State of TGC Tours

[Doyley]

Thanks for another great season at TGC Tours (still 1 week to go) - I think it's been one of our best seasons to date.  I also want to thank everyone that participated in our TGCT Survey.  We gathered some great information - especially from those that don't frequent the forums - it was good to get a pulse from a large portion of TGCT members.

Season 6

We had quite a bit of discussion on format changes for Season 6 - some prior the survey and some after.  There were discussions among admin about doing major changes to the format but at the end of the day the survey results (majority are OK/happy with setup) coupled with Tim's lack of free time to make major changes and an expectation of TGC2020 sometime in the future means we'll continue on into Season 6 with just a few minor tweaks to the setup we have now.

Since we're staying mostly status quo it's safe to assume we'll be able to start Season 6 alongside the real life PGA schedule.  Pencil in a start date of September 8th on site (Sept 7th in-game).  That gives everyone a 2 week break to recharge for next season.

Everyone will continue on from where they finished Season 5 - there will not be a full TGCT Q-School for Season 6.

Promotion events will happen once every 8 weeks in season 6 - which means we'll have a total of 6 promotion events for the upcoming season

There are a few decisions that are still TBD - including cuts on the Challenge Circuit and any changes to Promotion/Demotion mark logic - I think these two things are closely related and I'm sure we can work out something that keeps everyone engaged.

If a new game comes out mid-season we'll look to split the season.  We'll always stay with the current iteration of The Golf Club - warts and all.

Off-Season

Keep an eye on some volunteer postings as the end of a season usually brings a bit of change over to some volunteer positions.

We'll be putting up the polls for end of season awards during the break - you can vote for your favourites on the forums - I'll post a link once it's up

President's Cup - I'm planning on running this at the same time as it runs on the real PGA Tour - so it won't be happening in the offseason - look for it mid-December

Survey

There was some great feedback from the survey - especially in the "type out your answer" portions - that I'll parse and use coming into Season 6.

Thanks for all your feedback regarding a Forced Pro Clubs TGCT - that was a last second throw-in question to see what the general feeling was.  I don't think any of the admin gave it serious consideration prior to the survey and we were a bit surprised by the results - but at this time we won't be making any changes in this area.  If we do, we'll always keep all 3 clubset options available in some shape or form so you can compete at the difficulty level you enjoy most.

[Deleted]

Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, etc. that make this thing go around each season. You are ALL top notch!

[jwtexan]

Thanks fellas! Best in the business.

[boffo]

In ranger world season 6 is already under way and while I already said thanks in our top secret clubhouse some rangers who were a part of season 5 didn't stick around until the end of it, so I'll throw a public thank you out as well.  Thank you to everyone who helped as a ranger at some point in season 5.  If doesn't matter if you only rangered 1 course or more than 4 courses, all contributions help keep the community going strong.

Also a big thank you to the schedulers who are the group the rangers work closest with.  I've always thought you have the most underappreciated job around here so you deserve all the thanks you can get.

The rangers were freshly filled with new recruits a week ago so our numbers are currently good, so don't expect any volunteer posts from me in the near future.  Keep an eye out though if you're interested as opportunities to join usually come up a couple times during the season.

[ezzinomilonga]

Great work. These 4 months here has been great for me. I can't wait for the new season.

If I could remember a single request, please when..and if..you have the time, if is possible to implement for the cc-pro and am, a page of player stats that includes all the flights, as for the money list, if this is possible.

In any case, your work has been and is always priceless. Good end of season to anyone!

[greyosprey]

Doyley any consideration to "tweaking" the # of aids the pro tours use? Just asking. ☺

[Doyley]

Aug 18, 2019 21:03:19 GMT -5 greyosprey said:

Doyley any consideration to "tweaking" the # of aids the pro tours use? Just asking. ☺

Not really to be honest - taking aids away is very polarizing so it'd have to be fairly minor (like the wind icon) for me to consider.  Which aids are you thinking of?

[ezzinomilonga]

The aim cam...or scout cam? (I don't know the exact name, sorry..)
I mean to shut off the cam that helps to aim exactly the point where the ball will land.

This could be a great, great change.
Realistic, but manageable. And would be also a way to appreciate a bit more the real courses we have.
Just to understand what a blind tee shot is, for example.
And to require (and then to give some prize for) some skill more from our best players.
Could we try at least a special event off-season to see the reactions? We could implement the change only for PGA and euro tour. I'm sure it would be manageable..and after some try even appreciated.

[Doyley]

Aug 18, 2019 22:01:48 GMT -5 ezzinomilonga said:

The aim cam...or scout cam? (I don't know the exact name, sorry..)
I mean to shut off the cam that helps to aim exactly the point where the ball will land.

This could be a great, great change.
Realistic, but manageable. And would be also a way to appreciate a bit more the real courses we have.
Just to understand what a blind tee shot is, for example.
And to require (and then to give some prize for) some skill more from our best players.
Could we try at least a special event off-season to see the reactions? We could implement the change only for PGA and euro tour. I'm sure it would be manageable..and after some try even appreciated.

Can't because it can be exploited on PC via the camera/pic taking options not available on other systems.

[ezzinomilonga]

Uh.. sad thing. I dreamed a lot about this change..it seemed such a good thing to make the game still more interesting..but we don't need for sure other things that can be exploited in some way.

Thank you, for the answer..and all the hard work.

[jacobkessler]

Just want to say MASSIVE thank you to all the staff and volunteers here- you guys truly make this game what it is. Here’s so another great season in Season 6!

[Deleted]

Any thoughts on not having promo marks on the PGA? I doubt anyone who has a top 10 isn’t really going to be flirting with being 120th the following week?

How about if you fail the API you get 2 demotion strikes that can’t be removed? Fail it 3 times and you get demoted as they’re not trying to improve their swing or technique?

[SMIFFYLFC79]

Said it before and I'll say it again, Thank You to all Admin and Rangers and anyone else who keeps this TGCT Train chugging along, I'm very appreciative of all your work.

[ezzinomilonga]

Sorry if I ask something more..but I was thinking..i don't know exactly how API works.. I know simply it can't solve every problem about fair play we have in the game.

Now, if I can be fully honest, I don't know how it was before, but I'm here by 4 months and, while 4 months ago I was dreaming about the chance to reach the PGA tour..i have to admit that now I have no more rush. At all. The idea to play the best tour is no more so exciting. And honestly is not acceptable why it happens. The threads of the weekly PGA tournament are sad to read. I feel bad everytime, for all the guys who tries to compete fairly. And I think that in that situation probably I should prefer to quit and to play again alone. Is not serious. And I'm sure that all of you admins are unhappy too, about this thing.

So..considering that we risk to live all this the next season, again and again, please..is possible to have some really harder (and fair, finally) punishment for who exploits every week the system? I think that the main problem is that a single dq changes nothing. Who cheats and has been caught, thinks simply that has been an incident and next week he'll try again, being more careful. They risks nothing. Why they should play fairly?

But what if, after two pulled out scores, there is the ban for the player? A definitive ban, I mean.
Cause if my score is pulled out one time and is my swing, I must simply pull properly the stick. And if is fault of my controller, I don't need another week or try, to understand that I simply need another controller. Or I can try it in another event and ask a check. I did it, before to buy my controller. And all it worked flawlessly.

Implementing this change, who wants to be competitive at the highest levels, who wants to play a major or to have a chance to win the FedEx and the final standing, if every time he needs to create another profile and to restart everytime from the q-school..maybe it could start to think that it would be better to play fairly.

I mean..i know this can't solve everything..but it would be a first step. And we need to do something, cause we risk to have a cheater as a champion of EVERY principal tournament or tour or event. This tour don't deserves to become a joke. We must to do something. Please.

[zzfr33b1rdzz]

Thank you to all of the admins and volunteers for another great season.  This was my first full season on the tours, and despite some struggles throughout, it was thoroughly enjoyable.  I look forward to the coming season and helping out wherever I can.