I want to play, but...

[Bob Johnson]

First off I am a newbie. Just started playing last year and I am hooked. I watch videos of tournaments on YouTube, I play every week, I am active in my local club, I am a member of NEFA. My son plays now and I have gotten a few of my friends hooked and even was "TD" for our Birdie Bash this spring. I have gotten better, holding my own on league night, and now I want to take another step. Play in a tournament. I figured out the different levels, and want to see how I hold up in competition.

So I go to the NEFA home page, (which has 2 post so far this year) go to Upcoming events and see there is one at Beauty Hill. That is awesome, I played a month ago and that would be sweet. I click for more info and I get an email and a phone number. Then it has a link for Main event listing, which takes me to another list with no info. Thats cool, I will just The Point Series link to get more info. Nothing. (well go to forum, but that is for sure not newbie friendly). So I click on season standings…maybe there is something there. Nope, guessing no NEFA tourneys so far this year. Thats all good. I will go to the course…

Nope, Beauty Hill is not a course, Woods at Beauty Hill is (thank you Google). Finally I find tournament Info. Still no way to easily sign up (i.e.. Birdie Bash) just call or email Blaze. And that is fine. But at this point, WTF? Why is it that that crucial info not right there at NEFA? Yes I know now his email was there, but after doing Birdie Bash I thought you had to register.

Point is, you have folks that want to play, but just don't know how to go about it (don't even get me started on how I know what division I should play). I know NEFA is talking about updating website…and I hope this is a big part of it. And yes I can see all the regulars rolling their eyes, but for newbs it is just not that obvious.

And I just used BH as an example, I love BH!

Truth is I want NEFA to rock and I am willing to help, but as it stands, it is not very helpful to me as a new player.

[John Tserpes]

Beauty Hill Tourney is always like that. Just email Blaze and let him know you want to play. You pay your entry fee day of. They always run a great tourney up there. Start in AM1 or AM2 and then you'll know where to play for your next tourney.

[Josh Connell]

This is the thread you want, Bob... viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12162

And you're not wrong. This site has gone downhill big time in terms of being user-friendly for finding info of any kind, particularly tournaments. Used to be able to go to the schedule like you did and find not only contact info for an event, but also a link to a flyer and/or an informational site where you could get everything you'd need to sign up or show up and play a tournament. Now, unfortunately, a lot of tournaments don't even get listed on that schedule. And of those that do, most still force you to have to dig through forum threads in the tourney central section to find any information. Extremely difficult way to organize a schedule and really unfriendly for new players and new site users.

Hopefully this new and updated/upgraded website that's been promised will make things better.

[Kenji Cline]

Hi Bob if you haven't got the info yet here is the 1st post in Blaze's Touney thread.

It is hard to believe it but this is our 7th Championship.
The date is Saturday July 19th. Please pre-register by e-mail to BeautyHillFarm@tds.net with your name and division. Cost is $25 amateur and $60 pro which we will collect tournament day.
There will be a player package of a custom Beauty Hill Disc.
We will have Lisa's famous pie at the end of the tournament.
Free coffee,tea, etc. in the morning.
The lunch truck will be back!
This is NEFA sanctioned so we are offering all 12 divisions!
Registration ends 9:30, player meeting 9:45, tournament start 10:00
We are building another 18 holes so if you have time check out our new course.
Handpainted glass trophy for 1st place all divisions.
Top 3 finishers all divisions get homemade jam!
Max is 72 players.
$25 of pro fee goes toward expenses.

[Bob Johnson]

Thanks Guys! In the end I do have it figured out.

Hopefully the web changes that are coming will address some of these usability issues. And this is not a knock on the current NEFA volunteers, I know how much work it is just to do small things on the local level, I can only imagine the work to upgrade and maintain the web presence.