Access to courses during weekly events (was: What's a good day...)

[robdillpdx]

(This is mostly directed at Dabney Dubs folks) How about we stop weekly events that screw people who just want to play a round. Spend 50 bucks on a parking pass, then 10 on gas to get to the course, just to have people say you can't play because they are playing doubles. It's a state park people, have your doubles, but if you're taking every pad and forcing everyone else out of a PUBLIC park that MY TAXES help pay for, I get a little pissy. If it was monthly, it would be totally fine, weekly is ridiculous. You want to do a weekly tourney? Buy some land and put a course on it!

And for god's sake quit putting on baskets when other people are playing that basket!!!!!! There is a practice basket by the parking lot, quit using #10 to warm up on. I know you "warm up" than go +10 anyway so quit fooling yourself and let everyone play!!!!

[REDFIVE]

Wow buddy. Its the weekly events that pay for baskets and tee signs not your tax dollars. If you know the schedule of aweekly event and decide not to play in it it is your own fault for going to thatcourse anyway. Aren't there 463 courses in the area for you to choose from? Lighten up, play some dubs and then you can say your money is what goes toward the "course".

[Bullseye]

(This is mostly directed at Dabney Dubs folks) How about we stop weekly events that screw people who just want to play a round. Spend 50 bucks on a parking pass, then 10 on gas to get to the course, just to have people say you can't play because they are playing doubles. It's a state park people, have your doubles, but if you're taking every pad and forcing everyone else out of a PUBLIC park that MY TAXES help pay for, I get a little pissy. If it was monthly, it would be totally fine, weekly is ridiculous. You want to do a weekly tourney? Buy some land and put a course on it!

And for god's sake quit putting on baskets when other people are playing that basket!!!!!! There is a practice basket by the parking lot, quit using #10 to warm up on. I know you "warm up" than go +10 anyway so quit fooling yourself and let everyone play!!!!

How about realizing these doubles events are traditions that have been going on for YEARS and are played a lot of people. While these events might not line up perfectly with your schedule, there is always the option to play at one of the many other courses in town; courses that were probably installed by many of the very people you are bitching about.


Here's a quick guide to summertime leagues/doubles events

Monday: Lunchtime
Tuesday: Timber and Orchard Park
Wednesday: Pier
Thursday: Dabney
Friday: Holee smokes... a day all to yourself. Its inconceivable!

[robdillpdx]

Wow buddy. Its the weekly events that pay for baskets and tee signs not your tax dollars. If you know the schedule of aweekly event and decide not to play in it it is your own fault for going to thatcourse anyway. Aren't there 463 courses in the area for you to choose from? Lighten up, play some dubs and then you can say your money is what goes toward the "course".

Oh yeah, just let me bring up my calendar that automatically fills in new doubles tourney, and then directs me to the nearest course that's open for play. I don't care if it funds the baskets and pads, you put them on public property, you don't own them anymore, and shouldn't use them exclusively. Like I said, have your tourney, just don't take up the whole course to do it. Or go through the proper channels. If a park ranger tells me you have the course reserved, I'll respect that. I don't come out there on purpose while dubs is going on, just so I can bitch, but when you drive that far out of town, just to see 50 people putting on #10, it sucks. Now, of course, I know Thursday's are dubs @ Dabney. Won't show up then anymore, but you don't see anything wrong with an Oregon citizen not being able to use services at an Oregon state park? Even after buying the pass? And yes, TAXES paid for that park! TAXES pay for maintenance of that park (outside of volunteer efforts which I very much appreciate). Bottom line, this is a free country, and if I'm sitting at home on a Thursday and want to go play Dabney, I should be able to!

[Kevin Madrid]

(This is mostly directed at Dabney Dubs folks) How about we stop weekly events that screw people who just want to play a round. Spend 50 bucks on a parking pass, then 10 on gas to get to the course, just to have people say you can't play because they are playing doubles. It's a state park people, have your doubles, but if you're taking every pad and forcing everyone else out of a PUBLIC park that MY TAXES help pay for, I get a little pissy. If it was monthly, it would be totally fine, weekly is ridiculous. You want to do a weekly tourney? Buy some land and put a course on it!

And for god's sake quit putting on baskets when other people are playing that basket!!!!!! There is a practice basket by the parking lot, quit using #10 to warm up on. I know you "warm up" than go +10 anyway so quit fooling yourself and let everyone play!!!!

Sorry for web jacking...
A little history lesson on the park...without Keith Shupp, Lance Redfern, and Bart ???...AND the sponsorship of Full Sail this park wouldn't exist. Full Sail paid for the baskets (not the state) and Keith donated them to the state. With all the hard work from a lot of people like myself and other people that live in the community...this park wouldn't be like this. Did you go out and play this weekend at Dabney??? If so you would have seen Keith, Lance, The Brit, Greg and Myself working the make the course very nice place to play.

Dabney Doubles has been going on Thursday nights since the disc golf park opened. I've been running it for 9 years now and it ran 4-5 yrs prior to that. So this is something that won't go away...sorry. I do feel bad for you coming out and you are not able to play...the park isn't closed down...anyone can play while the dubz are going on. True it maybe more full, but you have every right to play on the course. I will make a comment of this during pre-thursday tourney.

I do have a question...Is Thursday night you only night you can play Dabney? You are the first to make any comment that is negative in the 9 yrs of me running the dubz.

Kevin :cool2:

[robdillpdx]

How about realizing these doubles events are traditions that have been going on for YEARS and are played a lot of people. While these events might not line up perfectly with your schedule, there is always the option to play at one of the many other courses in town; courses that were probably installed by many of the very people you are bitching about.


Here's a quick guide to summertime leagues/doubles events

Monday: Lunchtime
Tuesday: Timber and Orchard Park
Wednesday: Pier
Thursday: Dabney
Friday: Holee smokes... a day all to yourself. Its inconceivable!

Thank you for the info, I will avoid these courses on these days. I will keep track of where you guys are playing and shuffle around to other places to avoid you. It's like I'm jewish and it's 1940, yes I'm calling you nazi's.

[sillybizz]

How about realizing these doubles events are traditions that have been going on for YEARS and are played a lot of people. While these events might not line up perfectly with your schedule, there is always the option to play at one of the many other courses in town; courses that were probably installed by many of the very people you are bitching about.


Here's a quick guide to summertime leagues/doubles events

Monday: Lunchtime
Tuesday: Timber and Orchard Park
Wednesday: Pier
Thursday: Dabney
Friday: Holee smokes... a day all to yourself. Its inconceivable!

Oh yeah, just let me bring up my calendar that automatically fills in new doubles tourney, and then directs me to the nearest course that's open for play. I don't care if it funds the baskets and pads, you put them on public property, you don't own them anymore, and shouldn't use them exclusively. Like I said, have your tourney, just don't take up the whole course to do it. Or go through the proper channels. If a park ranger tells me you have the course reserved, I'll respect that. I don't come out there on purpose while dubs is going on, just so I can bitch, but when you drive that far out of town, just to see 50 people putting on #10, it sucks. Now, of course, I know Thursday's are dubs @ Dabney. Won't show up then anymore, but you don't see anything wrong with an Oregon citizen not being able to use services at an Oregon state park? Even after buying the pass? And yes, TAXES paid for that park! TAXES pay for maintenance of that park (outside of volunteer efforts which I very much appreciate). Bottom line, this is a free country, and if I'm sitting at home on a Thursday and want to go play Dabney, I should be able to!

EXCUSE ME but what does this have to do with my thread? Take it somewhere else, make your own thread, whatever just please don't hijack mine. And by the way Robdillpdx, click on the link on the site that says "Calender" it will tell you all the events happening every week so you can figure out which courses are going to be having doubles or not.

[Kevin Madrid]

Thank you for the info, I will avoid these courses on these days. I will keep track of where you guys are playing and shuffle around to other places to avoid you. It's like I'm jewish and it's 1940, yes I'm calling you nazi's.

I'm Mexican!!!

:cool2:

[robdillpdx]

Sorry for web jacking...
A little history lesson on the park...without Keith Shupp, Lance Redfern, and Bart ???...AND the sponsorship of Full Sail this park wouldn't exist. Full Sail paid for the baskets (not the state) and Keith donated them to the state. With all the hard work from a lot of people like myself and other people that live in the community...this park wouldn't be like this. Did you go out and play this weekend at Dabney??? If so you would have seen Keith, Lance, The Brit, Greg and Myself working the make the course very nice place to play.

Dabney Doubles has been going on Thursday nights since the disc golf park opened. I've been running it for 9 years now and it ran 4-5 yrs prior to that. So this is something that won't go away...sorry. I do feel bad for you coming out and your not able to play...the park isn't closed down...anyone can play while the dubz are going on. True it maybe more full, but you have every right to play on the course. I will make a comment of this during pre-thursday tourney.

I do have a question...Is Thursday night you only night you can play Dabney? You are the first to make any comment that is negative in the 9 yrs of me running the dubz.

Kevin :cool2:

I think I'm just the first one to say it out loud. I know of half a dozen other people that complain about it too. Again the issue is not the dubs themselves, it's the fact you (obviously not you specifically) take the whole course, and putt on baskets that people are playing on. We we're actually told once last year that we were "idiots" for thinking we were gonna play the course, and this was the first dubs of the summer. And no, Thursday is not the only day I can play and will not show up, I want everyone to have a good time and great rounds! But that's just it, EVERYONE, please have that talk about letting other people play that are not involved in dubs. I really do appreciate all the work and funding that has gone into the park, but it's a park I want to enjoy too.

[Adam Schneider]

Rob has a point. The vast majority of disc golfers -- especially those who are NOT planning to play in a weekly tournament -- have no idea the calendar even exists. I always check the calendar before I go out, but if I didn't know about it, it'd be frustrating as hell to drive out there and find the course clogged up unexpectedly. If the people in the tournament are calling others "idiots" for not knowing about it, that is not cool.

[Scott]

Rob,

You bring up an excellent point. This should not be directed just at Dabney folks; I'm sure that your experiences are played out at every course in the area whenever there is a weekly event going on.

Other than choosing to play elsewhere, or playing in the weekly event itself, I don't know of an easy solution. Unfortunately, reserving the park on a weekly basis is cost prohibitive for events that typically charge $5.00 or less. Players tend to get frustrated at casual players (a generic term for those not playing in the tournament) because they tend to clog up the course (yes, I understand the irony).

Since the park is not reserved, you are well within your rights to play there during the weekly events. Not sure why you would want to; playing a casual round with 4 or more people on every hole would be less than enjoyable for me.

There's a field near my house that I like to go for practice throws. Once in a while I run across a group of people that meet there informally (park is not reserved) to play soccer or softball. Technically, I could still throw there. As a taxpayer, it's as much my park as it is theirs. But it just seems that my energies are better used elsewhere.

I run a weekly series at Orchard Park and every week we run into folks playing casually during the tournament. I make a point to go up to each one and politely explain what's going on, and invite them to come back and play with us the following week. I tell them that fi they're going to wait to throw at every hole, they might as well be having a good time! Last night, a casual player aced hole #5. I told him that if he had been playing with us, he would have won $124! I hope he comes back next week!

As many have suggested, simply finding another place to play is the easiest solution. But I'm not sure that it's the best. I encourage you to play in some of these series. Hopefully you will learn what many others have - that they are an inexpensive form of entertainment that is not only fun, but will help hone your game as well.

[robdillpdx]

Again, the issue is not the tourney's themselves. If they just showed up and played the course it would be no different than a busy Saturday, which is fine with me, but the way they take over all the pads, all at the same time really throws the 'casual' players round out of whack. I'm sure we can all get along out there, just wanted to let someone know that is a problem that needs addressing. Maybe post something big and readable on the board that Thursdays are a competitive setting at the course and beginners and casual players should avoid that evening, unless they would like to play of course. I don't want to rob you guys of a great time, it looks like you guys are having fun, but if it comes at the cost of ruining everyone else's rounds, that's where I have a problem with it. Like I said, I know now that Thursday's you guys will be there, and I won't come out, unless I try out the dubs, which I might (again nothing against the idea, just the execution), but there are a lot of people who don't know it exists.....I would hate for a first timer to give up on the game due to a doubles tourney interrupting their round.

[emmarose]

... i may be reading between the lines here incorrectly, robdill, but it sounds like someone was pretty rude to you (calling you an idiot instead of using kind words) and then seems like there's some pretty poor course etiquette being practiced (practice putting on greens that are actively being played on) and that that is actually what your gripe is here...

...disc golfers seem to me no different than the general population in that there are mostly truly excellent ones that just want to do good and help out and make people happy, and then there's some real prime jerks... i do my best whenever i find myself irritated by people on a course, just to keep a smile on my face and my tone light and friendly and explain what's going on... a tournament, whatever, sometimes even just the concept of waiting for the group in front of you to putt out instead of throwing on the green while they're still there or to give a "fore" or "heads up" when a disc gets close...

... okay, the point i'm trying to make here is that sometimes you have to give more than you get to get what you want... and also it's not the dubs that are buggin' you, it's the jerks... i think as a community we should try as much as we can to be friendly and approachable and informative to folks who are not in the know... not make them feel stupid and unwelcome... and you are totally correct in that no one has the right to tell you that you can't play unless the course has been rented and reserved...

peace and hope you are feeling better about this,
emmarose

[The Brodys]

Nicely put. ^^

[Chopper]

rob, next time you see 50 guys putting on your basket just yell:... HERE SHE COMES, wave the disc and throw like hell.

That is rude guys. I may understand if there wasn't a practice basket but there is. So please start using it. The TD should just not allow putting after group and hole assignments to allow other folks that may be on the course to finish their hole. My 2 cents

[REDFIVE]

Until now you(rob) were unaware. Now you have a bit more knowledge of how the disc golf community works. It might not have been a great first impression but the more you learn the better off you will be. The doubles are a chance not only to get together and raise some funds for courses and activities but to educate the newer golfers. This is what should have been done a warning about the event and then the option to decide for yourself whether you want to play or not. And for the putters on 10 just yell at them that you are coming in and throw at them. If they know you are coming they wont care. If they were aware and got hit, its their fault.
The doubles tourneys are a great way to get into competitive golf. I am sorry a few golfers had rubbed you the wrong way but I assure you the community is a good one. Don't let one bad experience give you a picture of the whole. I recommend checking out some doubles events. Not only are they fun but you will definately learn about the community and most likely improve your game. On behaf of the dabney dubs(which I have never attended) "I am sorry, I'll never do it again, please give me another chance."

[Ol' Bob]

This is an interesting issue. The guy could have just as easily swung off of I-5 while on a thousand miler because he was told not to miss Dabney. Is it that the weeklies have no flex for anyone's situation? That's something they should think about, huh?

[Joshua Olmsted]

Just out of curiosity, what's the etiquette and general format of one of these things?

Is it OK to just show up randomly?

Is it 'bad form' to show up and win an ace pot, if you don't plan on playing every week, or playing different locations different weeks?

Any required skill level?

I'd definitely consider coming out to play a few nights this summer- sounds like fun. Living far away + evening work, would mean pretty spotty attendance though...

It is absolutely okay to show up randomly (assuming you get there before sign-ups end.)

I don't think anyone would consider it bad form to show up and win an ace pot on your first try, if anything, I think people would see it as quite impressive.

At most doubles events I've been at, people are always supportive of all skill levels, as long as you understand the basic etiquette of the game and you're out there to learn and have a good time. I know Tuesday Two's is especially good for newer players because they're always paired with an experienced player for the event.

Small weekly events like Dabney dubs, Tuesday Two's and the Rockwood winter series were what turned me from a casual, once-a-month golfer into the absolutely addicted golfer I am now, it's also what turned me off from the ball golf scene and onto the DG community.

[sillybizz]

Small weekly events like Dabney dubs, Tuesday Two's and the Rockwood winter series were what turned me from a casual, once-a-month golfer into the absolutely addicted golfer I am now, it's also what turned me off from the ball golf scene and onto the DG community

This is exactly the type of thing I love to hear about, especially since I'm starting a new series at a new course.

[Scott]

I know Tuesday Two's is especially good for newer players because they're always paired with an experienced player for the event.

Mostly true. Tuesday Twos is an excellent place for both new and established players. We've had a great mix of both in the past as well as this season. However, we are not purposely pairing new and experienced players as we did last year. All pairings are completely random.

[Ol' Bob]

Well, as it appears to me, it's the innocent golfer, or three, maybe a third of the way into his/her/their round when a mob suddenly descends on multiple tees and maybe blows up someone's potential personal best. These people have paid to park at the park and, like the man said, have their taxpayer stake in the acreage. Does the organized twos just explain that it sucks for them?

Just asking.

[Hayduke]

I love weekly events. I normally play two or three. Casual golfers on the course may slow things down but we, as rabid competitive disc golfers have no right to affect, in any way, the activities of another person in a public park. If the course were reserved and the appropriate fee paid to the park system (presumably used to benefit all park users), then this changes things. I think it should be up to the event organizer to let people know to be courteous and patient with all park users. Let's adhere to basic courtesy in these matters. Nobody is righteous when basic human freedoms are being affected.

[emmarose]

I love weekly events. I normally play two or three. Casual golfers on the course may slow things down but we, as rabid competitive disc golfers have no right to affect, in any way, the activities of another person in a public park. If the course were reserved and the appropriate fee paid to the park system (presumably used to benefit all park users), then this changes things. I think it should be up to the event organizer to let people know to be courteous and patient with all park users. Let's adhere to basic courtesy in these matters. Nobody is righteous when basic human freedoms are being affected.

basic courtesy!?! shocking! brilliant! i love it! maybe we could start a revolution that everyone is just basically nice and kind and well intentioned... could it work? could we change the world?! please, lets try...

peace threw disc golf,
emmarose

["Over the Hill" Bob]

Well, as it appears to me, it's the innocent golfer, or three, maybe a third of the way into his/her/their round when a mob suddenly descends on multiple tees and maybe blows up someone's potential personal best. These people have paid to park at the park and, like the man said, have their taxpayer stake in the acreage. Does the organized twos just explain that it sucks for them?

Just asking.

It's a double edged sword, Bob! Yes, the "innocent" golfer or three may have the best round of their life shot down by a mob descending on the course. On the other hand one of the randomly matched pairs may not achieve that "doubles course record" because there are casual golfers on the course slowing things down. You are right too that those people have paid to park at the park and have their taxpayer stake in the acreage. The folks playing an organised weekly event also have paid to park and also have their taxpayer stake in the acreage.

What needs to happen is for everybody to realise and understand that we all have to share. {Learned from my days in kindergarten}

Bob

[robdillpdx]

Thanks to all for the input, just to make it clear, I in no way shape or form want doubles to go away, just please show some common courtesy. Could you imagine if someone started putting on your green on a golf course? You'd flip out! So please, inform the public of your tourney's, encourage them to come out and participate, but don't belittle them or exclude them from the sport for not joining in. First timers and beginners look up to people playing in tournaments. Please be good ambassadors for the sport! It's an awesome game and I look forward to it growing! Happy Hucking!

Rob

[Bruce]

I think most, if not all of us would agree with that Rob. Well written post!

[BlarneyStoner]

Dude... I would never go to Dabney during a weekly... and when I first starting playing I put myself in exactly these types of situations... that is, before I realized exactly how critical it was to my enjoyment of a round, to check Treelove's Calendar beforehand. That being said, if you drive out to Dabney (or anywhere else), and there's a weekly going on, and you can handle the four world champions in front of you taking ten minutes to line up every shot, then fucking play... and who gives a shit what anyone else says. You have as much right to Dabney on a Thursday as anyone else, on any day.

[emmarose]

this was a good discussion... and i'm glad it was brought up, and i think that a lot of the stuff said can pertain not just to weekly dubs events, but events and the sport in general. people aren't gonna know the deal unless someone tells them... and it's important to say things in a kind and respectful manner, otherwise they're going to feel put out and belittled and unwelcome... i would like to see this kind of communication put to work especially regarding etiquette on the golf course... i get it that this is not ball golf, and we are not country club members... but proper etiquette makes for a much more enjoyable game for everyone on the course... yes, yes i did just do my best to hijack this thread, robdill... and i'm not sorry! ;)

:cheers:

peace threw disc golf,
emmarose

[LakeStevensBA]

Excellent comments Emmarose! I agree completely. There are a lot of new people playing the sport and I'm guessing the vast majority don't know about this forum, let alone a calendar that shows where doubles are being held.

At our doubles event we finally put up a sign near the first hole saying that doubles are held every Monday evening and to expect slow play and a crowded course. We don't want to tell them they can't play, just that they may not want to play at that course at that time.

We also explain to the casual players why the course is so busy and invite them out for the next week. That's the plan anyway. We still get a few people that seem to be overly rude and impatient with the casual players. I politely slap those players until they see things the way I do.

[JMan]

I play Pier every Wednesday, have for 3+ years. We T at 4 and when the weekly starts we're walking off the course as the dubs teams are taking Ts. I understand your frustration and now you know; live and learn, monitor and adjust.

[emmarose]

Excellent comments Emmarose! I agree completely. There are a lot of new people playing the sport and I'm guessing the vast majority don't know about this forum, let alone a calendar that shows where doubles are being held.

At our doubles event we finally put up a sign near the first hole saying that doubles are held every Monday evening and to expect slow play and a crowded course. We don't want to tell them they can't play, just that they may not want to play at that course at that time.

We also explain to the casual players why the course is so busy and invite them out for the next week. That's the plan anyway. We still get a few people that seem to be overly rude and impatient with the casual players. I politely slap those players until they see things the way I do.


hahaha! ... i may have to give polite slapping a try... i like that idea.

... and it can be hard for me, too... i've been playing a long time and i don't always have a ton of patience for newbies... but i'll always remember an experience i had with a couple super rank amateurs at pier park... i'd seen them around a couple times before and noted to myself their complete lack of etiquette and basic understanding of the rules of the game... also that the lady could only throw like 25 feet at most... they were playing behind my father and i and kept catching up as the course was full of mobs and we were a couple of twoesomes... my dad finally offered for them to play with us and we ended up having a lovely time... and their joy at getting to play with more experienced golfers was so clearly presented on their faces and they were so vociferous in their thanks and gratitude... and by the end, the lady was throwing like 50 feet! it was a good lesson in what sharing knowledge and experience, and for god's sake not being such a snob (i'm a bit of a snob from time to time) can do for others and my ownself!

peace,
em

[Ol' Bob]

Geeziz, Em, don't teach any more women to throw farther than me!

[Aware]

So, just a random thought to all regularly involved in dubs (organizers and players)... Anyone ever bring their portable baskets out to set up for warm-ups before doubles start? Thinking this may encourage players from practicing on the course?

[Joshua Olmsted]

Mostly true. Tuesday Twos is an excellent place for both new and established players. We've had a great mix of both in the past as well as this season. However, we are not purposely pairing new and experienced players as we did last year. All pairings are completely random.

Sorry to put up some incorrect information, it's been a while since I've played the twos, but I'll be at my first one of the year this coming week.:D