As a spectator myself at a recent tournament I heard a player and his girlfriend(?) get into a loud verbal argument/fight during play from about 200 feet and a couple of holes away through the woods. With other members of the group about to drop out of the event because of this continuing domestic squabble making it difficult to play she was encouraged to �wait in the car� and left only to return shortly and though quiet still managed to make it uncomfortable for everyone in the group for the rest of the round. I witnessed her sulking and resulting general bad vibe in the group as I watched about 30 minutes later.

If she was a caddie then a Courtesy violation could be called on the player but what can be done about a �spectator�? Obviously the guy involved should have done something but what if he doesn�t? As a TD or Official what can be done about a spectator?

As a Tournament Director that has the course reserved for the event, you can remove anyone from the area that doesn't want to get along. In the interest of the rest of the field, ask the offender politely to leave or wait somewhere else.

So the TD can run a citizen out of a public park?
I don't think so. At least not without contacting the park police etc. and having them intervene.

If a Club/individual has paid the fee to have the area reserved, they/he gets to say who may stay and who has to go. Anyone who respects the rest of the group should have no problems getting to stay. But you are correct, they will probably need to contact the local authorities to cover their bases.

So the TD can run a citizen out of a public park?
I don't think so. At least not without contacting the park police etc. and having them intervene.



The easiest thing to do is to contact the park security, whoever that is. This takes the pressure off the TD.

I have encountered people picnicing in the middle of a fairway, clueless to disc golf. If I ask them to move and they get nasty, I don't try and reason with them, I just call security. That's what they're there for.

801.01 Courtesy
"B. Players should take care not to produce any distracting noises or any potential visual distractions for other players who are throwing. Examples of discourteous actions are: shouting, cursing, freestyling, slapping course equipment, throwing out of turn, throwing or kicking golf bags, throwing minis, and advancing on the fairway beyond the away player. Shouting at an appropriate time to warn someone in danger of being struck by a disc is not a violation of courtesy."



Having been part of said group I can say that almost everyone one of the examples of discourteous actions were done by the individual except for freestyling, though that might have been a good thing given the mood of the group. But I feel bringing anything up during a round that is already extremely uncomfortable would only make the vibes within the group that much worse so it puts you in a strange spot. I found the cursing and yelling inappropriate for a tournament as well as a Park that has many families out trying to enjoy the day; especially when the initial fight is right beside a playground. But I must say that after the TD spoke to them it did get better.

If the TD had initially witnessed the fight would he have been able to do anything?

But I feel bringing anything up during a round that is already extremely uncomfortable would only make the vibes within the group that much worse so it puts you in a strange spot. [QUOTE]


<font color="blue">As long as this is the way most players feel, players exhibiting inappropriate behaviour will not get called on it. This seems to be the prevailing mindset. The answer is to have marshals on every hole unless the mindset changes. </font>

[QUOTE]
If the TD had initially witnessed the fight would he have been able to do anything?



<font color="blue">I would say yes, but if they did not comply with the TD's request to stop, security should be called. But then that would be contrary to the prevailing mindset. </font>

These days everyone seems to just ignore any type of uncomfortable situation. When did we become so worried about offending someone who is offending us?

I have found that usually a few words in a non-threatening tone does wonders to defuse the situation. Granted, some people just refuse to behave when asked nicely. That's when other avenues are taken. I have called the police when someone flat out refused to leave after I explained that the course was closed to the public. That was my last resort. Talking calmly and reasonable is the first avenue. But for crying out loud, someone speak up!

When did we become so worried about offending someone who is offending us?



Probably when offensive people took people who asked them to be nice to court and won a judgement.

Asking someone nicely is indeed the best first step and usually works. Police and/or security seem to work best after that.

I hate it when people bring their dogs to the course.

I never go to the course w/out my dog.

If I wasn't trying to concentrate on my game I suspect I would get involved in a situation like this and call the marshalls or police or whovever is needed. I find it best to close of the clutter of the outside world and concentrate on my game. Let the soap operas be somebody elses's soap operas. I just wanna shut up and play. The original problem here seems to be a can of worms for the other players. The original reaction may be to get rid of the offending girlfriend. That action may be a relief to the boyfriend. Or, it can unite the formerly fighting duo and he can get [censored] off and come to her defense. If its me and she's not screaming as I am about to make my shot at reolution ("Madam, we are trying to play a difficult game and are trying to concentrate. Your disagreement with XXX is interfering with our concntration. I am going to have to ask you to please be allow the players to play the game. If you have a disagreement with XXX you will have to take it off the course or he is going to have to leave with you. We simply cannot allow your issues to impact our game. I am sure you can understand..."I will likely say something once and then go insidemyself to preserve my sanity and my round.

I played this previous weekend with a guy in my group who brought his 3 year old son. A 3 year old has the attention span of a gnat so he was throwing discs, talking, and anything else a 3 year old can do on a disc golf course. This did not bother me because I practice for tournies with my 4 year old who acts twice as bad. I feel it helps my game to ignore distractions like this. However another person in our group explained to the father that he was distracted, resulting in a worse playing environment consisting of said father politely, but loudly and sarcastically disciplining his son for so much as looking at butterflys the rest of the round.

The whole thing with ignoring behaviors is an offshoot of not calling rule violations because you don't want to offend anyone.

In most situations, if you bring the bad behavior (or rule violation) to their attention, they are so embarrassed that they stop. Works most of the time. However, when push comes to shove, people REALLY behave once the cops show up. :D

As for dogs... casual rounds, fine. PDGA sanctioned events, nope. It's not that I don't love dogs (I just got a smooth collie pup), but I just don't want the extra hassle. It might be worth it if SpecialK was around. ;)

3 year olds and dogs are cool for casual play, but not for tournaments. It's all a matter of how seriously you take the game. We have a hard enough time getting outsiders to take the game seriously - many of them equate it with lawn darts. If they see dogs and toddlers in a tournament, they're not going to give the game as much respect as they would if they see players taking the game seriously.

Now if THIS GUY was a PDGA Marshall . . .

http://www.unbossed.com/media/1/20060418-stinkin_badges_bandito_1.jpg

He is actually. And he doesn't need "no steenking batches" :D

As soon as the fight started, I would have said "bounce"

I have encountered people picnicing in the middle of a fairway, clueless to disc golf. If I ask them to move and they get nasty, I don't try and reason with them, I just call security. That's what they're there for.



Yep. I remember very kindly informing an elderly couple who had set up a blanket and chairs in the landing zone for Hole 18 of the Monster Course at Hudson-Mills that they were in a dangerous place. The man, within seconds, said he knew "about people like you" and was threatening to go to his car, get his gun, and kill me.

The park police took care of it nicely.

I never go to the course w/out my dog.



I was using "dog" as a euphemism for "girlfriend".

...The man, within seconds, said he knew "about people like you"...



So, he's seen this forum?

I never go to the course w/out my dog.



I was using "dog" as a euphemism for "girlfriend".



No [censored].

I never go to the course w/out my dog.



I was using "dog" as a euphemism for "girlfriend".



No [censored].



I usually refer to mine as the "B" word also

I never go to the course w/out my dog.



I was using "dog" as a euphemism for "girlfriend".



No [censored].



I usually refer to mine as the "B" word also



So classy.

Looks like this thread has contracted the highly contagious DBD (Discussion Board Disease) and broken down into the worthless drivel that seems to infect nearly everything here.

Thanks to the early serious posters.

The player and friend are not PDGA members and he finished near bottom of Intermediate Amateur. I have come to find out that they are honestly clueless about basic courtesy in local events as well and the TD is going to talk to them privately.

While it is unfortunate that it affected play in the group, Chris is right about the location of the loudest outburst. It was within 50 feet of a new wheelchair accessible playground that is bringing lots of families immediately adjacent to the Disc Golf course. It is exactly this type of behavior that has given the sport a bad reputation and affected Disc Golf relationship with the park personnel.
The loudest outburst took place just to the right of this location
http://www.geocities.com/lakefrontdgc/BoundlessPlayground.JPG
Part of the course was relocated to accommodate this facility and the recently improving relationship could be jeopardized and the planned replacement of old Mach I targets could be derailed, but thanks to the ever tactful TD I suspect the problem will be properly addressed.