How up is too up?

Should the PDGA limit how many divisions you can skip according to your rating? I play up one division up, I'm rated 925 and play advanced. We have a guy that is a 884 that plays in the advanced division. It sounds harmless until he's on your card the first round.I don't want to play with rec. players in the advanced division, like the pro's don't want to play with intermediate players in the pro division. What is the point of the player ratings if you can play any division you want.You can't play down two divisions, why can you play up?

[xians421]

When I was playing Novice or Intermediate, I would seek Pros to play with to improve my game. I was told "We play for five bucks a round". When I asked for two or three strokes (even though I needed eight) I was laughed at. I realized then that an eighteen hole lesson from three Pros cost five bucks. I happily paid it and went from losing novice monthlies to winning advanced in six months. Most of those guys are still my friends, so pay up and take it like a man. But don't be the happy idiot in a PDGA event.

[Brandon Swanson]

I find that sad that anyone would have that attitude (the guys demanding money of an AM to just be able to play with them).

[Nate Nasty]

Player ratings are for people who couldn't hack it as real athletes and play disc golf to impress other men.

[Nate Nasty]

What happens is good fun loving disc golfers lose there love for the game, and need to something to justify the time/effort they have spent developing there skills. It's the same crazy people who want to require dress codes at tournaments (collars).

[Disc nut]

We are talking about rated players,thats the only way we are being measured so let use it. Tournament players are there to compete first, fun is relative. Casual players may never be tournament players.As far as the exploitation of the system it wouldn't work for long.Also a 1000+ rated player is a world class pro whether they accept cash or not.The current system is flawed.

[xians421]

Fuck collars. I'd play naked if they'd let me. There's a good reason they don't let me.

[Charles Isaac]

What do you mean we cannot play naked? . . . so that explains what everyone was upset about.

Mental note to self: wear some clothes while playing disc golf.

[Donny Olow]

The Idea is to Improve and not sandbag , even though some have been sandbagging for years !

[xians421]

And you're one of the people I paid my five bucks to. I'm jussayin.

[Essential Discs]

there is already a flaw in our bagging system which i know a few people have found and exploited. if you stop playing for awhile and then go tank a 4 round tournament you can drop a division and then slaughter your competition for a few months and then do it again... but that is besides the point.

Your 1000+ am is still am am until he accepts cash. He could be 2000 rated and if he never accepts cash could continue to come and win am worlds every year. this is allowed because the PDGA doesn't want to force anyone to play for cash.

As for players playing up. the reason for the ratings break is for sandbagging issues. but why should anyone have to EARN to play in a higher tier? I know people not in the PDGA that could come in and shoot 1000+ rated rounds every time. If they joined the PDGA they should have to start out in Novice? Seems kinda silly to me.

[josh wieschowski]

Very well put!

[Justin NUDGA#15]

You don't have to be 970+ to be a Pro. There are low rated players who carry themselves like true pros. They may not be in the hunt for the cash, but I think they deserve to play with the pros if they choose.
Also, when you bump up, your player rating will follow. Keep an eye on the 884 rated guy. I bet his rating goes up next year. My rating has gone up 25 points this year after turning pro.