PGLS

When you start playing Perfect Golf the game allows for you to start as simple as possible. In Beginner mode you have help with putting. In Hacker mode you are able to slice or hook without too much damage done and so it continues upwards until you finally reach your pinnacle in the game by becoming a Tour Pro.

This pattern should be easily spotted once you join one of the many Tournaments. As players grow in confidence you will spot this because the player will be climbing up the leaderboard. It's vital though that when any player consistently shows that he is scoring better than players in the next level up to the one he's in that he then moves up a level.

It is clear that for some time that has not been happening. Amateur players have been consistently oustripping players 2 levels above them. The same can be said for players who are under playing there level and need to step down.

Whenever you move out of your comfort zone it will take some time to get back to the type of scores that you were making in your previous level so it is vital that you give yourself time to grow. In the past when players move up they have tried a few tourneys and if it's not good they ask to be moved down again, this is not good as you need at least 3 months to acclimatise.

Now that we have included handicaps in the process it's even more important that players are in the correct level for their standard of game. We have a player at the moment who has been struggling to score well at amateur and has built a high handicap for himself he was given the opportunity to move down to Hacker but instead requested a move up to pro which clearly he struggles at because his handicap has gone up considerably which makes him unplayable. This should and I hope will be stopped soon by moving him down to a level he can cope with.

I make a plea to all players if you see that your game and scores are consistently above players in levels of play above you consider making the move up to an higher or lower level when you are struggling. That way scores will level out and players who are growing in confidence will be given more opportunities to improve and take the spotlight. Failing to do this will just see the same players month after month leading their level.

Amen.

in my humble opinion all levels should be set by your score average and have no input by the player themselves. you can only change level if your average allows and not out of choice.

Well said Terry!

terbal wrote: Fri Feb 01, 2019 4:31 pm in my humble opinion all levels should be set by your score average and have no input by the player themselves. you can only change level if your average allows and not out of choice.

I totally agree with this, the only factor that should determine a players level is his/ her scores, and to combat players who have moved up and post high scores to get moved back down ( sandbagging ) I would have a 3 month minimum period on the new level so the player can get used to the change then re assess the player then.

Had more thoughts on this point of averages determining level of play.

If you have a run of easier setups/courses and everyone shoots low...going to end up with a lot of Tour Pros! You can't have moving average thresholds as these need to be in place before the month starts imho.

Of course, the opposite could occur and suddenly there's a lot of Amateurs.

There is a solution out there...

I play for fun and don't really want to work at it after 10 hours of regular work. What that means for me is that I just like to use overhead to aim. It probably sounds lazy and i am OK with that if it does. I am not sure I would keep playing tournies if I was forced to playing as a tour pro. I dunno, maybe I would??? Who knows. I feel like maybe I am in the minority on this, but I felt I would share it anyway.

PG is something I do to relax and have fun, the lack of overhead aim makes it harder to have fun. For December, I was forced into playing it for a month so I know I could make the transition if I wanted to. i just don't want to. Maybe I will later (if forced back) or maybe I will just play pickup games. I get that there is no way to please everyone <shrug>

I can well understand your position JSpirate, I'm now retired and due to poor health unable to play real golf. For me the game is good for keeping my mind active and alert, trying to plan my next move to stay out of trouble. I enjoy playing 3 click but my reflexes are not as good as i'd like but I try to give a good game. I'm always happy after playing if to level par or even better a few shots under level each round and good it I sit amongst the pack of players at my own level. But its demotivating when I spot perhaps 6 or 7 players way above nestling sometimes above pros and even tour pros and they say to me, "I enjoy doing well but fear that moving up would spoil the game".
I hope before I eventually hang my clubs up for good to be able to be in the position of moving up to Pro level and I wont wait for the time when I can score -15, 12 or even 10 shots every round to do it.
Come on guys you know who you are if your able to beat Pros or Even TPs take the plunge, try the extra challenge. Yes it will be tough for a while but you will get back up to the dizzy heights again I'm sure but one thing is certain you will encourage others to take your place at the at the top of the lvl you now hold.

if you want those guys who you think should be playing at a higher level Paul then the score average to change levels should be raised. encouraging people to go up a level without having the average to do that just boosts their handicap. handicaps should have a limit for each level.