Smith Mountain Lake has always done the same. But it was usually big cruisers and pontoons that did the short course.
Hell, even the 16' Donzi Classic does the whole run every year.
I don't know why you'd own and run a big go fast boat if you didn't like wasting gas! Buy a GD sailboat. Focking communists! :D

Great stuff—Keep your suggestions and observations coming. I can promise you that poker-run organizers are paying attention to this thread.

My only suggestion? Take it easy on each other. :) Opinions vary and one size never fits all.

Carry on, gentlemen.

Look at the Hookie Day run in the Calif Delta on River Dave's Place. The boats, generally as a group, stop at each marina for socialization and hang out time, spend money at each marina and head to the next stop. The ones I have been on lately have a boat or dock attendant with chips they throw at you or put in your net as fast as possible and you haul the mail to the next stop to do the same. Lunch at the end and straight back to an anchor out where the regulars tie up together. Why would a marina want to participate? I think a lot of people go on a poker run with the hope/expectation of meeting and expanding their boating social network. It seems there is little consideration for this any more. Can you imagine a Harley Poker Run merely driving by each stop and have somebody throw you a chip from a parking lot down the street from the bar? Well sorry about the rant I have only been doing this for 40+ years.
Let's get this back to a social event, that is what I am trying to suggest.
I still like doing them just not so much with the new format.

Every time I post something I can always count on you to have some ****ty comment.
You`re a funny little dork.
Anyway they asked for feedback I gave it.
Bring it to Lake Michigan and get beat up for an hour let me know how much fun that is. I do it every weekend, gets old.
Do you even have a boat??

I think the more you can get done before arrival the better. Registration, hotel(s), dock space, ramp info, even an overview of the social spots on a map help familiarize someone before even leaving home.

9,000 miles towing this year. Lake St. clair (3x this year) to LOTO for the Cig Rendezvous and fall run and everywhere in between.
Almost 800 miles on the boat this year.

Performance center puts on the best runs, those guys know how to do things right.
You arrive they take and store your trailer. Free launch.
Complimentary breakfast and/or dinner, helicopter, pictures, 10% off in restaurant, gas discount, awards, Fireworks at night, goodie bag, etc etc ..
Every stop 100% of the docks are reserved for participants (I`m still not sure how they pull that off)
Runs are just the right length.
Top notch people.

What's the cost?

Cool thread. Although 90% of the poker runs we have done have all been at LOTO (gonna try and travel for some next year, been wrapped up in selling old/buying new house), I feel like after 15+/- runs we've done, I've learned what I like and don't like. Personally, I like the further runs, making a good 30 or 40 mile run between stops is fun, and I look forward to doing longer runs in tee
the future. However, I run a 29' Warlock with just a single stock 496ho, so it sips gas. I can see how something that goes through 300 - 400 gallons a day could get old. Having multiple choices for stops is nice too. The past few years, we challenged ourselves to hit ALL the stops, and we did it, but I'm telling you, 14-15 stops in 5-6 hours is not fun. It's work. So I won't be doing that again, lol. Having a dedicated first stop after the start is nice, it gets everyone running together for a decent length of time. And having a dedicated "lunch time" stop to gather everyone up is a good idea too. But Ed at Big Thunder and Brett at PBC pretty much have that already, and perfected the runs at LOTO I feel, so I honestly have no complaints! I guess if I had to pick one thing I'd change, it would be to make the final stop somewhere that's in a cove, or no wake zone, something like that. By the end of the run, most people are beat up, worn out, and are ready to stay and relax for a bit, so having 100 boats coming in together and trying to dock and tie up at a place on the main channel, with heavy waves beating the docks up, is a bit nerve racking (example: Dog Days). But all in all, it's my favorite part of boating. Someone mentioned earlier about individual manufacturers or groups having private runs at the same time as the Poker Runs being conflicting. I'd agree with that 100%. People travel from all over for this stuff, so dragging your OL, Skater, MTI, Cig, etc from 500+ miles away just to have to choose between the poker run or a private run is kinda silly I think. Make it the day before, or a shorter morning or evening run or something? No need to cut down the amount of boats that can participate. See y'all out there next year.