Are trophies required at C tier events? I'm running a fundraiser series this summer and I don't want to waste a lot of money on trophies - especially because most people really don't care about them. I've already advertised this event as a "No Frills" type of tournament where people can just expect to play sanctioned golf and go home.

If they are required, do they have to be any certain value or up to any certain standards?

Thanks,
Whip

nope, not required for any tier.

cool, thanks!

Get some nice ribbons so players have something to retain if they end up on or near the top. People won't tell you that they care about trophies but most do care that they get something.

I definitely care about trophies. The one knock I always have with our biggest event of the year is lack of trophies. I remember how disappointed one of my friends was back when he was a junior and won an event for the first time there and didn't get a trophy.

i agree that you should try to do trophys as much or often as possible. thinking back not many could tell you what stack of discs they bought w/ the merch winnings or they got for placing in an Am event... but those that got trophy discs almost always still have them.

Although most would say they'd rather have the extra 10 bucks per trophy go back into the overall payout I think the fact that your tourney/course/club could have its mark on a disc and someone could have a lasting memory would probably be better

Skip trophies for the pros. Do something simple for the ams. I've seen a lot of simple TD-created trophy concepts. Getting frames at the dollar store or at garage sales and doing framed certificates is so cheap. I did that once or twice.

No gold trophies! They are the worst. If i get one of those chintzy trophies with the little gold forehander on top, it goes into a box in the basement immediately. Anyone want to buy a box of gold trophies from me to reuse? The only exception is the gold cow trophies from the VTI. Those are cool.

The best are the wooden plaque ones. My favorite was the size of a mini, hand-etched trunk of a small tree, full-color Sneaky Pete 1st place, handmade by someone with the initials BA. Even though its from 2006, it still sits prominantly on my bookshelf.

thanks sarah- the cows do have a novelty to them.

most important of all... nothing is more useless than a second or third place trophy.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I covet my 2nd place Open trophy from a tournament at Pat Govang's A-frame course outside Ithaca held several years ago.

most important of all... nothing is more useless than a second or third place trophy.





I agree. I do 1st place trophys, thats it.

The best are the wooden plaque ones. My favorite was the size of a mini, hand-etched trunk of a small tree, full-color Sneaky Pete 1st place, handmade by someone with the initials BA. Even though its from 2006, it still sits prominantly on my bookshelf.


I agree, the handmade trophies are usually way cooler than the generic gold plastic ones from the trophy shop. The one you won from the Sneaky Pete was made by one of our local baggers Brent Allison. :p Those were very cool indeed.

most important of all... nothing is more useless than a second or third place trophy.



I have won trophy disc stamped "15th Place - Advanced".

Another stamped "9th place", which at least doesn't mention that there were only 13 players in that division for that tournament.

If you saw their condition now you'd know what treasured momentos they aren't.

I personally don't care for trophies at all but, if a TD's going to have them, suggest keeping it simple and inexpensive. If your winners like trophies, something decent that says "first" on it somewhere should make them happy. If your winners don't care and junk them, well, at least you're not out much money. (One tournament here gives an acrylic medallion on a wide red-white-&-blue neckband to division winners. Like an olympic medal, it's cool enough to crown them at the awards ceremony....they can wear it until leaving....it's small enough to not take up much space if they keep it as a momento....and simple enough if that it costs little if they throw it away).

these remain my favorite...
http://www.sharkysshots.com/albums/userpics/10002/hawkhollow20050129.jpg

...although the engraver's weren't too fond of them.

We have a mini golf round at a tournament here every year and they give out trophies for the people who "cash" but they are always small and I would imagine relatively inexpensive. People enjoy those trophies as much or more than elaborate ones that people get in bigger tournaments. Its the memories behind the trophy that matter, not the trophy itself.

Two years ago we had beer mugs that had a sticker on them that said "1st place mini golf competition" and last year we had a piece of wood that held an ice bowl mini with a little metal piece at the bottom that said "1st place mini golf"

I still have both of mine... 4th place and 6th place :)

Biscoe -- your tropies are always top notch (they compliment the exceptional tournies very well)...do you have any other trophy suggestions for the message board? Things that work or don't work?

thanks dan. things which are one of a kind, or at the least unusual are best. something at least tangentially related to the event/course is good if possible. (rocks from hawk hollow, cow skulls, milk jug, etc)

the antique glass stuff for the v.o. is always well received and winds up being relatively inexpensive. i have an engraver who will literally engrave anything (see skull above)- check kingcustom.com for them. we found them originally because the milk jug for vti was too big to fit on most people's equipment.

The rock trophies from last year were great. Letting the division winners choose from various shapes and sizes was a nice touch.

At the Stoney Hill Challenge, in what we think was a fairly unique trophy idea, possible because we had a computer & printer on hand, we printed out photos of one of the more scenic & memorable holes, with "1st place / division / Winner's Name" printed on them, put them in simple frames and gave them to the winners (on top of their prize purses).

No idea whether anyone liked them or kept them, but it was different, anyway.

Sheila's rock trophy is up on our tv stand and has pretty much warped the wood up there - It's got to be at least 30lbs!!! :D

BTW - If you don't win trophies, they can't take up space at your house (at least thats what I tell myself)

Bobble-head of this manure-eating-grin-wearing doofus would make a great trophy:

http://www.tripledisc.com/preview/msdgc/bobble.jpg

Bobble-head of this manure-eating-grin-wearing doofus would make a great trophy:

http://www.tripledisc.com/preview/msdgc/bobble.jpg



PERFECT! :eek:
I laughed for 5 minutes after seeing that. :D

Per Mr. Biscoe, he prefers the affectionate term "yokel" to the semi-pejorative (and possibly PDGA "personal attack" actionable) "doofus".

Per Mr. Biscoe, he prefers the affectionate term "yokel" to the semi-pejorative (and possibly PDGA "personal attack" actionable) "doofus".



Oh good, since i'm already on probation, i'll guess I'll be suspended for quoting you. :p

I have a local Granite Installation buisness that always donates their cast offs for trophies. I take the cast offs and shape three sizes for each division, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I also have a local engraver make small engraved aluminum labels that I fix to the granite. I think the trophies look pretty cool and several players have commented on wanting to win a rock (trophy). Inexpensive, solid, looks good and results in very little, if any, money taken from the payout. It also gives the local shop a way to be a sponsor and go on the back of the tee shirts. The trophies have a value as appraised by the granite shop as well.

I do like the trophies that Jerry does every year. Not that I've ever won one... at least I can bask in the glow of Deidre's trophies :)

I would ask them to cut one side flat enough for them to sit on a shelf easily. I have the tools I needed to shape the bottom of mine, but many people don't.

I have had several requests along those lines and the best solution I have come up with is to provide holders. I am looking into this now.

I personally like trophies as they remind me of the experience long after the tournament. The money is quickly forgotten and gone, the trophy is always there.

But I have heard some touring guys state that they don't like seeing a significant amount of the payout going for trophies. Cash payout puts gas in the tank and food on the table. Trophies just add clutter for them.

It must have somthing to to do with how often you would win them. For me its so infrequent that a trophy documenting my 2nd place finish is huge. Even if it takes $20 off of the payout. For people who are trying to live off of disc golf and would accumulate more win place or show trophies than they care to deal with, payout is what matters. I would think that true Ams (those not trying to make a living off of the sport) would prefer trophies as opposed to another player's pack disc.

One of the problems with trophies is knowing whether to get them for some of the smaller divisions that may not have anyone signing up. So, I just plan to ask the winners of those divisions (if they end up with players) if they want me to keep $X to buy and send a trophy to them.

so then what is the PDGA's stance on replacing all or part of the per-player player's pack with trophies for the top X spots? I like to give custom-stamped minis as a player's package along with a merch voucher or something else like meals. It sure would be cool to use that money for trophies instead of a voucher.

I believe trophy cost/value is considered separate from the valuation of the player packs since not everyone gets a trophy.

right, but everyone *pays* for the trophies so I was wondering if it would be possible to combine the two. meh, no biggie... I think my next events will have a trophy sponsor anyway :)

Anyone want to buy a box of gold trophies from me to reuse?




Sure, e-mail me, please. achisholm@neb.rr.com

every event I have been to had great trophies for the Pros and junk for Ams. Seems backwards.

every event I have been to had great trophies for the Pros and junk for Ams. Seems backwards.



Come play my tournament, Piney Woods Pro-Am.