New Players

[Riddler]

I notice we keep having new player messages. Are these players actually buying the game? I know they must join PGLS to download the courses but are very many actually playing on the tours? Sure this has been discussed before but was just looking for an update.

[Mwh65]

I would say a majority of new players are joining just to download the courses. Only a handful actually provide their Steam ID so they can take part in the PGLS tournies.

[Golferdee]

I would say a majority of new players are joining just to download the courses. Only a handful actually provide their Steam ID so they can take part in the PGLS tournies.

Guess they just don't know what a great set of tournaments they are missing out on.

[mwalimu]

One change that I think would be helpful for attracting some of these new players to PGLS would be to have the time window when they are allowed to select their player level be based on when they begin participating in PGLS tournaments instead of when they register on PGLS. That would avoid having them run into the situation I did. I stuck it out, but many others if faced with the same situation would just say "screw it", leave the site and never come back.

[Mwh65]

By default players are set at the "Pro" level when they join. The Private Message they receive, amongst other things, states this is changeable before they start playing, usually down a level but not always.

Even if players stay at Pro the monthly Tier Movements will soon move players down but they have to request the move. However players going up a level are automatically moved up.

[mwalimu]

By default players are set at the "Pro" level when they join. The Private Message they receive, amongst other things, states this is changeable before they start playing, usually down a level but not always.

Even if players stay at Pro the monthly Tier Movements will soon move players down but they have to request the move. However players going up a level are automatically moved up.

How long is that option to get it changed available to them? I was told it wasn't available to me when I started playing and asked to get downgraded to Amateur.

What I'm suggesting is that if they have, say, 30 days to request a level change, then their 30 day window should start the first time they participate in a PGLS activity, no matter how long before that they registered for the site. Whether they registered yesterday, six months ago, or three years ago, as long as they've never played in a PGLS event their window of opportunity to request a level change shouldn't start until the first time they want to play in a PGLS event.

[Mwh65]

This is the Private Message that's sent out to all players when they provide their Steam ID ...

Hi and welcome to PGLS,

I have taken a look at your profile and have made an adjustment to include your Steam ID. Please check that I have added the correct Steam ID. If it is incorrect please let me know by replying to this PM.

Your level of play to begin with as for all players on PGLS defaults to Pro. Your in-game default player should be set at this level.

This is a level which may provide a lot of challenge for you to score on, but don't worry if your scores are not good as we constantly assess how you are playing and will adjust and place you within a skill level which provides the best competition for you, be that lower or higher than Pro.

As a new player to PGLS you can change this if you feel it isn't correct by replying to this PM. Your new level is subject to PGLS making a decision in future to place you at a level which ensures a competitive competition.

To record your scores at PGLS, you will need to assure that your in-game default player is set at the level of play that PGLS assesses for you.

If you take a look at the PGLS Participation area -

http://pgls.golfladders.co.uk/forums/ucp.php?i=207

you will see a place to decide to compete in both Ladder matches and Tourney Competitions. Select YES against the ladder or tourney events you would like to take part in and finally click "Submit" at the bottom of the page.

Each of our tournies are further explained on the "Taking Part" page ...

pgls_intro.php

You can then find the PGLS events you've chosen to take part in each week within the game, via the TOURNAMENTS - PUBLIC option.

I hope you have a great time playing with us, and hopefully meeting many of the members.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

If the player in question has started playing tournies at the "Pro" level, just joined and is struggling to cope with it, that player can ask for a level change, which will take affect on the next Thursday at 11:15pm GMT/BST. If that player hasn't started playing tournies the change is made immediately. We know when a player has joined and started playing tournies but we don't have a set time before a player can't make the change down a level as not everyone starts to take part straight away.

[mwalimu]

All I know is that when I began playing in PGLS tournaments I requested a downgrade to Amateur and was denied. The way I'm reading that note it should have been allowed (unfortunately I no longer have the original PM). If we're trying to encourage new PG players to get involved in PGLS tournaments, we shouldn't be doing this.

[Mwh65]

I've no idea why you were denied. Do you still have the PM denying your request?

As the PM above shows we don't deny anyone a downward level change if they have just joined PGLS.

[mwalimu]

Here's a cut-and-paste from my message history.

Sent: Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:32 am
by Mwh65
Hi,

Players can only move down a PGLS Level if the monthly Player Tier movements allows you to do so ...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6005

A new one is due soon so check for your name.
PGLS Level

Sent: Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:50 pm
by mwalimu
Can you please set my PGLS Level to Amateur?

On further discussion, I was told that the issue was that I had registered for PGLS more than a year before, and it didn't matter that I had never actually played in a PGLS event until then. In this thread what I've been suggesting is that it be based on when they're ready to begin participating in events, regardless of how long before that they registered for access to the site, so others don't have the same experience I did.