The Idlewild Endeavour, a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) sanctioned C-tier tournament, was held in Cranbrook on May 18. It was a part of the Women’s Global Event (WGE), meaning the women who participated competed against each other locally, but also against the other women in their divisions from around the world.
Additionally this year the tournament was a part of the Canadian Women’s Event, a new initiative with the same premise as the WGE, but on a national scale.
The event was spearheaded by tournament director (TD) Kristy Shields, who has been a pivotal figure in the Kootenay disc golf scene for years now.
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“I have to say the ladies that have continued to play since our WGE in 2021 have improved so much and did really well in their age divisions this year,” Shields said. “It’s interesting, as new players have started attending our ladies league, they look in awe as some of our more senior players weave a disc through the trees and have it land right under the basket.
“It gives me great joy knowing that in time the new player will soon be doing the same as them. The ladies of our league are such an inspiration, not just in skill, but in their outlook on life. They are just a happy go lucky bunch and make me laugh every time I play with them.”
Cranbrook’s local players performed very well at this year’s WGE, with Lynette Eliason taking second in 75+, Cynthia Stuart third in FA70 and Miriam Saville 11th in FA65. Creston’s Irene Van Hooft finished second in FA55 and Katja Schroeder of Nelson and the youngest competitor took fifth place.
Shields said this really highlights just how well this region’s female players are on a global scale and attributed it in part to the quantity of high-caliber courses that now exist in this area. She also gave a lot of credit to the work done by the Cranbrook Disc Golf Club, who get new courses approved, funded, built and then maintain them.
This year’s event saw 27 women sign up ranging in age from eight to over 75 with over half being over 55. Players came from Elkford, Nelson and beyond. Shields said that before the COVID pandemic, there were maybe three women in the Kootenay region who regularly played events, and that it was even rare to see women out on the course.
“During COVID, we had a huge surge in 2021 and hit almost 30 participants for our tournament and many had only played once or twice and just trying the sport out for the first time,” Shields said. “Since then, I feel like the numbers have been consistent over the years but more of the participants have become more dedicated to the sport. Even if they’re not necessarily competitive, they play a lot.”
Shields said she is continuing to see more women playing and improving their skills, travelling beyond the Kootenays to compete in large tournaments.
“All over Western Canada, the numbers of women playing are increasing,” she said. “It used to be a handful of women at each tournament, if that. Now we are looking at major tournaments having 20-30 women attending in many different divisions.
“There are ladies now who are also stepping up and running their own initiatives, Jamie Derkach is one of the ladies in Cranbrook and has been a huge help with the events and leagues I put on and is also doing her own thing too.”
Shields added that this year’s tournament was the best one yet. It was sponsored by major disc manufacturer Innova Champion Discs, as well as Throw Pink Disc Golf, PDGA Canada, CWE and numerous local businesses and individuals.
“Even though the event was run the same as every other year, I just felt there was so much more laughter, hoots and hollers around the course this year,” Shields said. “We also had Lynette Eliason and her husband James host a lunch at their place which gave everyone a place to warm up, fill their tummies and get to know each other.”
Shields first heard of “frisbee golf” when she was teaching high school Physical Education back home in Australia. They’d set out hoops around the school to try and hit with regular frisbees — which differ in design from golf discs.
“Little did I realise the extent of the sport and how much I would grow to like it in the future,” she said.
She was shown the sport in greater depth in Fernie in 2016 by Innova Ambassador and frequent tournament director Serge Gosselin and she’s played ever since, getting more and more into the sport by playing in tournaments, leagues and playing casually with friends.
She said the game helps her clear her head by getting her out exercising in the fresh air and she is continually working to improve her game, learning different shot shapes and honing specific aspects of her play.
Since moving to Cranbrook in 2017, she’s become more and more involved with the community aspect of disc golf. She runs events, leagues and tournaments, she’s sat on numerous local, regional, and provincial boards and global committees.
She helps run the winter putting league which is heading into its seventh year and the annual women’s event is in its fourth, with the ladies league growing steadily. She also runs teacher’s workshops and hopes to make a competitive junior league next year.
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“I like running events and seeing new people take on the sport and fall in love with it the way I have,” Shields explained. “Most of all though, I love the community, it is truly like a family and we all look after each other. Everyone has their own
strengths, passions and connections so we draw on each other for different initiatives, from making benches for courses to organising events.”
Due in part to all her hard work she puts into growing game, Shields was recently offered a spot on Innova’s Ambassador Team for this year.
“They’ve always been my choice of disc manufacturer and Innova does so much to grow the sport,” she said. “It really couldn’t be a better match. Even with the WGE Idlewild Endeavour, the player’s pack which is always a hit, was made up mostly of Innova discs and the women love them.”
If you are interested in starting to play, the Ladies Night is every Friday at 6 p.m. at the Idlewild Disc Golf Course. You can follow the Cranbrook Ladies Disc Golf page on Facebook.
There is also a relaxed event scheduled for July 20 for all women, where you can play all three courses in one weekend, with clinics hosted throughout. The cost is $30 and includes a Throw Pink disc, plus you can play as much or as little as you want.
The Cranbrook Club has also been invited to take park in the BC Women’s Series, with Jamie Derkach leading the way. It will consist of two rounds at Wycliffe Disc Golf Course on July 27.
READ MORE: Another terrific year for the Cranbrook Disc Golf Club