Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2020/04/10/mailbag-worlds-scheduling-pros-youtube/
Now, you’ll see my thoughts in print every week in the mailbag.
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Q: Is it realistic for Pro Worlds to take place in mid-June, as currently scheduled, given the current coronavirus lockdown conditions? And, even if it is, is it appropriate to host the tournament as what will surely be one of the first tournaments back on tour, given its importance?
– Ashley W.
A: The latest we’ve heard about Pro Worlds is that the June dates are still the plan, but that “postponement has been discussed,” as you would imagine.
I think it’s more or less impossible to project right now whether or not an event like Worlds would be permitted to happen under local regulations at the time of the event, but that’s probably not the main consideration. I think it’s important that players know at least a month in advance, if not six weeks, whether or not Worlds is going to be happening. And given the significant amount of planning and local investment into an event the size of Pro Worlds, it seems probable that the tournament itself will need even more time than a month to decide whether or not to move forward.
So my sense is that a decision is going to get made in the next two weeks about what to do. Given the huge amount of uncertainty, and the near-guarantee that overseas players wouldn’t be able to make it to the tournament, I really think the only likely outcome is a postponement until later in the year.
Here’s the idea I laid out on the Upshot: push Utah Worlds back until 2021. Push Emporia Worlds to 2022. Reach out to the Green Mountain Championships (run by Jeff Spring, home of 2018 Pro Worlds), the MVP Open (Maple Hill deserves a Worlds anyway), or another high-profile late summer/early fall event for this year and inquire into the possibility of running Pro Worlds instead of their currently scheduled tournament. The dates are already (mostly) set and would just require extending by a couple of days. If you were truly desperate, you could even get two rounds in per day with shotgun starts and host the tournament over three days.
I think the upside of this strategy far exceeds the downside. You give pros more certainty, and more likelihood of an actual tour before Worlds. You give Utah the chance to be on solid footing for 2021, without the huge challenges of trying to host an event when businesses may still be shuttered and not spending money on marketing. You allow for more time to figure out a rescheduled Worlds.
If there’s one tournament the PDGA has to do everything in its power to try to ensure it happens in 2020, it’s Worlds. We’re seeing proactive moves from the PGA Tour for golf’s majors — the Masters have been moved from April to November, the PGA Championship from May to August, and the US Open from July to September.
Making a call now to push Worlds back in the calendar is going to make it more likely that it will happen than rolling the dice on June dates.
Q: Are you excited about the sudden explosion of YouTube videos from pro disc golfers?
– John C.
A: Couldn’t be happier about it, honestly. Before this year, who had a significant presence on YouTube? Eagle?
But with Brodie’s emergence and Simon’s stunning rise to over 50K subscribers, suddenly players are opening their eyes to the potential that the Internet can offer to expand their brand, showcase their personality, and connect with their fans.
That’s not to say that it wasn’t happening before. Of course, most players are active on Instagram, but the short format focus of Insta isn’t always the best for creating really compelling content (or making money!).
The pause in the Tour is, of course, making it possible for more pros to take the time to shoot and edit videos, but it’s hard to imagine a more beneficial use of their downtime. Generating a better following online is probably the #1 thing most pro disc golfers could do for their careers. It’s not just about how well you play (though that’s still #1, by far); it’s about getting a following.