Discussion: :)

I am so glad I didn't go there :D If you couldn't find controls, then imagine me :D

Greg, you are too personal at BB. I was actually surprised to see so tall blueberry bushes, which made navigation and flags findings a bit challenging. But, despite everything, BB still does the job while other never do. Actually, he agreed that the time of the event wasn't right for this terrain and it should be not later that end of April before the vegetation gets out in full force.

Terrain changed, but BB did not, controls where hidden on purpose, you could feel it.
I set courses in May for TT in high blueberry, I made sure controls can be seen, from a distance more then 5 m.

Sound painfully familiar. I went to their meet last December , held on a similar terrain , Batsto? He put a control on a supposed "saddle" , essentially a flat area overgrown by shrub, maybe 100m by 100m. Searched for the control for 10 minutes, eventually found it. Of course, having grown up on this kind of terrain, I am positive with O'ring culture in place one can design and place a fair course on it, no problem.

Old grumpy men - young Wyatt didn't have any problems :)

Wyatt had problems too, first, he started the latest, there were tracks made by us, and it was 70-75 min course - he was 83, you never knew what control was placed odd.

It seems to me we always complain when we do badly.

yurets>>I do hear you complain a lot, but I rarely see your name as an event organizer. I would love to attend one of your events. Are there any at QOC that you are organizing this year?

Thank you Boris, you nailed my main point.

Where is element of adventure and whiff of happiness? Where is that "I want to find and discover" spirit? I guess over the hill brings more conservative type of DarthBaltering.

P.S. Disclaimer: I hate when controls are hidden or misplaced or missing - wholesomely agree with Grisha. I guess I am also old grumpy man.
P.P.S. I really, really hope this may become the noisiest blog on AP as shows some soft sides of impenetrable and mighty Darth :)

@BorisGr: Weird way to ask a question to a person by posting it in a 3rd party blog. No I did not share with anyone publicly my opinion about #1 at the Quantico meet, and I only told you since you asked. These days I rarely volunteer this kind of feedback. No, QOC leadership (I consider you to belong to this group) did not contact me, except once last Fall to help to collect controls. I could not help, and I came to the meet director and explained. IMO, honest feedback (worded appropriately-- just like Greg did here) is essential for progress and improvement. I am not imposing my views on QOC in any way.

yurets>> I don't see a problem with asking questions directed at a participant of a discussion in a public forum.

I actually agree with you about #1 on my Blue course at Combat Village, and I appreciated the feedback - that's why I asked. I should not have put the control there, and I (hopefully) learned from that mistake. Criticism, when done in a healthy and constructive way, is a good thing. However, when everything that someone says is critical and negative, then its value diminishes.

Anyway, I am not part of QOC leadership, but I am sure they would be happy to have someone with your experience and expertise as a course designer / event director. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Tom Nolan if you live in Maryland or John Baker if you live in Virginia. I would be happy to provide their contact info for you.

I know where to find him. There will be ample course setting and meet directing opportunities next season. The schedule will be publicized at the Jug Bay meet, and in fact, that's the place to sign up if you have any particular favorite venues.

@ Sergey - do you see the power of the Dark Side?!!!

I think I am still at Light or Sunny Side but you have more than week in August to show me the power of the Dark Side :) I joined Baltering fan club long time ago so no persuasion is needed to accept your other sides!

Pakim Pond - ye gods, I planned the first ever event there back in '89. Toughest area I ever had to plan on, pretty much every flag you have to adjust just so to get the visibility right. Took forever if not longer, and don't get me started on the ticks.

I wonder if we need sometime control setups like this
"--- "
"| | "
"| ----- "
"| | / | "
"| ----- "
"| O "
"| / |\ "
"| /\ "
"---------------"

Ugh, all the spaces are gone :( I hope you got the idea :)

I'll file a dissenting opinion--I actually really enjoyed the course. Controls were low, not sure if they weren't in the center of the circle--but, seemed pretty close. That said I didn't feel that there were any bingo situations, although I hear there was a control in a pit, which is a cardinal no-no in my book. [Ed--apparently that was #17, argh.]

My visibility standard is that you should be able to see the control when you see the feature, unless it is a positive point feature. I thought that was generally the case.

Unlike when BB drafts the map, symbol sizes and legibility were good, and the course itself really maximized the terrain and offered up new challenges--something quite hard to do in that park. A lesser course setter than BB wouldn't have produced something nearly as enjoyable, IMO.