Teeing Up Solutions: How Tournament Directors Can Manage High Demand

The recent boom in disc golf has led to an unprecedented demand for PDGA-sanctioned tournaments. As a result, many event organizers are facing the challenge of managing large numbers of players while trying to maintain a high level of competition quality. However, there are several options available to tournament directors that can help them accommodate more players and make their events run smoothly.

One solution is to use tee times, which allow for up to 144 players or more to compete on a single course in a single day. This is particularly useful for C-Tier events, which have no distance requirement between events and can be held in the same town or neighboring towns. To implement tee times, directors can assign start times using Tournament Manager or Tournament Central ahead of the tournament.

Another approach is to host split events, where different divisions are offered on separate days. This allows for a more focused competition format, as well as increased playing opportunities for players. For example, Saturday could be limited to professional and advanced divisions while Sunday is designated for amateur fields. Each day can have its own registration page and TD report.

Tournament directors can also coordinate with other directors in their region to create a schedule that increases playing opportunities without causing scheduling conflicts. This might involve hosting different events on separate weekends or allowing multiple C-Tier events to be held in the same town. By working together, directors can provide more options for players while maintaining a smooth and efficient event management system.

Flex starts are another option for managing high demand. These allow players to register and play their rounds at designated times, providing flexibility for both directors and competitors. Directors should designate a last card out time to ensure that players have enough time to complete their round before dark, and encourage early registration to avoid congestion near the end of the day.

Ultimately, managing high demand in disc golf tournaments requires creativity and collaboration. By exploring these innovative solutions and working together with other event organizers, directors can provide more opportunities for players while maintaining a high level of competition quality.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/project-td-fast-filling-events