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As long as there is growth in women casual play, there is still opportunity to see growth in competitive play IMO.
General question—does anyone run any type of "f" only event(s) at the local level?
I think growth in FPO will take a couple of years, but showing that Kristin effectively matched the top MPO player will make some waves.
And it's only been a couple of years where there has been noticeable growth on the pro tour, especially for your average pro. In 2018, the 15th-highest FPO player made $5k. Emily Beach, who's 15th on the money list this year, is sitting at nearly $19k. Now you're going to have young pros that have more means to actually tour year after year, develop a fan base, and continue playing. Then that helps develop the local level.
I just think these things take time, but these last two seasons will start to move the needle.
I am not sure that growth of pro purses has any impact at all on getting women to begin playing disc golf. Pyramids get built from the ground up not the top down. DGPT obviously believes otherwise.
As long as there is growth in women casual play, there is still opportunity to see growth in competitive play IMO.
General question—does anyone run any type of "f" only event(s) at the local level?
We tried a "f"-only league last year; the high water mark for attendance was four. It died a natural death after six weeks (only the woman who was organizing it showed up after six weeks) and it resisted a couple of attempts to revive it this summer.
The handful of women who showed up talked about how nice it was to have a space for themselves, but it must not have been enough.
la niña open happens in yakima every yearGeneral question—does anyone run any type of "f" only event(s) at the local level?
Just held our annual Halloween event and was pleasantly surprised to see over 25% of the field was female. 15 out of 58 showed up for one day and one glow round event. Tons of credit to our female club members for the weekly league they run as over half of them were from leagues. Dont recall the turnout ever being over 10% before so hopefully things are improving. :clap:
Two things...Can I say it? I'm just going to go ahead and say it. Maybe some of you were thinking it too. Maybe not.
Okay. Here goes.
Hey Ricky! Act like you've been there before.
There. I said what I felt needed saying. I'm just sayin'.
I am not sure that growth of pro purses has any impact at all on getting women to begin playing disc golf. Pyramids get built from the ground up not the top down. DGPT obviously believes otherwise.
Just held our annual Halloween event and was pleasantly surprised to see over 25% of the field was female. 15 out of 58 showed up for one day and one glow round event. Tons of credit to our female club members for the weekly league they run as over half of them were from leagues. Dont recall the turnout ever being over 10% before so hopefully things are improving. :clap:
I think there is something deeper than what has been discussed already. Is it possible that women, IN GENERAL, just don't enjoy playing disc golf for whatever reason?
I have 4 boys and 1 girl. My 4 boys, to varying degrees are hooked, and want to play often. I first took my girl out at age 9, and 20-25 times over the next few years. She loves the outdoors, hiking, camping, biking, and swimming. She is not some indoor wall flower. She simply does not like the sport. I bought her a bag, discs in her favorite colors, yadda yadda. I took her courses well suited to her skill level, etc. No dice. Basically found out she knew after once or twice she did not like it, but didn't want to hurt my feelings.
When I ask why she doesn't much like it, she really doesn't have an answer. She was pretty good too, with a frame well suited to playing. She actually doesn't mind walking along with me, and will caddy for me, just doesn't want to throw.
I have even pointed out the distances and putting percentages she would need to obtain to be competitive at the very top of the FPO field--the whole "you could really make a living doing this"---to no avail. She even likes to travel as well, and I think would enjoy going to different venues each week for several months.
So yeah, just one data point and all, but I honestly feel there is something to my story. I wish I could put my finger on what, but I am at a loss too. I mean, this is a great sport--what is wrong with her!!!
I wonder if participation is any more balanced in Europe--anyone on the forum who might speak to that? Maybe somehow its just an American thing??
Two things...
A. Never in his career has Ricky picked up a win worth $35,000 in prize.
B. When Ricky is on fire and showing that emotion he is the most fun competitor to watch in the sport for my money.
As long as there is growth in women casual play, there is still opportunity to see growth in competitive play IMO.
General question—does anyone run any type of "f" only event(s) at the local level?
Here in Kalamazoo there is a ladies' league at venerable Cold Brook Park on Sundays during the good weather months of the year. There's also the Kalamazoo Ladies Classic in July. I recall Blue Gill (a stellar private course about 30 minutes north of us) also having a ladies tournament for each of the last couple of years or so.
Here are the results of this year's KLC, won by the 2015 Masters world champion Sarah Demar and an attendance of 38 if I counted correctly: https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Kalamazoo_Ladies_Classic_Presented_by_Doja_2022
And here is Crew 42 footage of the 2020 version, in which I helped film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfyNe42A1Gk&t
When I think about our top players - I want to see them excited by what they're doing. I'd rather see childlike joy and explosions of positive emotion than some staid robot lifting a hand in the air looking bored about everything going according to plan.Disagree