The Orange County “Heavenly” Regional
September 4-10, 2006
By Gayle Andrews
Tournament Co-Manager
Addressing
the Great Schedule Debate
What is the most highly debated topic among bridge players and tournament planners alike? It isn’t about systems - standard vs. 2-over-1 vs. Precision. It isn’t about discards - standard vs. odd - even vs. Lavinthal. It’s the eternal debate between the morning people and the evening people!
The burning question is: Should we have the major games at 10:00 & 3:00 or 1:00 & 7:30? Almost everybody has an opinion, and last year we asked the attendees of this regional what their opinions were. We are trying to use the information garnered in order to put together a schedule that will make the greatest number of people happy. Impossible task?
Well, we are trying.
Knockout players overwhelmingly preferred the 10:00 & 3:00 schedule ... 72% of last year’s KO attendees said they preferred the 10:00 & 3:00 schedule, with 13% preferring 1:00 & 7:30 and 15% indicating no preference. This year, the Heavenly Regional will feature Knockouts starting every day, Tuesday through Friday at 10:00 & 3:00, Saturday at 10:00, 3:00 & 7:30, as well as an evening Knockout Series starting on Monday evening at 7:30.
But what about the people that work - or sleep in - who like to play team games? At the Buena Park Regional, we held two very successful, widely attended two-session Swiss Team events on Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings. This will be repeated at the Heavenly Regional in Costa Mesa, giving those players an opportunity to play team games.
Ninety percent of those who regularly play in the senior games indicated that they preferred the 10:00 & 3:00 schedule, so we will have daily senior games at 10:00 & 3:00 Tuesday through Friday.
But what about players who want to play two session pairs games and like the later schedule? While the Open Pairs players also said they preferred 10:00 & 3:00 last year, it was by a lower margin. 23% stated a clear preference for the later schedule, while 9% indicated no preference. The major complaint that we have heard about the 1:00 & 7:30 schedule is that there is too much time between sessions. As part of the hospitality this year, we will be providing all pairs players with pre-duplicated hands, so the setup will take even less time. The two-session Open Pairs games will therefore run at 2:00 & 7:30, instead of 1:00 & 7:30. This also provides players who get knocked out of a team game an alternative to the side game or Swiss Teams, since they can move into a two-session Open Pairs Game.
The 299ers also preferred the 10:00 & 3:00 schedule, but as all of the 299er games will be single session, Non-Life Masters can play at 10:00, 3:00, or 7:30.
We will also be having several single session Swiss Teams events as well as bringing back the Board-A-Match Teams on Wednesday evening.
We are fortunate to have this tournament at the lovely Westin Hotel in South Coast Plaza. We have negotiated room rates at $110, which are less than half of the going rate at this "Heavenly" Hotel. Be sure and make your reservations prior to August 18 in order to get these great rates. You can call the Westin at 800 973-8461 or visit our website at www.theheavenlyregional.com and make reservations on line.
For those flying in, there is a free shuttle available from John Wayne Airport. With so many fine restaurants within walking distance, there is no need to rent a car. For those driving in, the hotel is located right off the 405 Freeway, and parking is $5.00 with in-and-out privileges.