Thanks. I want to run some scratch tournaments at the toughest house in the area (1 300 in the past five years) and bring out the big boys from their typical stomping grounds but I had no idea how to do payouts on this thing.

Just to run an idea by and get an opinion I was looking at the following set up:

Lineage : $5.00
Prize F : $7.00
Charity : $1.00
---------------
Total   : $13.00

I do help a local charity outfit who assists women and children who are victims of domestic violence and I thought it this could be a big win-win for everyone involved. Anticipated participation on the first night is 20. The idea would be to run a two game scratch and then bracket the top eight to four and then to two. Paying out the top four in the brackets.....I guess that would be 1 in 5.

As competitive bowlers would the charitable contribution turn you off or away from the tournament? Then with a $140 prize fund I would be looking at payouts according to these percentages (based on 20 participants):

1 - 50%
2 - 30%
3 - 10%
4 - 10%

Ideas, comments, suggestions?



--------------------
The Illustrious One
.....has spoken.

Rags Inspired.


Edited on 2/1/2006 8:22 AM

I hope you're successful. Here's some thoughts... and please.. before you all verbally brow beat me for being negative... I'm not being critical.. I'm offering thoughts on past failures and successes from my perspective. My hope is that you're able to succeed.

Don't forget to look at the economics of the tournament to the bowling center.

20 players times 2 games of qualifying = 40 games
Top 8 bracket = 8 games
Final 4 = 4 games
Championship match = 2 games
Total games bowled = 54 games
Your budget for lineage = $100 or roughly $1.86 per game

Not bad but probably a little low. (Definitely low in my area) Your best shot may be trying to run the tournament when the center needs to fill a hole.

Also, with that small of a prize fund I think you'll find it challenging to get people to travel. At 20 people I need to beat 19 to win 70 bucks?

I disagree that you'll draw many lower average bowling in a scratch tournament. They may be curious but they know they are going to get beat and they typically will not donate just to play two games on a different pattern.

Might try to run it after one of the better leagues. Recruit the players during league and start the tournament say 15-30 minutes after league play ends. I've been involved with this in the past and we had some success. It takes a LOT of recruitment effort on your part. As the players committ to the tournament ask them to pay... they are much more likely to follow through and bowl if they've already paid for it.

Best of luck to you. I have some more thoughts and ideas.. PM me if you're interested.

One, good luck.  I tried putting some tournaments together around here and got zero support - from the center.  I like your idea of a low entry fee tournament.  Around here I think that such a deal, in the right time slot, would attract a fair number of the 170-190 average guys.
--------------------
"I do desire that we may be better strangers."  Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)