Captain’s Log, November 29th, 2015

The APA Southwest Challenge Tournament just became even more exciting. We’ve been running these tournaments for 20 years now, and with our new relationship with the Westgate Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, we’ve decided to add another fun tournament to our event. Our 3 person tournament isn’t making any changes. What we are adding to the March event is a 9 Ball Scotch Doubles tournament. This is an alternating shot format with a handicap limit of 11. To allow for this event, we are expanding the size of our tournament room and the amount of pool tables to 64. We will be offering separate packages for each event. The 8 Ball event will be $510 per team, or $170 per player. This is a $15 increase from the previous package price, but the only change is in the entry fee, which is paid back 100%. The 3 person team package is for 3 room nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) for $300, $150 team entry fee and $60 per team for greens fee (open pool tables for the entire event). The Scotch Doubles event will have 2 different package prices, depending on whether you want the 2 night or 3 night package. The Scotch Doubles tournament starts at noon on Friday, so we are leaving the option open for a 2 night package for those that prefer that route. The 2 night package price is $340 ($200 for room on Friday and Saturday, $100 for entry fee and $40 for greens fee) and the 3 night is $440 with the difference being $300 for the room for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Something to know about this added tournament is that the finals for both events will likely take place on Sunday. We will stagger the tournaments throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, creating breaks between rounds. Thursday night will be registration for both tournaments and mini tournaments until the wee hours. Friday morning at 8:30 will be the captain’s meeting for the 8 Ball 3 person event. First round starts at 9am. The Scotch Doubles event will continue registration on Friday morning and the captain’s meeting is at 11:30am Friday. The first round of the Doubles starts at Noon. The field is limited to 256 teams for the 8 Ball event and 128 teams for the Scotch Doubles event. While we will take signups for teams to play in both tournaments, unique teams (people not playing in both events) get first priority for slots. Because of the amount of league areas participating, slots are being allotted for the 9 Ball Scotch Doubles event. We currently have 20 slots for Scotch Doubles. Anything over 20, we will need to go on a waiting list for more slots. 

The point system we will be using for the 9 Ball Scotch Doubles tournament is based on skill level, and is the same as the APA uses for their Preregistered National Championships. Skill level 2=14, 3=17, 4=19, 5=22, 6=25, 7=28, 8=31, 9=35, 10=38, 11=42. Time outs are 1 per team per game. 

Now for the more complicated stuff…. The two tournaments will not interfere with each other, so people could technically participate in both events. However, signup priority goes to unique players first. If you have a 3 person team and you also want a scotch team for 1 or even 2 of your players, you will be placed on a waiting list after teams who are not participating in the 3 person event. The reason for this is because part of our commitment to the Westgate for this added space is guaranteeing more people stay at the Westgate by us selling more team packages. We also need more players paying us the $20 greens fee to help cover the cost of a second truck of pool tables that will be needed. Players playing in both events would not be required to pay a second greens fee or for a second room, so common players to both events aren’t helping us meet the numbers necessary to add this event. With that said, we do believe we will be able to accommodate those that want to play in both events. A common player/team playing in both events would be responsible for a 3 person team package plus the entry fee ($50 each) for the Scotch Doubles event, which would make that package price $610. 

The October 3 person 9 Ball event will be adding an 8 Ball Scotch Doubles tournament in 2016. We wanted to provide an 8 ball and a 9 ball event for each of our tournaments so that we have something available for all of our league members. There will still be minimum participation requirements in order to participate in either event. Watch for a flyer promoting the March Tournament coming out in the next few weeks. We are taking signups starting now, but please be aware that to sign up for either or both events will require all of the names of your teammates for the tournament. We hope you are as excited about the added tournament as we are.