Pair-ups

[davefv92c]

Dave yes indeed, if new players never read these posts, it might as well be in an echo chamber for us posting concerns. Some of these tourneys just need to be tossed into a flaming pile of dog crap and never be seen again. (hint, hint: Tough Stuff) For those making decisions, and creating tourneys, consider settings that make the game enjoyable and not ridiculous. The game settings for the tourney sets the tone on whether someone will play or not. If veteran players don't find it challenging enough, and if the intent is to spark interest with new players, then don't participate. Or perhaps, just play it, and make that ridiculously low score that you covet so much. At least then the conditions will make the game a bit more enjoyable. You (tourney creator) think that going from a stimp 8 hard/soft in one round to the next round of say a 13 hard/hard makes it enjoyable? No, it just makes you sadist. Try to think about the new player for the first time playing in a tourney getting absolutely frustrated and never finishing. Yes, you just lost a potential long-term player.
However, the game is showing signs of losing interest altogether, and new players only arrive when this game is on sale (currently at 34.99) too much for something this old. Let's face it, there are too many hurdles to climb with this concern. If the admins want to kill it (pairs tourney) for lack of participation, so be it. The time and effort they put in to keep us entertained is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

good post I agree with about everything you posted

[Riddler]

Setting conditions and appeasing everyone is just impossible. I try and change things up so, at least, there is some fun experienced even when you get frustrated. One of the reasons I started the Trifecta Tour was so new players could have a chance to practice without crazy conditions and seasoned players could play for low scores and some challenges. The Caddyshack Tour has now also gone to some of these conditions and their numbers are up. Stableford has struggled lately so trying to change T's, like this coming week with no Championship T's used and Lady T's used twice. PGA18, which I took over late this year has only used a 100 plus courses in the last 5 years so next year we will have 52 weeks of courses never used on the PGA 18 tour. I try not to duplicate any courses as long as they fit the tour I am setting and next year Stableford, Survivor and PGA 9 (Dunc sets) will all be using courses not used in the last 3 years. The PairUp 9 tour has been steady with 10 to 15 pairs playing weekly. Many times, the scores are very close because we have some excellent pair groups. Degree of difficulty is based on the MOP with Alt-Shot getting the easiest and Scramble the hardest. I don't think the lack of participation is due to conditions, but it is because it is very hard to find two players who have the same schedules. I am always open to any suggestions and I am sure Mark is open if anyone has a suggestion for a new Tournament.

[WTFRU115]

Re: Riddler, my apologies for coming across in a critical manner. It was by no means a slam directed upon you specifically. Maybe I left out a point in my post regarding the settings of tourney's. It was not meant for strictly the pairs, but that would include all tourney's. I was exaggerating a bit stating stimp settings that are drastic from rd to rd, but to just make a point not in any one incidence from the past. The line you stated about 10-15 pairs playing weekly, well heck what's the concern? that's 20-30 players when you break it down to individuals. One would not see those numbers in at least a quarter of the current line-up of tourney's. That said, if you want to gain interest in the game and PGLS tournaments think about the new players as much as possible.
Cheers,
John

[NIBNOB]

Pair-up 9 should remain a 9 hole event, playing 18(72) holes of Scramble would be mind numbingly boring.......if it went to just Alt format only (the only true test of pairs) then 18(72) holes is fine.....

D-pairs would be good as a 18 holer.....as its just 1 round a weekish......

I like the posts about keeping things easier for newer teams but when its only the same teams playing week after week then making it more of a challenge is the right move.... I think setters have the balance just about right...imho

Lets see if this new forum bring in some new players, maybe the setters can take it easy for a few weeks....

Can we have a Ryder Cup like event every Quarter say?.....i do like those....cheeky request...

[JMK59]

Mark (NIB),

I agree with you that the PairUp9 is just about perfect the way it is now, at 9 hole rounds every 5 days.
The singles Division seems to be going strong with 7 divisions of 15 players. Playing 9 holes every 5 days seems to work great. Don't change it.
Also agree that the Divisions Pairs could be improved if it went to an 18 hole, Alt-shot only format. These two simple changes would be a good start.

I'm working on a possible new format that combines the Division Pairs and the Pairs Cup formats into something that would resemble the old ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf tournament (team play). Two weeks of round robin group matches, then two weeks of basically team KO alt shot. I'm hoping the shorter Alt-shot format will promoted more head-to-head play amongst the teams.

When I have the details worked out, I'll present it to the boss (Mark H). We kind of used the above format during the PGLS Tour's Dell Match play event that I put on as a side project this year. viewtopic.php?t=6406

[davefv92c]

John, I really doubt you will ever get this guy to do tourneys believe me I was on chat with the fella for a couple of months
he is one of those players who only comes to the game for the MP I really doubt the guy can play many rounds solo in other words he is one of these guys that has to have others to make his world go round. he has mental issues and is not scared to tell people about them and his reluctance to keep on his meds. also, I am a pattern person after managing rental property for 25 yrs it came in as a plus as knowing what your tenants are up to. if you have ever noticed he only comes on about once a week and he stays on anywhere from 24 to 48 hours straight can you say bi polar,lol along with other issues he discussed with me. my biggest problem with him was I had a couple of the women who play this game using that old chat room and the guy could not even stop himself from using the word Fuc* even when asked by the women. the fella was just a classless drunk, you all have been warned. you know I am far from a prude but when around 60/70 yr old women I know better than dropping the f-bomb in every other few words but he does not, not even when asked.

[JMK59]

Dave - not my intention to have him play here. He has his own playground. Best if he stays there.

[davefv92c]

Dave - not my intention to have him play here. He has his own playground. Best if he stays there.

No issue John I just didn't want others to think I was some kind of ahole, hell I came up during the acid days and have been nothing
more than a damn hippy biker my whole life,lol to play with the guy using the ingame type chat is good. but to get him live on voice chat is another
even more so when you use open chat instead of headset. as for his ability to play it is pretty good, I tried to teach him a lot of what I knew when he first got on,lol like I have said in an earlier post if the guy would stay on his meds and leave the booze alone he would probably be a real nice fella.
I am a medical weed user and I tried to tell if you got to do some mind-altering use the weed at least you won't wake up the next day wondering what you did the night before.lol and I have also found out that while playing and using the voice chat I have a hard time playing with others that all they want to talk about is drinking and how drunk they are that is a big personal problem of my own and I do realize it. I have not had a drink since 1989
got tired of getting locked up for the stupid shit I would do while drunk which was all the time back in those years.
just thought I would explain myself a bit.

[JMK59]

All good Dave.

I've started to play 2v2 alt shot with Ledsvik and another guy with health issues (falls asleep during matches). It's like my own personal game of Hazards golf, with Bobcat Goldthwait as the voice over.

We should get back to the main topic - pairups and finding teammates.

[ledsvik]

Love you guys too...