As a relatively new TD, I struggle with the Pro Payout strategies. For instance, If I payout 40%...those who just missed their first tournament pay get mad. If I payout 50%, then the top players complain about lack of take home pay. I have an idea I would love some feedback on. Say I have $1200 added pro cash. What if I take $1000 and payout 50% of the field. Than I take the other $200 and pay the winner only a bonus. Has anyone done this before?.....and would it be a feasable strategy?

I picked option 3. If you are going to offer pro divisions, get used to it. And never ask yourself why you are selling a loss leader product to ungrateful customers.

My rule of thumb when running / helping tournaments....

A Tiers are going to have more players there playing for a living / 2nd income and less "casual pros" theres due to the entry fee - I pay 40% in these tournaments.

C Tiers are not going to hardly any if not any players playing for income and a lot more casual and local pros - I pay 50% here.

B Tiers are kinda inbetween and mixed between the two - 45% here.

I guess it depends on which group you wish to attract over the life of the event. If the big names are important, payout a lower percentage. If the general crowd is more important, pay deeper.

I guess it depends on which group you wish to attract over the life of the event. If the big names are important, payout a lower percentage. If the general crowd is more important, pay deeper.



This is why i have only paid the top 35% for years. With the added money in the pro division, even last place wins more than they paid.

I guess it depends on which group you wish to attract over the life of the event. If the big names are important, payout a lower percentage. If the general crowd is more important, pay deeper.



This is why i have only paid the top 35% for years. With the added money in the pro division, even last place wins more than they paid.



I hope you don't do that now. All PDGA events must pay at least 40% now.

I guess it depends on which group you wish to attract over the life of the event. If the big names are important, payout a lower percentage. If the general crowd is more important, pay deeper.



This is why i have only paid the top 35% for years. With the added money in the pro division, even last place wins more than they paid.



I hope you don't do that now. All PDGA events must pay at least 40% now.



Must? I thought it was just a guideline. So if you have a 3 person field you must pay 2?

It is def.a must.

http://www.pdga.com/documents/td/07SanctionAgreement.pdf

2007 tour document - 7th thing down on the end of the application says the td "Agrees to pay 40% of the field per the 2007 PDGA tour pay toubles"

It is def.a must.

http://www.pdga.com/documents/td/07SanctionAgreement.pdf

2007 tour document - 7th thing down on the end of the application says the td "Agrees to pay 40% of the field per the 2007 PDGA tour pay toubles"




GHAY. So you would have to pay 2 people in a 3 person field? That is 66.7% payout.

Does the PDGA still require the TD to pay two players in a five player division if one is in for full and four are trophy-only? Because of stuff like that, we pretty much have to ignore the PDGA requirements at our tournaments and make up our own rules.

My rule of thumb when running / helping tournaments....

A Tiers are going to have more players there playing for a living / 2nd income and less "casual pros" theres due to the entry fee - I pay 40% in these tournaments.

C Tiers are not going to hardly any if not any players playing for income and a lot more casual and local pros - I pay 50% here.

B Tiers are kinda inbetween and mixed between the two - 45% here.


Isn't that kind of backwards? Shouldn't A-tiers and NTs pay deeper so that more of the people who are counting on disc golf cash to stay on the road (not many are "making a living", so don't fool yourself) can get some of it, and the smaller events should pay fewer due to less added cash so that 1st still wins something decent?

The way you have it structured you are paying fewer in the big events so that 1st place looks more impressive even though the payout supports fewer people, and you are paying out way deeper at the little events in order to hoodwink the gullible into accepting 47 cents in cash to turn pro and become a donator.

Interesting points Rhett.

The problem with our payout structure is how quickly it drops off.

Personally, all tournaments that I sanction will be C Tiers and I will always have a 50% payout.

Isn't that kind of backwards? Shouldn't A-tiers and NTs pay deeper so that more of the people who are counting on disc golf cash to stay on the road (not many are "making a living", so don't fool yourself) can get some of it, and the smaller events should pay fewer due to less added cash so that 1st still wins something decent?

The way you have it structured you are paying fewer in the big events so that 1st place looks more impressive even though the payout supports fewer people, and you are paying out way deeper at the little events in order to hoodwink the gullible into accepting 47 cents in cash to turn pro and become a donator.



I agree with Rhett. Entry fees are lower at 'C' and 'D' tier PDGA events and the payouts should not be as deep. Fewer Open players will whine that the payout was not 40% or 50% when the entry fee was only $25 or $30. Frankly, I think it's embarassing when the Open winner at a PDGA 'C' Tier tournament only wins $140, which happened recently at an event in March in my local region. And there were 19 golfers in Open!

'A' Tier and NT events should pay out flatter and deeper, imo. There are higher entry fees, bigger fields, more touring players, more added cash from sponsorship, and a higher level of competition. Local golfers who beat everyone but the touring pros and finish in the top 40% or 45% deserve to be paid. The difference between 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. at these events should not differ than more than a few hundred bucks. I always shake my head in wonder when I see that the Open winner beats 2nd place by a stroke and wins almost twice as much as 2nd place, and almost four times as much as third place who may have been another stroke back. That's just wrong.

It is def.a must.

http://www.pdga.com/documents/td/07SanctionAgreement.pdf

2007 tour document - 7th thing down on the end of the application says the td "Agrees to pay 40% of the field per the 2007 PDGA tour pay toubles"



yes, I was shown that a few month ago. I was/am not happy about it. I did email Mr. gentry about it to conferm, but have not read this years TD agreement.

i thought about running a nonpdga event for about a minute. But my tournament is one of the biggest in the state of Texas, and I have to keep that reputation going.

So on that note, i will prolly follow the TD agreement this year, afterall, i already have $3k for the tournament this year.