Running a Big Tournament - Here's Why You Should NOT Sanction

[Sam]

It is clear that the PDGA does not take its members very seriously or they would have long-ago addressed the issues with their absolutely horrible website. They have spent boatloads of money on their International Disc Golf Center - a place many of us might never get to visit - and seem to have shunned their website - effectively making it a place that many of us might never BE ABLE to visit.

Until the PDGA can figure out how to provide a working website, I encourage all TDs everywhere to use different means for sign-ups, insurance, etc. I know that I will be running a fairly large tournament in October and have decided not to use the PDGA for this very reason. The $300-500 they would have gotten from my work will now be going back to the players in the form of payout and schwag.

Maybe next year it will be sanctioned... if they decide to finally do something about their website. I will not be holding my breath as we have been forced to deal with this site for far too long.

[Skookum]

I will say it is painfully slow. I was trying to update scores between rounds on Saturday and just flat couldn't do, kept timing out and resetting my upload. Had to wait nearly 3 hours after the round finished until the site finally took the upload. I did everything I could to have a system that would allow me post scores during lunch for the first round, trying to provide as high a quality PDGA tournament experience as we could and everything worked perfect except the last step, the website. Frustrating to say the least, forget the money involved, the extra time and paperwork on the admin side to be sanctioned is significant and one of only things I wanted back in return (other than insurance obviously) was ratings.

Not at a point yet to give up on sanctioning but do agree that something should done to improve the web experience. Maybe a separate site for tournament stuff or at least lease some Amazon servers for NT weekends to cover the traffic influx.

[Bullseye]

I will say it is painfully slow. I was trying to update scores between rounds on Saturday and just flat couldn't do, kept timing out and resetting my upload. Had to wait nearly 3 hours after the round finished until the site finally took the upload. I did everything I could to have a system that would allow me post scores during lunch for the first round, trying to provide as high a quality PDGA tournament experience as we could and everything worked perfect except the last step, the website. Frustrating to say the least, forget the money involved, the extra time and paperwork on the admin side to sanctioned is significant and one of only things I wanted back in return (other than insurance obviously) was ratings.

Not at a point yet to give up on sanctioning but do agree that something should done to improve the web experience. Maybe a separate site for tournament stuff or at least lease some Amazon servers for NT weekend to cover traffic influx.

Well put.

I voiced my concerns on the PDGA thread (http://www.pdga.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=35842) on this subject as well...

[Lund]

Well put.

I voiced my concerns on the PDGA thread (http://www.pdga.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=35842) on this subject as well...

I will read your thoughts there in a few hours when (if) the site finishes loading on my computer.

[Bullseye]

I will read your thoughts there in a few hours when (if) the site finishes loading on my computer.

Heh. Roger that!

[Flatroc]

It is clear that the PDGA does not take its members very seriously or they would have long-ago addressed the issues with their absolutely horrible website. They have spent boatloads of money on their International Disc Golf Center - a place many of us might never get to visit - and seem to have shunned their website - effectively making it a place that many of us might never BE ABLE to visit.

Until the PDGA can figure out how to provide a working website, I encourage all TDs everywhere to use different means for sign-ups, insurance, etc. I know that I will be running a fairly large tournament in October and have decided not to use the PDGA for this very reason. The $300-500 they would have gotten from my work will now be going back to the players in the form of payout and schwag.

Maybe next year it will be sanctioned... if they decide to finally do something about their website. I will not be holding my breath as we have been forced to deal with this site for far too long.

Hello SLAM BAM, you rebel you.
I somewhat disagree with part of your post there hombre.
Bigger sanctioned gigs could possibly earn the PDGA a wee bit more than $500. :biggrin2:
Another "Why You Should NOT" might be the keg of good beer on tee #7 at the Whistlers dubs this year. Oh wait....... you weren't there huh? :chug:
Seriously, for whatever reasons, I think it's important to have a good mix of sanctioned and non's.
IMO, it helps bring different crowds together. :cheers:
Gudt luck with your gig!

[Flash]

Yose,

Sam has a point, the problem is there is no competition. Sure we hire members to run our organization but still the same old problems that we face year in and year out plague us. The fact that our organization website is not stable day to day is a serious issue.

If another organization was to come along and offer insurance and historical tracking with a website that was bullet proof then you had better believe the PDGA would take notice. I am just saying....

[Rebecca]

The PDGA is ready to launch a new website. They chose not to do this because of the AM and Pro Worlds and risking everything crashing.

They know the issues and they are getting them worked out so please be patient.

Sam- I know you're frustrated but I don't agree with telling people they shouldn't sanction their tournaments.

They're building it faster,stronger............

[Scott]

Rebecca - what is the ETA on the new site? I keep hearing "soon", but what does that mean?

[JMan]

At our age Scott, soon = a decade or so...

[Scott]

That's what I was afraid of.

[Rebecca]

The ETA is in the next couple of months. They are making the website very user friendly especially the TD's.

I can't go in all the details but if everything goes according to plan--we won't have to wait for the site to load. :)

They are just really working on making it great instead of lauching a website that they are going to get more complaints about.

Although, this is not my area----I, too wanted to know. I just wanted to share what I could.

[Flatroc]

Yose,

Sam has a point, the problem is there is no competition. Sure we hire members to run our organization but still the same old problems that we face year in and year out plague us. The fact that our organization website is not stable day to day is a serious issue.

If another organization was to come along and offer insurance and historical tracking with a website that was bullet proof then you had better believe the PDGA would take notice. I am just saying....

I truly understand and agree that an organization of this size and revenue should have a reliable website.
I also feel that we as members should voice our opinions on issues and take actions when these issues are not (in OUR opinions) handled correctly. It's obvious to me that a lot of folks are getting tired of the reasons and excuses why there isn't a top of the line website.
Yoseman
4438
PDGA member since 1988

[Sam]

The PDGA is ready to launch a new website. They chose not to do this because of the AM and Pro Worlds and risking everything crashing.

They know the issues and they are getting them worked out so please be patient.

Have heard this for a long time....

Sam- I know you're frustrated but I don't agree with telling people they shouldn't sanction their tournaments.

No... I imagine you wouldn't. That said, I will continue to do so - and even stop encouraging people to JOIN the PDGA - until the face of the PDGA is fixed.

Thanks.

[Rebecca]

Have heard this for a long time....



No... I imagine you wouldn't. That said, I will continue to do so - and even stop encouraging people to JOIN the PDGA - until the face of the PDGA is fixed.

Thanks.

We will have to agree to disagree but I still love ya Sam:)

[Sam]

And I love you back, woman! In bunches!

I am really encouraged that you are joining the BOD and hope that these things will be resolved. It's just been such a long time that we have had to deal with this website that it is beyond frustrating.

[loki]

I hear they got the guys who built odsa to put the finishing touches on the website.

[sillybizz]

I hear they got the guys who built odsa to put the finishing touches on the website.

:bowing:

[Adam Schneider]

ODSA's current "whois" info:

Registrant:
Mirpuri, Rishi
Suite B7, 7/F Hankow Centre
4A Ashley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
HK

Domain Name: ODSA.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Mirpuri, Rishi
Suite B7, 7/F Hankow Centre
4A Ashley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
HK
+85223011239

[Sam]

Jerry sold to the Chinese?! THE CHINESE?!

[captain jack]

I hear they got the guys who built odsa to put the finishing touches on the website.

Nice.

[Fridgecat]

Jerry sold to the Chinese?! THE CHINESE?!

Don't worry Sam, your rating will still be 九百五十
:wink2:

[Adam Schneider]

Don't worry Sam, your rating will still be 九百五十
Not 沙裝袋?

[Scott]

I'm guessing he just let the domain expire and it was bought by a domain wholesaler.

[Adam Schneider]

domain wholesaler.
Is that a polite term for "squatter"?

[Scott]

yes. That term escaped me when I was posting that. Squatter is much more appropriate.