What do players look for as far as playing site conditions? As I get older, I realize that I play better under certain conditions. For example, I enjoy playing in large rooms with high ceilings where there’s space to walk around and the noise disperses. For example, the National Open at the Riviera and now at the Westgate, the recent North American Open at Bally’s, and the Philly Marriott are all nice playing rooms for me. I have problems in smaller rooms when I can hear doors opening/closing, and every cough or footstep. In a recent tournament, I thought the playing room was far too small for the almost 200 players and the air circulation system couldn’t even keep up, really affecting my play. Being within walking distance of food is also a must.
Does anyone else have specific types of conditions that they look for when entering a tournament?
Temperature in the room is most important to me. I prefer a room on the cool side, 64F to 68F. Sound distraction is a highly individual matter. I used to wear earbuds and listen to Bach, but have stopped doing that. Unless the noise is loud and sudden it generally doesn’t bother me. If the noise is too much in a background sense, I use my shooting ear plugs that are moulded to my ear canal. Getting up and walking around is possible anywhere.
As an TD/organizer, there’s no perfect room temperature. I try to keep the maximum number of people happy. I can tell you that 64-68 is way too cold for most people. Since everyone in the room has the same temperature, everyone can’t be happy. I’ve found that 72-73 seems to be optimum. I bring an infrared thermometer to tournaments since you can’t trust what the thermostats in the room are saying.
Hotel staff sometimes precool or preheat the room overnight. When I get in I have to change the temps back to normal ranges.
If you are not comfortable with the temperature, talk to the TD. I assume that if I don’t hear complaints, people are happy.
Mike Regan
I agree that some will find 64-68 too cool for them. However, in a room full of people, 70 or 72 can quickly rise to 76 to 78 and become uncomfortable. Unfortunately, many hotel meeting rooms lack effective temperature control. If it gets too hot, one can always start taking cloths off which may or may not cause a distraction for other competitors… 
Brian,
You’re logic of starting the room too cold under the assumption that it will warm up is something that I’ve seen hotel staff use and it is wrong. Commercial air conditioning can handle the load unless it is super hot outside and there’s a large load from sunlight into the room.
There can be a problem that when it is cold outside when the room is empty it needs to be heated and when it is fully occupied it needs to be cooled. I did have to switch one room from heat to A/C at a tournament on MLK weekend. Luckily at the hotel I hold most of my events at I can directly change the thermostats. At other ones only the staff can do it. That’s why I have the infrared thermometer to get an objective measurement of the temperate and to see if overhead air supply vents are providing cool or warm air.
I also agree that you want to bias slightly cool. It’s just I don’t think people should be wearing outside jackets to keep warm in the playing hall.
Mike Regan
I agree with Mr. Regan with the caveat that if about ten minutes into the round many of the players leave and return with jackets/sweatshirts/whatever, then perhaps there is an issue.
Alex Relyea
Alex,
Actually, I do use the number of people wearing jackets as a measure of the room being too cold. I think the problem is that some people like it cold. It’s harder to tell if someone feels the room is to hot or humid from their attire.
Mike
I would think most hotels and places where there’s an expectation of large groups of people indoors, would be designed with a certain amount of air exchange to keep the room at it’s expected temperature and comfort level.
One would think…