I have played 2 NT events this year (Sunshine/Hambrick), and the host clubs/companies were outstanding. The tournaments were both top notch events, but couldn't help notice the low open field attendance, and a lot of top players missing....why??

I thought the NT Series was the PDGA's flagship product to market??

I was just wanting to get some thoughts on this topic to see if we need to go in another direction.....some of the top players were only 5-6 hours away at a B Tier in Nashville, and the top 2 players weren't even in the country.....

Is it about money?? Is it scheduling?? Is it both??

Maybe Vibram should run the series, they seem to have some momentum.....

poor scheduling, no doubt.

I think the top open pros are probably fine with a schedule that occasionally allows them to avoid competing for the same small pile of cash. The only thing Nate Doss gets from having Nikko and Feldberg at the same tournament is two less chances to come in first.

Just my thoughts...

Brinster made a "guaranteed" 1500 by going to VT instead of going a LOT further (larger costs incurred) and competing for about 2000.

If I were a Pro of his caliber, I'd have done the same.

Karl
Ps: Yup, I'm guessing it IS about the money

Brinster got a 1500 dollar appearance fee? ...or he actually had to play and win the money(which is never a guarantee)?

Very old bird-like creature,

That's why I placed " " around the word guaranteed. I know prize money isn't guaranteed, but a 1030 player up against "mere" 1000'ers (I WISH I was that mere) has a "pretty good chance" to come home with the bacon; certainly better than against Doss.

Karl

With the rapid growth of our sport, more and more clubs and people will be stepping up to host tournaments and do whatever they can to lure players to their tournaments. This includes recruiting particular pros to their tournament over larger tournaments that are farther away. It's not a bad thing that we see options appearing to traveling pros, nice to spread it out... But I am very surprised at the low numbers in the amateur divisions at the "NT's" (supertour side of the NT's). Beaver State had the am side fill up in 10 minutes and had a wait list of like 400 and only 90 at Brent Hambrick? Seems to be a certain diverse variation in the amatuer side of things? that something that could be more focused on than seeing pros make their own choices among healthy competition to recruit them to tournaments around the globe...
oh yeah, had baby #2 last night, welcome to the DG world baby #2..

90 Ams (and 90 pros) was the max possible at Hambrick since an 18-hole course was used.

I don't think Paul Ulibarri is missing Nikko, Feldberg, Cale and the others who went to Europe for a couple of weeks!

Brinster got a 1500 dollar appearance fee? ...or he actually had to play and win the money(which is never a guarantee)?

I played on the lead card with Brinster for the 4 rounds. He shot an unbelievable 51 at Cherry Hill 1st round. Bard shot solid and after 3 rounds and was only 5 shots back. Marcus and I were down by 11. I think if Bard had a better lead over Marcus and myself he would have shot more aggressively during the last round, thus putting more pressure on Brinster. He was probably thinking that $1000 for second place is good enough.


Options are good for the touring pro. The more the merrier.


JB

thanks for the feedback.....good stuff!!

If there are better opportunities for top touring pros, maybe we (pdga) should use our resources (money) toward something else??

Is there a way to find out how much we spend on marketing/managing the NT Series?