there's a major starting tomorrow...

2008 Japan Open (http://www.japanopen.info/)

congraTTs to mccoy on winning the airfare giveaway (http://www.japanopen.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&It emid=179)

Wow this is the only mention of one of our sports "MAJORS". Good Job PDGA, I mean JUFF

Will there be Live Scoring?

JUFF Jeff JUFF jeff Juff JEff !!!!!!!!!

(another Carolina thread ;)

wow... free airfare... not too shabby!

now shhh... be quiet

I dont think they wanted this MAJOR mentioned ;)

It says all discs have to be weighed in before competion, and they can't be over 152g. Wow, that would take some getting use to.

Wow this is the only mention of one of our sports "MAJORS". Good Job PDGA, I mean JUFF



what do you mean the only mention? there's a story on the front page of pdga.com, the tourney has been on the pdga schedule for months, this weeks pdga radio mentions it, what more do you expect? the pdga office to personally call every member to remind them of each tournament?

The publicity was huge and even on the Internet if you could read Japanese...

They sent a team to Pro and Am Worlds Fly Marts last year. No other event I recall had a booth there.

there's a major starting tomorrow...

2008 Japan Open (http://www.japanopen.info/)



I know... I can't wait for Tiger to Tee it up.

Some of the scores are in. None of the major US stars yet though. Manabu Kajiyama is leading the scores already in with an 82.

was thinking people should be finishing rounds... where are you seeing the scores?

http://japanopen.jp/tournament/2008/score.php

Feldberg is tearing it up.

I have a 147 CE Leopard that is awesome. Maybe next year. The pictures make that place look really cool. I bet that is a looooooong flight.

DID the PDGA pay for anyones airfare for this event?

Of course Brian Graham. Why would you think anything different for a major PDGA championship? The PDGA has been sending officials to every PDGA Championship and Worlds for many years now. It's part of what the org does for big events.

I have a feeling that Feldberg is gonna dominate this one. Now...I'm not discounting ANYBODY else by saying that. Especially since Avery and a host of other players have shot well too. I just think David is in the zone and personaly he has a deep connection with the Japanese culture. Either way it will prove to be an epic event once again! Cheers to all who made it and are living the dream. Enjoy. :D

Des ACES hole 19 during the first round

Is great success!!! Niiiiiice.....

So we pay for him to go to Japan, and PLAY in the event?!!?!?

PDGA officials pay their entry fees unless the TD has comped them.

But free flight to go to Japan and PLAY?
Bogus.
So its not a thankless job....

to PLAY is the bogus part...

Brian should be there and his airfare should be paid. I have meetings out of town and my company pays for the flights and lodging if need be , however, I dont get to go golf and play DG and hit up the local bars and live the life while I'm gone. I do WORK then get home. Brian, if flying on the PDGA dime, should ONLY be there for promotion and meeting with other officials overseas to further the organization we are all part of. I could see him as an aide to the tournament itself if requested by the TD's, but he should not be in Japan to have a DG tournament vacation on the PDGA's dime. If you want to play take your vacation time and pay for it yourself.

I feel there should be a published itinerary of his visit to show work was done....

guess we'll see that in scores. :confused:

exactly.

Get realistic. Employees everywhere travel on the company dime and stay for the weekend on their own dime. A business trip that is Thur-Fri would have to be paid for anyway by the company. If the employee doesn't fly home until Sunday night instead of Friday afternoon and pays for their own activities on Friday night thru Sunday night it's no problem in any business. If Brian plays one 4-hr round on a day, is that any more than playing a league night after having worked 8 hours before that? If anything, he would be getting overtime pay for working weekends if he were hourly instead of salaried.

You guys are arguing with Chuck. He's on the payroll too. :D

You get all this D-board D-scussion free whether you like it or not. :p

You guys are arguing with Chuck. He's never wrong



Fixed

I just doesnt serve a purpose flying him out there. Available for free online, is SKype and Ichat and whatever else. They can speak(face to face) and get more done. Major companies all over the world are scaling back on travel and uses these interfaces instead. Glad we are following the times and saving money.
It takes 33 MPO members fees to pay for that airfare. Who is that fair to.

Great replies from both MTL and Chuck. :D

For example, all of those faceless transactions is one reason that lead to the huge mortage crisis pulling down the economy. In the old days. the banker and potential owner knew each other face-to-face reducing the chance of default. In fact, time and again, posters on here note how someone in person is so much different than their presence on the internet (Mikey, Kight and Southwick for examples). Personal contact makes a significant difference and always will. I guarantee that if every member could meet Brian Graham or the other people in the PDGA office, their perspective on the PDGA would improve.

Personal contact makes a significant difference and always will. I guarantee that if every member could meet Brian Graham or the other people in the PDGA office, their perspective on the PDGA would improve.



Would you fly me out there to meet them?

I met Brian at the Memorial this year. Seems like a nice guy. Didn't really change my perspective of the PDGA or anything, but he was very personable and polite. Let the guy play in peace man. He does his job, now let him have some play time.

My point is that feelings about the PDGA might improve if Brian, staffers and Board members had the time and budget to travel around (Shive as example) helping out at events and meeting the members even more than they do already. In the early days, most of the players and movers and shakers were many times the same people and knew each other personally even without the internet since the number of events and members was much smaller.

Linked from the PDGA home page....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/collections/72157605566984876/

I have to get one of those Hero Disc banners that surrounds the ball golf greens. Looks like i'll be contacting Ferrans or Ahart ASAP!

I agree with Chuck on this one.
And yes I am also paid in part by the PDGA.

Well, its silly. Its a waste of our fees. Ive said it before and I'll say it again. Bogus. I know Brian and he knows me. We get along fine, but I can not stay quiet about this. I honestly can't believe there is a single person that thinks this is O.K.(besides chuck, who seems to argue against whatever point was made first). It is too much money and not needed. So, he is going to Japan as an ambassador of the PDGA? Whatever.
I'm getting a new bumper sticker:
Slowly Losing Faith and distance.

I have no problem with Brian playing in the event. I have known Brian for years, he was one of my biggest influences when I was just starting out. He has the best work ethic I have ever seen, I have a hard time believing that he would not perform tasks before taking advantage of a great situation.
Most work for a tourney is done before the first disc is thrown, if it not done your not doing it right.
So why should he not pay his own way into the tourney and play. He can still help out before and after he plays. And by the looks of it, I don't think the TD needs to much help. Looks like one First Class Event!

Thanks,

work = company dime
play = your dime

Rule 1..." you dont mix business with pleasure."

I dont see how no one can understand this concept besides the FriZZaK.....

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH BRIAN PLAYING AT ALL.. in fact, I genuinely hope he does well through the course of the tourney. I do have a problem with spending member money to get there, even if you do pay your own entry and lodging. This is a vacation, anyway you look at it. NO ONE I know is part of a company that gives away airfare for personal fun time, well I take that back, two stewardesses get free flights BUT THEY WORK FOR AN AIRLINE for crying out loud.

I'm with Sjur on this.

Brian is one of the nicest guys possible and I really do like what he does for the PDGA, but him going under the PDGA money isn't cool with me.

When he goes to worlds and is working the whole week, then by all means that should be paid for. However, to go and play...

well...

You have support on your argument Sjur. I think most would agree with you, just don't have the backbone to say it. It amazes me how scared people are to offend someone and then they hide thier true feelings and opinions.

I would think most would want their national org staffers to be the best and/or most experienced in their field. We're paying them to make decisions about the game and making it better. We should be asking the question why they aren't at a big event, not whether they are. Players claim you can't know what it's like to play in the USDGC. Then our leaders should be playing it.

(rhetorical) You're commenting on a course design? Have you ever designed one like it? Dealt with erosion and foliage issues in that terrain? We have people who have done that many times over. They should be getting financial support for their efforts to work, learn and then share their experiences with everyone.

Are you running Worlds and making rules on how it should be done? Then you better have played in them, worked in them, run them to have any credibility as a global leader. There's no college for disc golf. It's our responsibility to pay what's necessary to keep our top people top people. Being there and doing it is the only way to keep up with the improvements going on everywhere. I'm sure those attending the Euro Open or Japan Open or USDGC will tell you that you don't know what it's like until you've been there. Why should our leaders be guessing via pictures on the internet?

Pay the airfare themselves, to figure it out. Someimes you make no sense at all CHUCK.

I think yours and many others expectations are way out of line for what is required to run a professional organization with qualified people. You've had it easy with volunteers catering to players getting little in return. The reality is that players receive more than they pay for at all levels in this sport.

Do you question whether any of your purchase should help pay for the manager at McDonald's to go to Hamburger U for training to make their operation run better?

Do you question whether any of your purchase should help pay for the manager at McDonald's to go to Hamburger U for training to make their operation run better?




No because that is work not PLAY! If he is going to worlds to help all week then yes if he is going to Japan to play and help here and there NO.

I think we know what those people are getting at mcdonalds I would like to know what the PDGA salary is??? or how much of the PDGA member's $$$'s get spent like this??? :confused:

Do you question whether any of your purchase should help pay for the manager at McDonald's to go to Hamburger U for training to make their operation run better?



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091165/

What a GREAT movie. ;)

The main character is Russell, a guy who's been thrown out of college after college for having sex with the co-eds. So for some reason, he decides to go to Hamburger University to learn to work at a fast food restaurant.

I would like to know what the PDGA salary is??? or how much of the PDGA member's $$$'s get spent like this???



I really don't think you want to know. If someone told you right now, i would hear your metal mini hitting a basket from 200 miles south of me. :D

I would like to know what the PDGA salary is??? or how much of the PDGA member's $$$'s get spent like this???



I really don't think you want to know. If someone told you right now, i would hear your metal mini hitting a basket from 200 miles south of me. :D




C L A N K!

It IS Japan. Honoring them with your presence (and playing) at their event may be the best thing for relations. Japan brings a contingent to WORK at the USDGC.

I personally think that PDGA representation, other than the players, needs to be there.

I personally think that PDGA representation, other than the players, needs to be there.




I agree, but they should be there to either play or Promote but not both. If they are there to play they cover it if they are there for the latter we pay for it.

I personally think that PDGA representation, other than the players, needs to be there.




I agree, but they should be there to either play or Promote but not both. If they are there to play they cover it if they are there for the latter we pay for it.



I did say "other than the players." What's Brian doing? ;) :p

I personally think that PDGA representation, other than the players, needs to be there.




I agree, but they should be there to either play or Promote but not both. If they are there to play they cover it if they are there for the latter we pay for it.



I did say "other than the players." What's Brian doing? ;) :p



I will never criticize the PDGA again if they put a Dollar from ever entry into a single event such as worlds to give us a premier event that is worthy of being called the world championships. The entry for worlds last year was $200+ and the payout was lame. I realize this was because it was so hard to get sponsors in that area but you shouldn't jack up our prices to make it look consistent with other worlds.


I'm telling you it would be $100,000+ and that would possibly get us a little exposure for only $1 per entry and they already take in $3-$5 per entry so just take it out of what they already take in.

I do not work for the PDGA. I think what Brian is doing is perfectly fine. He traveled their for work, and is taking advantage of playing a few hours a day. I also travel for work sometimes, to the Caribbean and Mexico. Do you think I stay in at night, after work is over? No, I go out, experience the culture. I go to the beach when I get a chance. He is helping the sport by playing there. I am sure he is creating relationships while playing. You never know what door will be opened for you via networking and communication. Good Luck Brian!

well said, i actually agree (although that makes me agree with chuck!!!....shudder)

Basic sense that he should be there for a major, particularly one with this national/international stature. All the more so given the cross-cultural nature of this particular trip, where honoring via presence is key to the whole interation. I haven't a qualm whatsoever about a fraction of my and my sons' member dues going to fund Brian's trip expenses.

As far as him playing, the very nature of our little enterprise in disc golf. That he would partake (and perhaps even enjoy himself) seems obvious to me.

For you who are concerned with costs feel free to vote with your wallet and bow out. Valid questions about how to best spend limited resources are always fair to raise. But it's pretty clear from the financials that no one is getting rich here. Countrywide we are not.

Basic sense that he should be there for a major, particularly one with this national/international stature. All the more so given the cross-cultural nature of this particular trip, where honoring via presence is key to the whole interation. I haven't a qualm whatsoever about a fraction of my and my sons' member dues going to fund Brian's trip expenses.

As far as him playing, the very nature of our little enterprise in disc golf. That he would partake (and perhaps even enjoy himself) seems obvious to me.

For you who are concerned with costs feel free to vote with your wallet and bow out. Valid questions about how to best spend limited resources are always fair to raise. But it's pretty clear from the financials that no one is getting rich here. Countrywide we are not.



It's hard to bow out with your wallets when you have to be a member to play big events.

The entry for worlds last year was $200+ and the payout was lame. I realize this was because it was so hard to get sponsors in that area but you shouldn't jack up our prices to make it look consistent with other worlds.



The entry was the same as 2006 and sponsorship $$s raised was about the same. As usual, mostly Innova so location doesn't matter. Second highest total payout for a standalone Worlds. Only difference from 2006 was a few thousand more in expenses. Perhaps your expectations are out of line?

c'mon guys... keep on track... this thread is for you debating/ranting about the Japan Open... not worlds! ;)

back to the orig. rants... initial knee jerk reaction was same as Sjur's but after more thought I think its 'fine or even good that he's there

someone mentioned that it takes ~20 MPO memberships to pay for his airfare but if you look at it Japan has over 50 MPOs and def. enough of a base already and potential to warrant the trip to improve and work on relations.

the PDGA being a GLOBAL org def. will have things come up like this more and more the larger we get to the point where I'd imagine it'll be discussed about actually having a PDGA office (maybe 1 person) in Japan or other countries/regions with a large following... or maybe even a PDGA-Asia

the issue of the flight over there was the only thing I initially cared about... him playing in the tourney is fine by me since I'm sure he's getting his job done while he's there (whatever that may be). If he was supposed to be there for the PDGA and he was off hiking Mt Fuji or totally off the beaten path of the DG realm then there may be issues.

Just a quick question though... is he there as a marshal/official (as i think Chuck mentioned) or as the big cheese of the PDGA?

He can't make rulings in his division but could make calls for the FPO group. From Terry Miller's blog, it sounded like Brian was helping with the scoring and the upload.

Forgive me for egging on the non-believers but...
Ok for example my company sends me to Miami for a weeklong training class, which runs 10-hours per day, what you all are trying to tell me is that during those other 14 hours per day of which I am not directly receiving training that I must sit in the hotel room and study training manuals or move to a zombie like state so that I do not perform any non-job related tasks during that trip thus erroroneously taking advantage of the company's money because they sent me there for training not for anything else?
Of course not, one would be almost expected to go out and socialize, swim, barhop, relax, sightsee, etc. especially when it's likely with other members from your training class (or in Brian's case, with other DG'ers)

PDGA:

Purchasing Director Graham's Airfare

Not me, not anymore.

/msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The entry for worlds last year was $200+ and the payout was lame. I realize this was because it was so hard to get sponsors in that area but you shouldn't jack up our prices to make it look consistent with other worlds.



The entry was the same as 2006 and sponsorship $$s raised was about the same. As usual, mostly Innova so location doesn't matter. Second highest total payout for a standalone Worlds. Only difference from 2006 was a few thousand more in expenses. Perhaps your expectations are out of line?




Sorry but when you cash in the middle of the field in which you payed $225 to enter you should get more than $295 in payout! So I made $75 or 33% more than I payed to get in for beating 75% of the field. Sorry but if you finish in the top 25% you should make more than 33% on top of the entry.

Check out the average for 30th thru 33rd for both 2006 Pro Worlds and 2007 Pro Worlds. $285
www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=5514#Open (http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=5514#Open)

Standard PDGA payouts to 40% were used. Same entry fee. No fancy math or flattening at the bottom to pump up the top. Open got the same percentage of added cash as every other division which has been standard practice at Pro Worlds.

Pay the airfare themselves,



We all saw your first 19 whiny posts.

Please try to get over it.

Can't imagine a major championship in any sport (NFL, NBA, MLB, or even cup stacking) without the major representative body present. He is lucky enough to have a job that involves disc golf. Virtually all of his job involves a leisure activity.

When I run and win the head of the PDGA you nerds better not say anything about me going anywhere.

Can't imagine a major championship in any sport (NFL, NBA, MLB, or even cup stacking) without the major representative body present. He is lucky enough to have a job that involves disc golf. Virtually all of his job involves a leisure activity.



LOL... I can't imagine David Stern playing in the NBA Finals, Bud Selig playing in the World Series, or Roger Goodell playing in the Super Bowl. ;) Everyone has agreed that it's fine that Brian is in Japan representing the PDGA. The problem some have is that he is playing in the event when the PDGA paid for him to go there on business.

No offense---BUT PLEASE!! We are not the NBA, MLB or COSTCO. THose are the worst associations I have ever heard. We are an org. having big problems getting recognition. Those companies already DO!!!
Have you ever played a major? After 1 day at worlds or USDGC and add on JETLAG, how much energy can you have? I have been in my twenties trying that for years. I barely make it to dinner. I always make the players parties, but always exhausted. Please, please please, explain to me what good to the PDGA it could have done having our head there playing? Or there for that matter. I agree that one day it will be important, but dont watch Japanese movies and commercials and believe that its a face to face or nothing. GROW UP. I want my new name to be.....4%!! thats how much my PDGA fee worked towards that plane ticket.

Val shoots a hot 86 to open up a 10 stroke lead! Wow.

Scores are up. Time to talk about frolf again.

Val is Hot, and on fire. She is a great role model and american representative. Way to go Val

;)

Val shoots a hot 86 to open up a 10 stroke lead! Wow.

Scores are up. Time to talk about frolf again.



It's the "SUMMER OF VAL" :D

Hi Everyone,

I do understand and appreciate all of your concerns but you can all rest assured that plenty is being accomplished on this working trip to promote our great sport around the world. I am sharing a room with three tournament staff members at the Towa Cottages about 10 minutes from the course. My typical work day begins at 5:00am when I wake up and walk over to the hotel lobby to get an internet connection and download and answer the usual thirty to fifty work related e-mails that I receive each day. They call Japan the land of the rising sun because the sun comes up at 4:45am this time of year and I am usually up to see it rise. It usually takes me between one and two hours to answer my mail. After a quick breakfast, I catch the shuttle bus over to the golf course and unload my equipment into the tournament headquarters.

I am lucky enough on this trip to have the rare opportunity to play in the tournament but the current state of my game ensures that I begin and finish my round before the leaders even tee off. Playing from time to time also reminds me why I love this game so much and why I applied for the job of executive director of the PDGA. Don't worry, my entry fee comes out of my pocket and is not paid for by PDGA members. Once the round ends, I grab my camera and head out on the course to take photos of the event for PDGA.com. You can check out the galleries at Japan Open galleries. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/collections/72157605566984876/)

Once the round ends, I usually assist the video crew with interviews and other event DVD related business before uploading event photos and the days scores (http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=7272) to the PDGA website. After wrapping up my work I take the shuttle back to the tournament hotel where I arrive around 5:00pm for another couple hours of computer work in the hotel lobby on current PDGA projects. Dinner is usually scheduled for 6:00pm and is included with my tournament entry fee on this trip. My typical dinner is spent talking with members, promoters and country coordinators about disc golf as we eat. Last night I met with Jussi Meresmaa of DiscMania in Finland over dinner to discuss the Presidents Cup, which we are attempting to bring to the United States this year. Breakfast yesterday was spent with the Swedish contingent talking about the upcoming Scandinavian Open, which is the PDGA Major in Europe this year. Breakfast this morning was spent discussing technical standards with one of our sports manufacturers. This week, I have also had sit downs with the head of the Japanese PDGA and the Korean PDGA as well as a media team that I am working with on an initiative to bring disc golf to television. After dinner, I head back to the lobby for a couple more hours of computer work on current PDGA projects. As I post this tonight it is 10:15 pm Japan time and I am surrounded by tournament staff all still working hard on their computers.

So today alone, I have put in approximately twelve hours of PDGA work and it appears that I will be up for a while longer before everything is completed. Tonights project is the Innovation Grant program. I have been going to bed this week around 11:00pm, which is pretty early for me but 5:00am comes mighty early. Tomorrow is the fianls and a very busy day with more photos and scoring.

Funny thing. As I am writing this, Michael Sullivan walks in and jokingly says to his wife, "take a photo of Brian Graham actually doing work" and the lobby erupts with laughter because several members are here online and they were just discussing this thread.

This is just a typical day in the life of a PDGA Executive Director on the road. Does it sound exciting? I can assure you that it is or I wouldn't have taken this job. Is it easy? No. I am exhausted and I miss my wife and kids immensely but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director

thats the itinerary that I had mentioned before... Thanks Brian. And so you know for certain I was NEVER against you being there, just being there and only playing while taking a flight on PDGA dime. That is clearly not what is happening and for that I am very pleased.

btw, disc golf on television NEEDS to happen. We have paper-rock-scissor championships, spelling bees, world series of poker, mountain man competitions and other "not so sport" events broadcast on the regular. It's time a legitimate sport gets its due. There are tens of thousands of players out there. I'm pretty certain there aren't tens of thousands of people that play professional roshambo. I want to watch Worlds live on my tube one day. Hopefully sooner than later....

Thanks for all you do Brian! It's sad Brian has to get on here and justify what he is doing in Japan. I gurantee 100% of the disc golfers in his shoes would be playing. I can also gurantee a large % of those complaining do absolutely nothing to promote the game. They are probably the same guys at every tournament that complain about something.

Thanks for all you do Brian! It's sad Brian has to get on here and justify what he is doing in Japan. I gurantee 100% of the disc golfers in his shoes would be playing. I can also gurantee a large % of those complaining do absolutely nothing to promote the game. They are probably the same guys at every tournament that complain about something.



Not me friend.

Just checked the stats and Val's round rating should make it in the top five all time for women and is easily the best round ever for courses with an 18-hole SSA equivalent over 60 (60.4 for this round). Juliana's 1008 at 2005 KC Wide was the highest rating by a woman on courses with an SSA over 60, until now. Juliana, Val and Des (Players Cup 2007) are the only women known to shoot a round of 1000 rating or above on a course with an SSA of at least 60.

I just want to make it clear that I am not questioning whether or not BG is on a working holiday. I know BG is a hard worker and would use this opportunity well. I am only questioning the use of membership fees for the flight. As I see it, thats 9 baskets for a new course.

Hey will one of you golfers(in Japan)go outside and wipe the dew off the live camera lens,I can't see anything!

As I see it, that's 9 baskets for a new course.



As in the VISA commercial, meeting with the global movers and shakers in person: Priceless

Good lookin' Val!! How's the sushi treating ya? ****....wish I was there.

Way to show up your brother by shooting two strokes better that round Val!

That's Awesome VAL!

Come on Graham! Show us you can play a PDGA event as hard as you can work for the PDGA. I'm glad you're there doing both!

so to answer everyones question from another thread... as I stated previously... a womans 1000 is a mans 1000.

Avery who? ;)

Thanks for all you do Brian! It's sad Brian has to get on here and justify what he is doing in Japan. I gurantee 100% of the disc golfers in his shoes would be playing. I can also gurantee a large % of those complaining do absolutely nothing to promote the game. They are probably the same guys at every tournament that complain about something.



Not me friend.



Have you checked who was playing the first card at the JO?

^^^ ?!?

Hi Everyone,

I do understand and appreciate all of your concerns but you can all rest assured that a plenty is being accomplished on this working trip to promote our great sport around the world. I am sharing a room with three tournament staff members at the Towa Cottages about 10 minutes from the course. My typical work day begins at 5:00am when I wake up and walk over to the hotel lobby to get an internet connection and download and answer the usual thirty to fifty work related e-mails that I receive each day. They call Japan the land of the rising sun because the sun comes up at 4:45am this time of year and I am usually up to see it rise. It usually takes me between one and two hours to answer my mail. After a quick breakfast, I catch the shuttle bus over to the golf course and unload my equipment into the tournament headquarters.

I am lucky enough on this trip to have the rare opportunity to play in the tournament but the current state of my game ensures that I begin and finish my round before the leaders even tee off. Playing from time to time also reminds me why I love this game so much and why I applied for the job of executive director of the PDGA. Don't worry, my entry fee comes out of my pocket and is not paid for by PDGA members. Once the round ends, I grab my camera and head out on the course to take photos of the event for PDGA.com. You can check out the galleries at Japan Open galleries. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/collections/72157605566984876/)

Once the round ends, I usually assist the video crew with interviews and other event DVD related business before uploading event photos and the days scores (http://www.pdga.com/tournament/tournament_results.php?TournID=7272) to the PDGA website. After wrapping up my work I take the shuttle back to the tournament hotel where I arrive around 5:00pm for another couple hours of computer work in the hotel lobby on current PDGA projects. Dinner is usually scheduled for 6:00pm and is included with my tournament entry fee on this trip. My typical dinner is spent talking with members, promoters and country coordinators about disc golf as we eat. Last night I met with Jussi Meresmaa of DiscMania in Finland over dinner to discuss the Presidents Cup, which we are attempting to bring to the United States this year. Breakfast yesterday was spent with the Swedish contingent talking about the upcoming Scandinavian Open, which is the PDGA Major in Europe this year. Breakfast this morning was spent discussing technical standards with one of our sports manufacturers. This week, I have also had sit downs with the head of the Japanese PDGA and the Korean PDGA as well as a media team that I am working with on an initiative to bring disc golf to television. After dinner, I head back to the lobby for a couple more hours of computer work on current PDGA projects. As I post this tonight it is 10:15 pm Japan time and I am surrounded by tournament staff all still working hard on their computers.

So today alone, I have put in approximately twelve hours of PDGA work and it appears that I will be up for a while longer before everything is completed. Tonights project is the Innovation Grant program. I have been going to bed this week around 11:00pm, which is pretty early for me but 5:00am comes mighty early. Tomorrow is the fianls and a very busy day with more photos and scoring.

Funny thing. As I am writing this, Michael Sullivan walks in and jokingly says to his wife, "take a photo of Brian Graham actually doing work" and the lobby erupts with laughter because several members are here online and they were just discussing this thread.

This is just a typical day in the life of a PDGA Executive Director on the road. Does it sound exciting? I can assure you that it is or I wouldn't have taken this job. Is it easy? No. I am exhausted and I miss my wife and kids immensely but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director



Thanks for taking the time to explain a typical day in your life, Brian. Although I agree that it's sad that you have to take the time to justify what you do. I hope those who were previously so critical are now ashamed and embarrassed by their unwarranted, unjustified criticism.

I think yours and many others expectations are way out of line for what is required to run a professional organization with qualified people. You've had it easy with volunteers catering to players getting little in return. The reality is that players receive more than they pay for at all levels in this sport.



Exactly. Brian should be at all Majors, and the fees tournaments pay should hlpe fund this. To not have PDGA execs at this event would be the silliest thing ever.

And many work places do pay their top performers with trips to vacations. But overall every TD that works their tails off for an event rarely make a dime, that is a bigger issue than the PDGA sending an ambassador to help promote the PDGA, it should be as simple to see that we need to have the people there at Majors.

I just want to make it clear that I am not questioning whether or not BG is on a working holiday. I know BG is a hard worker and would use this opportunity well. I am only questioning the use of membership fees for the flight. As I see it, thats 9 baskets for a new course.



Hi Sjur,

I had previously posted on another thread that my trip here is being underwritten by the Japan Open because they want PDGA representation here. Its all good! I do appreciate everyone's concern regarding PDGA finances but you can all rest assured that you member dues are being well spent promoting our sport.

I have changed the name of this thread to PDGA travel. Its a shame that this whole Japan Open thread has been about my travel when it should be about the greatest disc golf event on our planet. YES... This event is that good!

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director

so im getting an education on things... evidently there already is a Japan PDGA... does someone have to be a member of the PDGA for this tourney if they are a JPDGA member? What type of a relationship do they have with the PDGA? are they 'under' THE PDGA? (btw... i dont have concerns about 'the trip'... no agenda here... just curious)

btw AWESOME SHOOTING VAL!!!

SICK 2nd round from Val! WOW!

Stack,

The JPDGA is affiliated with the PDGA in the same way that PDGA Europe is. They represent the PDGA in their respective geographic regions only under a more regionalized name. Their dues levels are slightly different than in North America but comes to the US office and we support them through our highly successful international program under the direction of Brian Hoeniger.

All participants in this event, just as in all of our majors, have to be a current PDGA member.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director

Great pictures Brian, maybe get a few of the ladies. I love the one of the old fellow walking with his cane to go see what all the hubbub is about. Also the one of Avery looking like he's throwing a disc off the end of the world. Awesome!! Have a Sapporo on me Brian!!!

thanks Brian... just curious how it works. Is it the hope or plan to have a PDGA-insert country or region name here for other countries down the road? would this include the establishment of a PDGA-USA or north america?

btw... good luck today and get in a round over 900!!! ;)

Is there going to be live scoring for the Final 9? Looks like Final 9 might start around 2pm Japan tournament time? That would be midnight Central US time.

Thanks for taking the time to explain a typical day in your life, Brian. Although I agree that it's sad that you have to take the time to justify what you do. I hope those who were previously so critical are now ashamed and embarrassed by their unwarranted, unjustified criticism.

I am never embarrassed or ashamed of what I say or write. Of how i play sometimes, yes.
Everyone who just assumes without question should be ashamed and embarrassed.
Because of myself and others we have an unofficial account of events and meetings.

Looks like Brian will earn his scoring stripes if he pulls off the dual pools with 18 and 9 holes for round 3 and gets ratings to process. Apparently the bottom third of the men and women are currently playing a 9-hole loop and the top two-thirds are playing an 18-hole loop with all of those scores to potentially show up in the round 3 column. All of the bottom third could leap to the top of the leaderboard with only 9-hole scores (could have been Brian's secret strategy to get in the top of the bottom pool ;))

Wonder if Kenny paid into the Masters sidebet pool this year... :cool:

I wish there were live scoring for the round right now! I'd love to see how Kevin's doin

If Brian's only playing 9 holes, here's hoping he'll get the chance to do live scoring for the last half of the top group's round maybe an hour from now.

do you think the players felt that earthquake?

I hope Brian gets that chance to score live! But I'm sure he wouldn't be scoring the 4th group :(

My monitor jiggled a little...

According to the website, Feldberg shot 56 and has a 5-shot lead over Manabu going into the Final 9 with Jussi and Climo several more back. Perhaps Feldberg is currently checking out the Final 9 layout to make sure there aren't any vehicles near those fairways... :D

question does mccoy work for the pdga? if so could he had been the PDGA representation??

McCoy is a volunteer on the Competition Committee as are Jay Reading and Suzette Simons who are also there.

Perhaps Feldberg is currently checking out the Final 9 layout to make sure there aren't any vehicles near those fairways... :D



Or checking for bike tires to bounce his shots off and knock them back in bounds! :D

Scores
http://japanopen.jp/tournament/2008/score.php

I think I got the PDGA site round ratings and sort order fixed before the Finals. Note: the B pool won't actually get round ratings for the 9-hole 3rd round so disregard those. And I had to set the B pool total 9-hole course par to 3 for round 3 to inflate their over par figures which forced them to the bottom of their division rankings.

Congrats Dave!! He and Avery shot fire that last round. Living the dream baby....living the dream. Peace.

congrats Dave and Val !! Now there are 2 JO trophies on the mantle in the Davery-Eugene household... SWEEET

who won the Master's side-pool?

I was looking at the final round scores and it looks like Anni kreml beat Des reading by three stokes but placed 5 while Des placed 4 and then played in the finals. Is there something there that I'm missing? It looks like Anni should have played in the finals and not Des.

On the official Japan open scoring page, Anni's second ruound is 104, but it's 100 on PDGA. So I guess it's just a mistyping on PDGA and Des totally correct made the final by one throw.

Cool, I figured as much but wanted to make sure.

I just want to make it clear that I am not questioning whether or not BG is on a working holiday. I know BG is a hard worker and would use this opportunity well. I am only questioning the use of membership fees for the flight. As I see it, thats 9 baskets for a new course.



The PDGA doesn't buy baskets for courses, whether the Executive Director travels to do business or not.

If he hadn't thrown a disc, I'm guessing you'd be OK with him being there?

No.

No.



How are you with Board Members that don't attend Board meetings, even though the organization pays expenses, but then play in tournaments on the dime of a sponsor?

Scores
http://japanopen.jp/tournament/2008/score.php



Is the payout posted somewhere? Did The Borg win 1,000,000 yen ($9225)?

Double Post deleted by My_Hero

In the computer age, you can have face to face meetings with people all over the world for free. That should simple to figure out. I run a small international business and spend at least an our a day on Skype.

I dont understand your question as it pertains to any of the previous points.

Oregon takes down three of the top five places with Oregon native Nate Sexton taking 5th place and his best tournament to date. Look for Sexton to play strong in LA - I predict top ten for Sexton.

Scoring error? PDGA site shows Sexton 1 stroke better than Meresmaa.

Not sure where you see that...Nate missed the finals by a few strokes and edged out Doss and Climo to hang on to fifth. The PDGA results page shows it that way as well.

Scores
http://japanopen.jp/tournament/2008/score.php



Is the payout posted somewhere? Did The Borg win 1,000,000 yen ($9255)?



I want to see the payout as well... anyone know if its posted anywhere yet?

I'm not on the PDGA payroll and don't even know who Brian but think that sending a PDGA representative to Japan for face time and helping out is ridiculous. The mortage crisis had nothing to do with people not doing business face to face. I work for an international corporation that does $5 billion in annual revenue and we don't fly people all over the world because it is too expensive. With current technology, there is nothing that couldn't be acheived remotely. What exactly was acheived that justified the expense? Let's here about the actual results that the trip produced for the betterment of the PDGA instead of theories and vague statements. What were the objectives and benefits of paying for this trip and were they acheived? There are more effective ways for the PDGA to understand the needs of the members that you are hired to serve than flying people all over the world. In the real world, major corporations did away with this type of nonsense years ago. You should be a little more responsible with what you spend money on.

Not sure where you see that...Nate missed the finals by a few strokes and edged out Doss and Climo to hang on to fifth. The PDGA results page shows it that way as well.

It was late, I think I was misreading Jussi and Nate's scores for the second round (flip flopped them in my head). My bad. :)

Break out the violins. I'm working on a $60 million dollar project with a 30 member project team located in 9 different countries and do everything via tele-conferences, shared portals and email. I'm sure someone could have taken pictures and arranged interviews. As far as the couple meetings youo mentioned, what did you acheive that couldn't have been acheived on a conference call? Were those acheivements significant enough to justify the cost of the trip? How much did PDGA spend in total on this trip?

Hey man, can't a guy justify a trip to Japan as vacation? He probably just wanted to relax, chill and experience another culture. Then when he gets back, he can do a better job. Well spent money$$$

first class or coach?

sorry, I couldn't resist.

What's up with the sores from about 28 on. they are all crazy.

if you have 28 sores I'd imagine they would be CrAZy.

Sorry... like 21730 I couldnt resist!

resist.

it's not futile.

I work for an international corporation that does $5 billion in annual revenue and we don't fly people all over the world because it is too expensive. With current technology, there is nothing that couldn't be acheived remotely. ....... In the real world, major corporations did away with this type of nonsense years ago. You should be a little more responsible with what you spend money on.



Brian is one person, and the face time on a sport that is its in infancy needs to have people associated with it, not an e-mail address. Companies still send people to do business throughout the country and the world, just not as many. Now sending the entire PDGA office to Japan may have merits with your argument, but a newly appointed individual that needs to meet with all the governing bodies of our sport needs to be there for the showcase events. If nothing other than "Hi I am Brian Graham." was made at this, at least people in Japan and of the JPDGA (Which also pay dues to the PDGA) now have a better face to put forward about our sport, and the determination to make that connection. Connections are made in person, and the internet is not that tool. I can bet that your multi-billion dollar company had many years of face-to-face interaction to build that trust to use the internet as the tool that it can be used for, it is not the best method for introductions to individuals, though it can be, just not the best.

Personal interaction is what makes me play disc golf some 20 years later, and if I had not met the people playing this sport, I would still be playing competitive baseball or softball, and spending my money there instead. As it stands, our group of people for the most part "get" that we are a group of collective individuals that talk and enjoy each other, otherwise, why on earth would I choose to help run another Worlds?

FACE TO FACE makes an impact that is lasting, and builds relationships, internet only pushings things around in a storage room after a sale has been made by those interpersonal relationships.

My $.02

Maybe the PDGA should post their annual budget so everyone can see where the money is being spent.

They do publish it. And in the case of the Japan Open, the Japanese requested Brian's presence instead of the usual stipend the PDGA supplies to Championships. So in essence, his trip was free for the PDGA. Brian posted that information earlier.

The most incredible event I have ever been to.

If USDGC is #1 then the Japan Open is #1A with better views. If we could only have about 12 events a year like that.....THAT would be a tour now. As for Brian going....he worked a lot more than he played there. He was a busy man so even if the PDGA funded it, it was money well spent. Having Brian play in the event also gave him a hands on experience on how the players want to be treated.
The Japan Open was the most incredible experience of my life (except for that putting with the 150 putter thing...YUK!!! :D) I can't wait to take the family back.

Oyasuminasai

;)

PAYOUTS?!?.. anyone, anywhere?... curiousity is killing me.