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Well, it seems obvious that Summer is in full swing as I write the August issue of “The Director’s Corner”. It was a blistering 100 Fo in Cincinnati recently with a dripping 75% humidity; New York City folks had one heck of a rain storm as well as an F2 tornado, and I know that most of the rest of the country is dealing with some pretty hot and humid weather too. Of course, those of us in San Francisco are also handling our summer weather – cool and foggy mornings with temperatures reaching into the low 70’s. There is something to say about August weather out here by the Bay. Well, enough gloating for now!
It’s been said that it is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, and I now firmly believe that the same thing holds true for a certain group of gay men who are better known as the San Francisco Golden Gate Classic Tournament Board. Yes, we have once again decided that the date of our 2008 tournament should be some other weekend than the one we moved it to before. On a serious note, the date is now set for the weekend of June 20 – 22, 2008 which is the weekend before Pride Week. Since the July issue sort of made it to the archives before anyone probably got a chance to read it, what a wonderful way to take a week away from home! Fly to San Francisco, bowl in the SFGGC Tournament, spend a few days taking in all the sights, and then, PRIDE Weekend!!!
We held our first Mystery Doubles tournament in our LGBT Wednesday Community league and raised $190.00 to start the ball rolling. I would still like to try and get some virtual tournaments underway with gay leagues in other cities! Please let me know if this idea appeals to your fellow league members. It will be a great way to see how your future competitors are shooting every week as well as a chance to pick up some prize money!
To close up this month’s issue, I would like to offer my thoughts regarding an e-mail that was received this past week. One of the bowlers from the 2007 tournament wrote:
“Just wanted to say firstly that you were the first gay tournament I ever did and I have always been back for last 3 years. Everyone is so nice and I so enjoy the tournament. As your site says you always welcome suggestions, thoughts.....so, here goes. I enjoy the scratch masters part of the tournament the most if I can qualify. Last year I understand you rearranged the divisions because there was some concerns that at the top end you needed a higher starting point for the higher average bowlers and so you increased the second high division to 205 and then open after that. In doing that it now makes a 19 pins spread for the other divisions. I am a low 170s bowler and I don’t have a prayer against a 189 bowler since that division goes from 170 to 189.....”
We are aware of the ever-increasing number of entrants with averages above 200 in our tournament and the number Scratch Masters entries further emphasizes this fact with the top division always being the largest. One of our goals this year is to get more lower average bowlers into the Scratch Masters. I agree that being at the bottom of a division tends to make one feel that their entry fee will be nothing more than a donation to the prize fund. Unfortunately, depending on lane conditions, this really ends up being the truth sometimes. However, the opposite often occurs, too. Some divisions end up with qualifiers who actually bowled lower than their entering average. In response to your question, one possible way of tightening the spread might be to decrease the number of qualifiers in the divisions having fewer entrants, say that 1 in every 8 bowlers will qualify. I am sure there are other ways as well. I want everyone to know that we are going to do our best to make the Scratch Masters event one that is competitive, fair, and fun!
Well, you all have probably worked up quite a sweat reading all of this, so I will sign off until next month!!
Marc Gottschall
Co-Director, 2008 SFGGC
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