Playing as Amateur in DDGA-sanctioned tournament but....??

[DeafDiscGolfer]

Are you really "Amateur" or "Open" in DDGA-sanctioned tournament?

Just wanted to bring the issues to the table for us to discuss.

How can we prevent "sandbaggers" from taking advantage of their winnings from lesser-skilled players?

We can able to identify the player's names between AM and Open divisions from the DDGA-sanctioned tournament results.

We know and understand that at all DDGA-sanctioned tournaments, there are NO cash payouts for AM players at all in order for the AM player to keep their status until the Nationals and Year-End Points where they can have the chance to capture the AM National & AM Points titles before moving up to the Open division.

The AM players CAN play in Open division at any local DDGA-sanctioned tournaments BUT they only need to REJECT cash payout and exchange for "funny" money or merchandises of equal values.

But what about those players who only played once in a while few years ago, happens to sign up for Open division and won couple bucks but stopped playing for long while. Came back to play again as AM player for the Nationals.

Is that allowed??

Throw your votes and thoughts here!!

I'll call this an open committee to anyone.

(Hint: Must be Active DDGA member to earn DDGA points! Renew your membership!)

[Snap]

Yikes, this is a toughie... Some tournaments will not have enough in one division for open or ams and "force" all to play in one division, which will be open since can't have am by itself without open without planning ahead. Some regions of America have smaller competition than others and might pose alot of issues to the am-open concept. But sure a good idea to discuss to reduce "sandbagging". Only guaranteed criteria I can think of is that the current am champ cannot play ams again unless they show that their skills have not improved and could get "killed" in open. This would be the Kevin Harrer example. Champ in 2008 but showed he did not have the skills to win ams again and would not do well in Open with the heavier competition in 2009 as compared to 2008. Those who place 2nd-3rd in ams should have at least one more chance for the championship before moving to open. But that just my opinion...

[DiscinFrog]

I myself have issues with "sandbaggin"

I know I am am level, but have won quite a few am tournies back in the day..

People expect me play open because of my experince, I have good days and bad days..on my best day I would probally barely make it top 4 in open divison..

Is it worth for me play open in nationals?

[Disclover]

You could use Top 3 Win AM level 5 times in 2 years to be considered ready for Open.

I used to do Mt bike racing and they used that system for Top 5 wins 5 times to move up each division.

That's just suggestion but please feel free to discuss more of my idea or something else. 

[DeafDiscGolfer]

Interesting...that's good suggestion.

Keep on coming!!

 

[DiscinFrog]

Still no clear answer on this topic..

Just fyi..

Hearing tournaments, I will play rec div..

Local deaf tournaments.. Will play open div..

National tournament, will play adv div..

Disclover- since I first play discgolf.. Have won about 8 am tourney.. no open tourney wins, but have cashed in small open tourney.. I still consider myself amatuer with lots of luck..since I don't play much as used to..

Only played 4 tournaments last year 2009..
 
Ace race doubles (am/pro) - tied 1st ( 24 teams)

Kentucky Bluegrass Am divison champ (5 people?)

Ilo9 nationals am level 6th?
(22 ams?)

Ccc09 8th in rec div (26 recs)

I still consider myself am.. Lol

I wonder mean if I was to go vt10 and want play am level.. They will say no?   

I doubt it..

I won bluegrass am champ, they expect me move to open.. Must I? I know I won't champ for open, but ams? It will be hard challenge to repeat.. Can I? Who knows If will be given a chance. Maybe more and better people come and play, more challenge for me in am divison.. Never know!

I have over 20 top 3 placing last 11 years of discgolf tournaments.. Yet I don't feel ready to play open divison at nationals..

Me serious discgolf, play everyday and etc.. Oh yeah I be in open div for nationals..

I just wonder what is the stand on casual players who don't play much?

I will only attend 4 disc tournament so far for sure this year..

Pdga -Motherlode - rec
Deaf -Bluegrass - open
Deaf -Notus 111 - open
Pdga -CCC2010 - rec
 
Me sandbagger?  LoL!

[DeafaLiEnDisc]

 Hey Discinfrog...

  your situation is almost same as mine. But in some area you might do good as what it looks.

 In the local Deaf tournaments. I am playing as for Open. In the past I did got some in top 3 results. But I called myself as Amateurs for Deaf Nationals. Reason I often got beaten by outside of New England Deaf players, when they come and playing here in our Deaf tournaments. I did attended to first 3 National in Colorado, Wrightwood California, and Augusta SC/GA. I was in Amateurs as almost in the last place.  But that was pretty long time ago. I might be better by now or not. My another excuse is on ski level heights course not my type things, due to living on flat land almost all of my life I was from Florida..     So the point is that I just learned something new about playing in local DDGA sanctions as I will playing in Open, and if I end up in few top result, with the cash winning range and I will deny it and ask for funny money instead, So I can continue to playing for the Amateurs in the National. If the tournament is not DDGA sanctions then I will accept the cash. 

[DeafDiscGolfer]

So the point is that I just learned something new about playing in local DDGA sanctions as I will playing in Open, and if I end up in few top result, with the cash winning range and I will deny it and ask for funny money instead, So I can continue to playing for the Amateurs in the National. If the tournament is not DDGA sanctions then I will accept the cash. 

Exactly...that's acceptable in DDGA's eyes...well said Shayan!

Now, the big question remains...When its time for the AM player to move up to Open division??

Should DDGA allow AM player to be in top 2 in AM division for the last couple years? Say within 4 years?

Should he/she be moved up to Open to allow other AM players to have their chances to be in the top 3's?

Your thoughts Deaf Disc Golfers??