I've been fortunate to have participated in a number of the greatest trapshooting events ever held, many of these in the State of Nevada. It also saddens me that I have now witnessed the closing of 4 facilities that made Nevada famous. Each of these 4 hosted over 1000 competitors during their glory years- Harold's Club (North of Reno on Pyramid Way), Bob Taylors (Las Vegas), the Sahara/Mint & Las Vegas Gun Club, and finally Sage Hill.
When looking back at what drove the success of these venues, there were two common threads- there were compulsory purses in the main handicap events, and scores of 95 or 96 would earn you a handsome payoff, at least in the first 3 facilities mentioned, as they were of an earlier era.
Weather often played a role in these events, but the shooters of the 60's, 70's and even somewhat into the 80's, didn't skirt the weather as they do now. The prize was simply too great, and weather just wasn't a consideration. If you went, you entered, you shot, plain and simple. Forget about High-Average awards and the like.
Phil Miller was one of the great competitors and club managers of this period. He also contributed monthly articles ("Fellow Shooters") to Trap & Field magazine with his views. In May of 1960 he wrote- "Trapshooting started out as a money sport and if it is to continue its growth it must be kept a money sport".
Call me antiquated, but I'm with Mr. Miller on this one.
Today's target settings combined with modern equipment and ammunition have driven handicap scores to resemble those in a 16yd event. Handicap events were never meant to have perfect scores unless someone had a truly miraculous day. Nowadays, many new shooters will try ATA, but then experience the futility of not feeling competitive after one or two tournaments. If there was at least the perception that a 95 or 96 was competitive in a handicap event, it might turn things around. A new shooter can relate to breaking four 24s. He would probably even enter the purse under these circumstances, as would many others.
We have lost the younger, blue-collar types that made up the masses of the earlier era of trapshooting. We now struggle to hang on to those that can still afford to shoot only for fun and the social interaction.
Is it too late to make a change,and,the bigger question is how would we do it?
Steve
When looking back at what drove the success of these venues, there were two common threads- there were compulsory purses in the main handicap events, and scores of 95 or 96 would earn you a handsome payoff, at least in the first 3 facilities mentioned, as they were of an earlier era.
Weather often played a role in these events, but the shooters of the 60's, 70's and even somewhat into the 80's, didn't skirt the weather as they do now. The prize was simply too great, and weather just wasn't a consideration. If you went, you entered, you shot, plain and simple. Forget about High-Average awards and the like.
Phil Miller was one of the great competitors and club managers of this period. He also contributed monthly articles ("Fellow Shooters") to Trap & Field magazine with his views. In May of 1960 he wrote- "Trapshooting started out as a money sport and if it is to continue its growth it must be kept a money sport".
Call me antiquated, but I'm with Mr. Miller on this one.
Today's target settings combined with modern equipment and ammunition have driven handicap scores to resemble those in a 16yd event. Handicap events were never meant to have perfect scores unless someone had a truly miraculous day. Nowadays, many new shooters will try ATA, but then experience the futility of not feeling competitive after one or two tournaments. If there was at least the perception that a 95 or 96 was competitive in a handicap event, it might turn things around. A new shooter can relate to breaking four 24s. He would probably even enter the purse under these circumstances, as would many others.
We have lost the younger, blue-collar types that made up the masses of the earlier era of trapshooting. We now struggle to hang on to those that can still afford to shoot only for fun and the social interaction.
Is it too late to make a change,and,the bigger question is how would we do it?
Steve