Which Division?

Schoen-hopper · Post by **Schoen-hopper** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:32 am

Is there any rule on which division players are eligible to claim for KDGA status?

This wouldn't really matter, but the year end event now gives out prizes for amateur players. This seems a motivation for players to "move down" and clean it up.

A solution might not even be worth trying for as we want to grow the KDGA as much as possible with little conflict. It is known, however, that new memberships are usually acquired from amateur players. The only effective solution I have seen is the PDGA rating system, but of course this would not work for all KDGA players.

Just wanted to point out something... Does a player's official KDGA division status reflect the division of the first tourney they played this year? No. Does a player's division reflect the division of the majority of that player's tournaments throughout the entire year? Not necessarily. Does it mean anything other than the division they want to play for in the final event in November?

Schoen-hopper · Post by **Schoen-hopper** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:37 am

And what of changing division during the course of the year? Can it happen?

What about age protected divisions? If they sign up in the KDGA as Open, does that mean they can't play Masters in the match play if they are otherwise elegible?

Ruder · Post by **Ruder** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:10 am

Considering how points are calculated, I don't see any reason it would matter except at maybe the year end event.

smitty · Post by **smitty** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:34 pm

Mike I can see the point that you are trying to make.

Should a person sign-up as AM and play open events based on the comp.

This is something that we need to figure out. I think that people should play in their division.

This needs to be decided on soon, so people know where they stand.

Schoen-hopper · Post by **Schoen-hopper** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:16 am

Any new thoughts on this?

I agree that it should be the same division a player plays in throughout the year. Many players switch up though. Basically, the division officially listed means the division the player will play at the final, right?

Question... What is the incentive to move up? Match play is a difficult format to try to win a higher division (as opposed to skins). Advertise a higher purse for the pros?

Schoen-hopper · Post by **Schoen-hopper** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:16 pm

The money given out at the end of the year should be much bigger for pros than for ams. Plastic is almost as good as cash as it isn't that hard to sell or trade.

A different way to encourage players to enter the KDGA as pro would be to include a larger pro field at the end of the year. I may have been the biggest donator on the tour last year. I think I might just barely not make it in this year and if I do, it's pretty difficult to go toe to toe with the best. If I played am, however, as I do at PDGA events, I could easily qualify for the end of year and would probably be a contender for a lot of Mace Man bucks.

Where is the motivation to move up?

Master Dyck · Post by **Master Dyck** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:23 pm

Maybe there should be a Pro I and a Pro II division so that Newer pros would have a chance to cash and still be pro. It's hard for someone to join the pros and have to compete against a seasoned pro. It would be more of an incentive if they could play with pros more in their skill level. Maybe the same way that there is semi-pro football or in baseball. Just a thought. Maybe there are not enough disc golfers at this stage to make a large enough division.

Ring · Post by **Ring** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:46 pm

That is the way the run the tournament in Oklahoma called "The Mclellan Classic" Pro A, and Pro B divisions... Pretty sweet idea if ya ask me.

smitty · Post by **smitty** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:55 pm

Any player who can win in the Pro B divisioin, could win in the Pro A division on any given weekend.

_dm4 · Post by **_dm4** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:53 pm

Just play more disc golf in Nebraska. That's like a Pro II state!!!!

(let's see if NE one up north is reading this good stuff!!!)

Schoen-hopper · Post by **Schoen-hopper** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:11 pm

So is Oklahoma. 10 pros and 160 ams. Nobody wants to move up.

Master Dyck · Post by **Master Dyck** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:04 pm

I agree with you 100% Smitty, but that wasn't my point. Some ProII players will never win Pro II until some of them move up to Pro I. Some people want to play Pro only for the reason of playing with the Pros. They know that they will probably never win. And that's okay if they enjoy it and don't mind donating their money but if they want to play with their skill level and they are just too good for the ams then a Pro II division would suit them better and give them a better chance of cashing. And in my opinion, sometimes cashing is one good (psychological) way of improving your game. I know my game gets better the better I place and worse the worse I place. Anyone else experience this? Thats one of the reasons that I dropped down from open. My play seemed worse and I wasn't having fun playing anymore. Now, I'm placing higher, playing better and having more fun.

poopshoot · Post by **poopshoot** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:06 am

I don't see the point of a pro II division in KDGA events. If people want a chance at cashing, make them work for it. If they want an easy win, let them beat up on the ams. I seem to remember a young man named smitty moving up to pros back in the day even though he was pretty sure he would just be donating his cash. Looks to me like it has made him a better player in the long run.

smitty · Post by **smitty** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:31 pm

The only that you would ever have Pro 1 and Pro 2 would be if that was it.

No Open, Masters, and Grandmasters.

I just don't see a need for it. Look at Scooba Steve. He whoops up on the Advanced field, competes in the Open field.

I think that Pro 2 would just add to sandbagging in the Open division.

McCabe · Post by **McCabe** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:37 pm

smitty wrote:I think that Pro 2 would just add to sandbagging in the Open division.

I agree.