Please Be Kind to Women Disc Golf Players

It takes a lot to get out of your comfort zone for anyone. Especially when you are first starting something new. Guys, you remember how awkward it was to play through a group or when you went to your first mini. Remember those feelings when a lady comes to play.

She is scared. She is embarrassed. It probably took every ounce of courage before she forced herself out the car door when she saw no other ladies. She wants to run away. She doesn't want to be a burden. Depending on how she is treated, this might be the first and last mini/tournament/group round she'll ever play.

We have eyes and ears. We can sense the disappointment in some of those that get partnered up with us. We can see the eye rolls and hear the aggravation in your voices when we missed that putt. It brings us down in a bad way. I am not saying everyone treats women in disc golf this way, but there are enough instances this has happened that it needs to be talked about.

Everyone says they want the sport to grow, and it is. But I think making women feel more comfortable and being more supportive of the women that do come out will help to grow the sport even more. At most tournaments, we dont have good turnouts. I've spoke to several women on what would drive more ladies out and here are some of the responses:

1. Please ensure that there are restrooms available at all events. Why are we having large tournaments and there is not an available portapotty or restroom anywhere near the course?? Sometimes we can go in the woods, sometimes there are no woods to hide in...and sometimes we have our monthly and there NEEDS to be an available restroom.
2. Please give a shout out and thank you to the women that did show. Recognize them in some way. Showing that you care could be enough to keep her coming back and will let others know how welcoming everyone was.
3. Please make sure you have trophies for the ladies. If the guys get trophies the girls should too. I've seen at least twice now that a girl received a generic trophy. The guys trophy lists what division Mens Advanced 2018 winner blah blah and the ladies get a 1st place... 1st place in what??? I've even saw when the ladies trophy said nothing at all.
4. Please make it a point to talk to the ladies. They may not know anyone there and feel like an outcast. Go up and introduce yourselves and let them know you are happy that she was able to make it.
5. When a girl gets placed on your card because there are not enough in her division, please give her the same courtesy you give everyone else, even if she is taking twice as many throws per hole as you are. This is also a patience exercise for all involved. Be encouraging as much as you can.

There are many other ways we can make this sport more enjoyable for the ladies. Do you have any ideas? I'd love to hear them.

What Disc Golf Means to Me and the Importance of Encouraging Others

There was a time when I was that girl that just watched her boyfriend and his friends play. Even though disc golf intrigued me and I loved being outside, I never really picked up a disc until a couple of years later after just watching for so long. I remember finally having the courage to ask my boyfriend for a disc and to ask his buddies if I could join. I remember feeling embarrassed and not good enough, and I think that's what keeps many people from trying anything in life.  But now I know the importance of taking that first leap and throwing the first disc.  Those feelings i thought I was going to have quickly vanished as I realized how helpful,  motivating and encouraging everyone I met in the disc golf community was. I started playing everyday after that first day and have not put the discs back down.

With a lot of encouragement from the DG community, I registered for my first tournament,  2016 Texas Womens Championships. I didn't know what I was getting myself into because now I was not playing at my "comfort course" or around people I knew, i was playing in a tournament at an unfamiliar course amongst unfamiliar faces. Those scared feelings rushed back in,  but again,  everyone was so welcoming and I felt right at home.  I ended up winning the recreation division and thus began my love for tournaments.

It was really exciting taking that first trophy and getting to stand alongside Paige Pierce and Sarah Hokom and lots of other greats knowing that one day I wanted to be in their shoes.  I have now became great friends with some of those that I admired.  You learn that they are people too. My dream of being a pro player is now.  I have a lot of work to do, but have the full support of my DG family which means so much to me. I wouldn't be where I'm at today without the encouraging words of this community.

Disc Golf means so much to me. It is my calm after a long day at work. It is my happy hour on the weekends. It is my motivation to be a better, more accepting, more patient individual. DG is not just a sport to me.  It is a community that I feel comfortable in and happy and free to be myself.

When I see a group of disc golfers and the randomness of age, ethnicities and beliefs come together to play,  it gives me hope that the world does have good people and that we can get past our differences. I do believe we need to encourage everyone to play, but even if they don't,  I hope they could find something that makes them feel all the things that disc golf makes me feel,  because it really is special.