'It's a sisterhood': All-women's disc golf tournament grows the sport in Sask.
Regina disc golfer Faye Gorrill started playing the sport last summer and has entered into her second tournament. However, this one is a little different from her first event; it’s for women only.
“I feel more relaxed,” she said. “It’s a great thing for women to get together and make a lot of new friends.”
Since 2012, the Professional Disc Golf Association has hosted the Women’s Global Event. It started as a semi-annual event, but the large boom of popularity during the pandemic has made the event an annual affair.
In 2021, Saskatchewan hosted its first all-woman event in Saskatoon. This year, it was hosted at Regina’s Douglas Park.
The event gives women an opportunity to try disc golf at a more competitive level, bringing players from all over the province to compete at varying skill levels from juniors under 10-years-old to pros over 40.
“It’s a more fun and encouraging environment,” said tournament director, Kadie Hozempa. “Traditionally, disc golf tournaments are male dominated. We’re hoping to change that.”
Ariel Francis, a competitor in the tournament, believed the event acted as a good introduction for those new to the growing sport.
“It’s a really good first opportunity for girls who want to get started in competitive disc golf,” said Francis.
“You aren’t intimidated by guys who can throw 600 feet and seeing all the crazy things they can do. You see other players who look like you and have the same build you have. It’s someone you can look up to that’s more realistic.”
Disc Golf Saskatchewan coordinator of social media Jeri-Ann Brownbridge has seen the event bring more women into the sport.
“Every year, the provincial championships have increased its female presence,” she said. “But [women] are still nervous and anxious to sign up for tournaments. But courses are filled with women. These events allow for women to see other women play as well.”
In 2012, the WGE had 636 players registered in just 42 events worldwide. This year, there are almost 3300 players at 127 tournaments from the United States to Finland to Australia.
Canada has at least one event in eight provinces and one territory.
Players in Regina are not only playing against players at the same course, but also every woman registered in the world through a ranking system. Meaning, all age and skill levels have the opportunity to compete regardless of the number of players at a single event.
“It’s a case of see and be seen,” said the PDGA’s Danny Voss. “The WGE is a chance to show the world that other female-amateur-novice-level players exist and hopefully more women will say, ‘Hey, that’s just like me. I can be apart of this.’”
“It’s a sisterhood,” said competitor Amy Nicholls. “We are with each other, we learn from each other about being parents, how to juggle work and children. It’s a great environment.”
Women touring professional disc golfers like Paige Pierce, Catrina Allen and more, have become stars of the sport. Voss believes having high-level women to look up to can grow the sport at the grassroots.
“[They] are elevating what disc golf looks like to the world at large, building it from the top down,” he said. “The WGE presents the opportunity and foundation where the Paige Pierce of 10 years from now plays her first event.”
“We belong on the field,” said Brownbrige. “If you get more women on the field, you’ll get more families, more juniors, which grows the sport everywhere.”
Regina and Saskatoon disc golf clubs host drop-in nights where women can try the sport, often for no cost.
“There’s a large community here,” said Hozempka. “We’re ready to welcome and accept new people.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.