to move us along, but PDGA has been our mothership. And, that’s been a key part of the issue that has kept coming up about our name. Much of our explosive growth has been among non-professional players. Obviously, newcomers to the game will not begin as pros. The vast numbers of recreational players enjoying our many courses, represent the awesome potential of our future growth. So, how do we most effectively reach those candidates for our continued expansion? Obviously, we’d like to get them hooked up with our information and activities. Reaching only ten percent of those folks would represent a huge pop in our numbers. Somebody’s got to talk to these people and give them the great news about what’s going on in our sport. There’s a lot more to the game than just hacking around the course with your buddies. Sure, that’s fun, but we can help you have even more fun. But, you can see where this is going, because you may have had this experience yourself. You see a new player at your course and you think that she may be a good candidate to get more involved in the game. So, confident that you’re about to bring another soul to the light, you say, “Hey, you know, you’re pretty good. You should join the PDGA.” Flattered, she says, “Thanks! What’s the PDGA?” And there’s the rub. You reply,” It’s the Professional Disc Golf Association.” You know where it goes from there. The next ten minutes are spent with you explaining why it’s a good idea for someone who has been playing two weeks to join our “professional” organization. And, for most of that time, you’re explaining why she doesn’t have to worry about the “professional” part of our name. “Almost 80% of our members are amateurs. Maybe you succeed with your pitch and maybe you don’t.  And this is with your engaging personality on hand to close the deal. Potential members who are surfing across our website on their own will be even less likely to realize that our organization is for them as well.

It is this very disconnect that has been the catalyst for discussions about the PDGA name over many years. This question has been raised a number of times by the membership and never resolved. It is for that reason that the current PDGA Board has agreed to take another look at the issue. What they are considering is a new approach that may preserve what we like best about our current name while removing some of its apparent limitations for our future growth. What is currently being considered is to retain the Professional Disc Golf Association as an entity specifically dedicated to our professional members. Additionally, we would add an overriding organizational name that would also use our well-established and trademarked moniker, “PDGA,” that being the Players' Disc Golf Association. The point of course is that all of our members are players of the game, but only some reach the ranks of our professional members. In essence, there’s no real change for our professional players. Our amateur members, however, would now fit nicely under the Players' Disc Golf Association.  And... they, like the folks fighting it out on the pro tour, would all be members of PDGA. Of course, growth in our amateur ranks provides more candidates to grow into professionals and a larger and more knowledgeable fan base for the pro tour.

So, think about this a bit and discuss it with your friends. Maybe even ask some non-disc golf people what they think of the idea. The Board wants to hear a wide range of opinions on this proposal before they move ahead. When you’re ready to speak up, go to the PDGA Name Survey and tell us what you think. If you’ve got an idea that you believe will lead us to an even better solution, let us know. The Board will carefully review all the feedback that comes in by January 23rd.

978
PDGA / Expiration Notice
« on: January 03, 2011, 05:37:15 AM »
http://www.pdga.com/expiration-warning


Expiration Warning!
By MembershipsManager  |  Dec 30, 2010


We interrupt your disc golf day-dreaming with the following report:

The Professional Disc Golf Association has issued a Membership Expiration Warning scheduled to hit your area on December 31st. Those in the path of this warning should seek immediate assistance by calling 888-840-PDGA(7342) or renewing online.

A Membership Expiration Warning means an expiration date has been spotted. It will continue to threaten your stats, points, scheduled DiscGolfer delivery dates and keep you from competing in SuperTours, National Elite Tour Series and Majors until a renewal is submitted.

Only YOU can prevent Membership Expiration Warnings. Renew or join today!

We thank you in advance for your support in 2011 and look forward to serving you again.



979
PDGA / 2011 PDGA Rule Changes
« on: December 30, 2010, 05:15:54 AM »
 
http://www.pdga.com/rule-changes-2011


By PDGAStaff  |  Dec 22, 2010


What rules have changed for 2011?

The PDGA Rules Committee has modified several rules that go into effect January 1, 2011. The full text of the updated rules is online here: PDGA Rules 2011 Renewing and new PDGA members will receive a copy of the new combined 2011 PDGA Competition and Rulebook in their member packets.

DROP ZONE: 800 & 803.11
Added the option for TDs to designate a drop zone for a lost disc. This might be done on big downhill holes where lost discs are common and identifying a drop zone farther down the hill speeds play.

HOLING OUT: 803.13
Starting in 2011, a player will not have to remove the disc to complete the process of holing out which was required under current rules. Once the group has decided the disc has come to rest, the player has holed out.

Several target related terms have been officially defined and added to the Definitions section 800 in support of the Holing Out rule. Definitions for Basket Target, Tray, Chains, Chain Support and Pole have been added.

Groups will now be responsible to make judgment calls on how discs enter the basket. Discs that attempt to enter or actually get all the way into the chains or basket thru the top of the chain support or thru the side or bottom of the basket now will not count if the group or official sees that happen. This means wedgies, most which wedge from the outside, now will not count unless it was a blind shot where no one saw how the disc wedged. Putts that are observed to properly enter the basket from above the rim and then wedge trying to get out will count as holed out like before.

These changes for holing out mean calls for the “putting tree” photo shown below that was in the Rules School story on Interference need to be updated. Under the old rules, only the yellow disc would not have been considered holed out when the player removed it. Under 2011 rules, the white and red discs are holed out (IN). The yellow disc as before and the orange disc hanging on the nub outside the basket are NOT IN. The orange disc balancing on the rim, which used to be considered IN, is now considered OUT in the 2011 rules because the disc is not entirely supported by the pole, inner wall or bottom of the basket. The orange wedgie is now NOT IN if the group observed it wedge from the outside. If the group did not see it or watched it clear the top basket wire then wedge on the way out, it is IN
See below for photo diagram.


OPTIONAL RETHROW (formerly Unplayable Lie): 803.06
While changing the rule name seems cosmetic, it eliminates a potential double penalty that might occur when the 2m rule was in force and provides an alternate option for missed mandatories. Under the new Optional Rethrow rule, players who miss a mandatory now have the option to rethrow from their original lie instead of the Mando Drop Zone if they prefer.

Essentially, the Optional Rethrow means players may rethrow from their original lie if their disc lands in any of the disc golf penalty hazards – OB, Missed Mando, above 2m and Lost (which already is handled this way) – and receive a 1-throw penalty. Of course just like the old Unplayable Lie rule, a player may choose this Optional Rethrow penalty without permission from the group no matter where their disc lands whether inbounds or a hazard location.

The old Unplayable Lie rule allowed players to either move back up to 5m on the line of play or return and throw from their original lie. The option to move back up to 5m has been eliminated. Throwing again from the original lie is now the only option as the renamed rule indicates.

GENERAL – Provisional Throws: 803.01C
Although not directly part of the Optional Rethrow rule, the new rule for Provisional Throws clarifies that a player may not later declare a throw they first called a Provisional as their Optional Rethrow. The player must go back and make an optional rethrow (if that's what they decided is the best option) and not use that provisional throw after seeing the results of the provisional and the original throw.

OBSTACLES AND RELIEF: 803.05
Significant changes here. A player is not allowed to move any obstacle on the course with the exception of casual obstacles to a stance listed below. A player is allowed to request that other people remove themselves and/or their belongings from the player's stance or line of play. This includes spectators, umbrellas, golf bags, chairs, etc…

Casual obstacles as in current rules – casual water, loose leaves or debris, broken branches no longer connected to a tree, motor vehicles, harmful insects or animals, players' equipment, people, or any item or area specifically designated by the director before the round – can be moved if they are in the player’s stance or run-up, even if part of the item like a branch is in front of the lie.

If the casual item can’t be moved, like water or a bee hive, the player may take free relief up to 5m back on the line of play like before. If players require additional relief beyond 5m, they may invoke either the new Optional Relief rule (803.05C) and go back on the line of play as far as they desire with a one-throw penalty. Or, decide to declare the Optional Rethrow discussed previously and return to their original lie and throw again with a one-throw penalty.

DISC ABOVE OR BELOW THE PLAYING SURFACE: 803.08
The “disc below playing surface” phrase has been moved from the Rules Q&A and added to this rule. This applies to a disc located down on a “non-playing surface” that players would not be able to play from such as a crack in the ground. The “disc below playing surface” section does not apply to a disc resting on or above a playing surface where another playing surface like a bridge might also pass above the disc. It’s possible that moving vertically from the front edge of the disc closest to the target up to the level playing surface might be a point in space. If so, then mark the lie on the playing surface near the edge of the crack on the line of play no closer to the target.

980
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 23, 2010, 05:16:39 AM »
2 days.  Go Bears!

981
Shoot The Breeze / Re: JTown Hunters & Fishermen
« on: December 22, 2010, 05:32:26 AM »
Ryan Schumann & Shane Egan make the Midwest Outdoors Illinois cover.
www.midwestoutdoors.com

982
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 22, 2010, 04:55:27 AM »
3 days left.

983
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 21, 2010, 05:33:16 AM »
4 days left and a couple of more cartoons.

984
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 20, 2010, 04:54:53 AM »
Cheer up  it's a short work week. 5 days left.

985
Thank You's / Re: Thank you J-Town
« on: December 17, 2010, 05:32:54 AM »
Your always welcome around here. Not only are you an amazing contributor to our game but your a remarkable person and fantastic friend. I hope everything works out, you deserve it.

Just do me one favor, while your up there don't let those Minnesotans turn you into a Viking's fan. If you know what I mean.

986
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 17, 2010, 05:00:18 AM »
8 days left!

987
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 15, 2010, 04:44:23 AM »
Wednesday’s cartoons. Sign-up or sign-in to see the cartoons

988
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 14, 2010, 04:59:11 AM »
It's 12 days before Christmas.

989
Shoot The Breeze / Re: Merry Christmas!
« on: December 13, 2010, 04:55:14 AM »
A little Monday morning laugh.

990
Shoot The Breeze / Merry Christmas!
« on: December 10, 2010, 05:04:51 AM »
Here's a little Christmas cartoon humor. Click on cartoon to make it larger.

Pages: 1 ... 64 65 [66] 67 68 ... 80