If a player is banned from a private course by the course owner, is that owner still allowed to ban a player from a PDGA event on the private course, or must he allow that player to play?

Wow, does anyone else remember discussing this a couple of years ago regarding a private course in the Pacific Northwest?

If a player is banned from a private course by the course owner, is that owner still allowed to ban a player from a PDGA event on the private course, or must he allow that player to play?



Yes, I remember the discussion, and yes, the owner is still allowed to ban him from the course. Legally, I don't think the PDGA simply can force private landowners to allow someone on their property that they do not want to be there.

Chap

Wow, does anyone else remember discussing this a couple of years ago regarding a private course in the Pacific Northwest?



Do I ever. Boy, I hope this is just as entertaining.

Yes, I remember the discussion, and yes, the owner is still allowed to ban him from the course. Legally, I don't think the PDGA simply can force private landowners to allow someone on their property that they do not want to be there.


The choice for the PDGA is whether or not all PDGA members in good standing shall be allowed to play in all PDGA sanctioned tournaments. If the PDGA decided that they should be allowed to play, then the choice for the private land course owner would whether or not to sanction with the PDGA.

So one A-whole can hold a TD's sanctioning hostage?

Yes, I remember the discussion, and yes, the owner is still allowed to ban him from the course. Legally, I don't think the PDGA simply can force private landowners to allow someone on their property that they do not want to be there.


The choice for the PDGA is whether or not all PDGA members in good standing shall be allowed to play in all PDGA sanctioned tournaments. If the PDGA decided that they should be allowed to play, then the choice for the private land course owner would whether or not to sanction with the PDGA.



A player that is banned from a course with good reason would not have completely good standing with PDGA as far as I'm concerned. It would be up to PDGA to make that call, but if I were the commissioner or ED, I would side with the land owner on that one, again, as long as the reason for banishment had merit.

Chap

I ask Carlton about this 3 or 4 years ago because of someone I banned from my private course and he said that the landowners say was final.

I may be mistaken but wasn't a nationally known player banned from a PDGA event at a public course (Redan) in Atlanta a few years ago because he was caught the day or so before the event cutting branches to make a throw easier for him?

He may not have been "banned", but actually "suspended". A "banned" player can play in any other PDGA event in another location that same day, a "suspended" player cannot.

I don't like this ruling. I believe any current PDGA member in good standing should be entitled to play in any PDGA event which he/she qualifies for.

As Rhett stated, it should be up to the private course owner to decided whether to host a PDGA event and make an allowance for the "banned" player.

What about the multitude of towns and cities that are banning sex offenders from public parks? A sex offender may be in good standing with the PDGA. However, the city councils of the public parks would be preventing a PDGA member in good standing from participating in a PDGA event in those public parks. I realize this situation is a little different, and the sex offender probably has more to worry about than their eligibility to play in a disc golf tournament. However, the end result is the same with a PDGA member in good standing being banned from a sanctioned event because of their actions. I don't see a private course owner banning someone from their course without warrant such as threatening or harmful behavior.

Then do you force a tournament held on school grounds to not be sanctioned because some PDGA member (in good standing) cannot step on said grounds for various legal reasons? No.

I think legally not being allowed on/near school/public parks clearly takes precedence over the privilege of playing in a PDGA event.

If you're legally not allowed on public grounds, that's one thing. But if an owner has a fallout/issue with a player that should not disallow the player from playing in a PDGA event.

A sex offender may be in good standing with the PDGA.......



Houston, we have a problem.....

I have to say that I don't much like the realization of what is being discussed here....

As a father and a friend of many disc golfing families with younger children, it kind of puts knot in my stomache thinking about R.S.O.'s being around our kids during events and golf rounds..... Kind of a weird, my kid might be being watched sort of feeling..... :p

I think legally not being allowed on/near school/public parks clearly takes precedence over the privilege of playing in a PDGA event.

If you're legally not allowed on public grounds, that's one thing. But if an owner has a fallout/issue with a player that should not disallow the player from playing in a PDGA event.



But if the private property owner bans you from the property, then you're legally not allowed on it, just like the public park example.

There's usually a good reason for banning someone from your property.

As an owner of a private course, if you're not welcome at my home, your not welcome regardless of whether I consider sanctioning an event there or not. If that attitude doesn't allow me to consider sanctioning, so be it.

I'm pretty forgiving on a lot of things, so making yourself not welcome would have taken considerable effort, such as stealing from me, consciously damaging my property or being disrespectful to my family. If that were the case, if I see you on my property without prior invite, it would be considered trespassing and authorities would be called to remove you. I wouldn't give a rip about anything beyond that.

Yo Kerry, pick a side. (http://www.nefa.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=41759#41759)

Senior,
I mentioned RSOs as an example for the discussion. However, surely you realize these folks are not just at the parks and courses, but at the grocery store, the malls and our own neighborhoods - exactly like criminals of all sorts. Not that I like it, but it is reality.

I am with tkieffer on this. I am in the process of purchasing the land for my future private course, and it would pretty much take a criminal act against me, my property or family in order to get banned from my course.

I realize it. I was just sharing a thought I had that was evoked by the discussion because of the level of trust I put into sanctioned events. We are and have been living in a world full of sicko's.

I have my own course at home and fully understand the issues. We are working towards holding club events at my course in the future. You rarely run into players that behave in such a way that would get them banned.... Thats a good thing.

But if the private property owner bans you from the property, then you're legally not allowed on it, just like the public park example.

There's usually a good reason for banning someone from your property.



I got banned from a private course without given a reason other than a stick up the owners behind. I don't think that any private course should be able to sanction an event that has local players banned from it.

But if the private property owner bans you from the property, then you're legally not allowed on it, just like the public park example.

There's usually a good reason for banning someone from your property.



I got banned from a private course without given a reason other than a stick up the owners behind. I don't think that any private course should be able to sanction an event that has local players banned from it.



What I don't get is, if you are having a hard time getting along with the TD/owner and you feel the issue is on their end, why do you want to participate anyway?

Yo Kerry, pick a side. (http://www.nefa.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=41759#41759)



LOL, that's funny..I forgot I even had that discussion before, and I guess I hadn't thought about it too much before answering last time.



They call me flipper, flipper..

As an owner of a private course, if you're not welcome at my home, your not welcome regardless of whether I consider sanctioning an event there or not. If that attitude doesn't allow me to consider sanctioning, so be it.

I'm pretty forgiving on a lot of things, so making yourself not welcome would have taken considerable effort, such as stealing from me, consciously damaging my property or being disrespectful to my family. If that were the case, if I see you on my property without prior invite, it would be considered trespassing and authorities would be called to remove you. I wouldn't give a rip about anything beyond that.



As another owner of a private course, I agree 100% and will take the same position.

If the PDGA refuses sanctioning, there is always the non-sanctioned route. Believing that private courses are an important part of the future of disc golf, I'm not sure that's the way the PDGA wants to go.

If a player is banned from a private course and then insists the PDGA pull sanctioning on his behalf, perhaps it reveals something about that player's character, perhaps shedding light on why he got banned in the first place.

How rare is this problem, though?