Matt Pipke

I believe the thinking that was explained by Emac anyway was that there is a perfect number of people for the event that makes it just right, too many and it becomes less of an experience and more hassle, and too few has a similar issue, they decided early on although unpopular this was the right size field for them to be able to accommodate.

Daryl Huschka

I personaly respect the fact they want to protect what they have and keep making it better!!

Alex Vang

my only argument here is that this sport is really growing! This sport is growing big and with continued exposure through social media, this will only get bigger. It would be great for as many people to go as possible. Now I am biased but I do hope that they understand how big this sport is really growing.

Caleb Karch

Thank you Alex. I had a great experience last year with no hassle, even in pouring rain and a 6 hour round. It seems at least something went well last year as shown by the waitlist this year. I hope I make it in this time, but it doesn't look good.

Les Bergsman

I too was there with you last year Caleb. We probably stood together under the covered picnic area by the #1 teepad with Mike Solt at Jones West waiting for the rain and lightning to clear. Yes, it was an experience of a lifetime for me, particularly coming from Snohomish WA (North of Seattle was ... more

I too was there with you last year Caleb. We probably stood together under the covered picnic area by the #1 teepad with Mike Solt at Jones West waiting for the rain and lightning to clear. Yes, it was an experience of a lifetime for me, particularly coming from Snohomish WA (North of Seattle was how I had them announce it from the teepad because nobody from the midwest is able to make their mouths form the word "Snohomish") and is not likely something I'll get to do again. I certainly understand Alex's point regarding the growth of the sport and wanting to get as many people in as possible. I do, however, also have the perspective of someone who recently ran a tournament that I 'overfilled' and got bit by having done it. Although everything was awesome for everyone, some groups did not get to finish all of the holes in their final round. As a TD, this is gut wrenching. Even with 99.4% absolute success, the feeling that some groups got a 'less than perfect' experience is, from the Tourney Management perspective, nearly the only thing you feel, know about, hear about. when people tell you "It was awesome", what you hear is "It was awesome, for a tournament where the whole world collapsed around you and you had the ability to have done it better with fewer people in the tournament".... There's really no way around hearing those words on the end of every 'congratulations', 'had a great time', 'experience of a lifetime', etc. Last year, the tournament was filled to absolute max, everything has to be absolutely perfect for it to all go right, couldn't squeeze even a single additional person onto the course and be a success without everything else being perfect, capacity. In fact, the weather was not perfect, and while you and I were standing waiting, so were others, and some of those others did not get to finish all of their rounds. I doubt anyone is upset about that at this point, but that feeling will never leave the tournament direction and management staff. I can't blame them at all for not wanting to run into the same situation again, even if everything that happens is well outside of their control. This sport is awesome, its people are awesome, this tournament is awesome and always will be. Even while nobody but the event staff have any negative feelings about last year, the feelings they have about the decisions they were forced to make last year will always haunt them. They are going to be a bit gunshy about overfilling a tournament, and for a while, they will likely leave a big cushion of space, in the case something beyond their control happens. I know that is true for me and mine, and that was a 94 person C-Tier. As you are probably aware, other Major tournaments had difficulties to deal with this year, and some were very frustrating, but equally avaiodable. Imagine trying to run a fairly substantial tournament in Rock Hill South Carolina during a hurricane... as an example. The point is, we play a sport that is 100% at the mercy of conditions that we have no control over. What a tournament management can do is position themselves in such a way that they can best respond and give everyone the best possible experience in the case there are unexpected challenges. You do that by leaving a little extra room to maneuver.