I'm designing a course for a client that wants to appeal to the everyday female player. So, I'm asking women disc golfers: What do you want to see in a course you'd play every week or every day?

Also, let me know if there are things that would cause you to avoid a course.

[Note: I didn't put this in the course design category, because I'm not looking for the opinions (from the usual suspects) of what men think women want.]

Steve West

Have restrooms! Either permanent or portable. Preferably two 9 hole loops so there is more than one opportunity to use the facilities. If it is a big 18 hole loop, then a port-o-john somewhere in the middle would be greatly appreciated.

I would play long tees, but newer women players might appreciate a shorter set of tees that still provide a good challenge.

The only thing I could think of that would make me NOT want to play is a short pitch and putt course or a course on a flat, wide open piece of land.

I agree with Suzette. Restrooms make a world of difference. As far as distance goes it should be set up to be a challenge, but not a pitch and put course. If there were two sets of tees than that might motivate people to challenge themselves more and work towards improvement. I think if it were also balanced between righty hyzers, lefty hyzers, and straight shots that would give people playing the diversity to learn new shots as well as prepare them for any type of course. The one thing I personally dislike is a course in which requires you to throw as hard as you can over and over and over, and the person who throws the farthest always wins.

http://www.hanaalohamaui.com/images/house_large/hale_bathroom.jpg

Running water is a bonus, but not necessary.

wow- that is what I will expect the bathroom to look like. Maybe there could be an attendant too?

Since you asked so nicely. :cool::p

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z311/Skeeterbit/hugh_sf_golf.jpg

Maybe like that Old Spice guy in the commercial perhaps riding around on his horse with drinks...

WOW- I will be sure to make it there for the grand opening.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z311/Skeeterbit/hugh_sf_golf.jpg

Excuse me, may I borrow your towel?

He'd make for a nice caddy- looks prepared.

You gals spoiled our surprise for the Ladies at this years USWDGC in Jacksonville NC...

Trig out

Hey Gals, May I ask your definition of "Pitch and Putt"?

Hey Gals, May I ask your definition of "Pitch and Putt"?

Probably the same as yours. No driver required!

Probably the same as yours. No driver required!

OK, so at what distance do you use your driver?

I am agreeing with everything the other women have said so far.
1. Restrooms are a must... even a regularly checked port-a-potty is fine.
2. The number one issue that I have is that the course should be challenging. For me, this means most of the holes need to be 300+ feet. I would prefer to have a long drive (or 2 on a few holes), a challenging upshot, and then a putt. Short and long teepads are a good idea so that new players are not overwhelmed, but they have something to move up to when the course gets to be too easy.

That being said, a lot of challenging courses also come with a lot of brambles, poison ivy, etc. When I've brought new female players out, some are turned away by this. Well-manicured, but challenging courses are ideal. A little extra work in the pruning department goes a long way. I think a good example would be the courses in Kansas City at the 2010 Worlds (esp. Water Works)... they were awesome!

Thanks for considering the women!

A perfect example of a pitch and putt course is Tourist Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. All holes under 300 feet and the total length is 3,455. Either you get an ace or a two. Flat and mostly wide open with no upshots required and no rough to worry about.

It is not all about length. I have played plenty of short courses that were challenging. Example, Illinois Central College course in Peoria is only 4,086 ft, but it is in the woods which forces flight paths and creates problems if you don't land on the fairway. Definitely a "finesse" course where accuracy is favored over pure distance. The course has an alternate length of 5,270. It was used at the USWDGC when the event was held in Peoria.

Bottom line, if you design a course that is challenging and appropriate for all skill levels AND it has restrooms or portables - it should be female friendly.

A perfect example of a pitch and putt course is Tourist Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. All holes under 300 feet and the total length is 3,455. Either you get an ace or a two. Flat and mostly wide open with no upshots required and no rough to worry about.

It is not all about length. I have played plenty of short courses that were challenging. Example, Illinois Central College course in Peoria is only 4,086 ft, but it is in the woods which forces flight paths and creates problems if you don't land on the fairway. Definitely a "finesse" course where accuracy is favored over pure distance. The course has an alternate length of 5,270. It was used at the USWDGC when the event was held in Peoria.

Bottom line, if you design a course that is challenging and appropriate for all skill levels AND it has restrooms or portables - it should be female friendly.

Holly crap ... you know about Tourist park! That used to be my home course :)

Holly crap ... you know about Tourist park! That used to be my home course :)


I never missed the Snow Disc event when I lived in Iowa and Minnesota.

Mu buddy and I have aspirations of setting the world record for total holes played in a 24 hour period at that course :)

I am a fan of the bigger the better. I like a difficult course. But I run my women's league on an average size course. ( johnson street in High Point, NC ) There are more shorter holes, but its a good mix. There are long tees that make the hole crazy hard and the short and med pads for average difficulty. I think that the longest hole is 425ish.

Bathrooms are a beautiful thing. Must of the girls that I have known that play will play a mid length course then a pitch n putt or a monster.

ie: Firefighters Park- Troy, Mi, Johnson Street Park- High Point, NC, Horizons- Winston-Salem, NC, Raintree-Rochester, Mi, Wagner Park- Royal Oak, Mi. Hope that helps.


Happy Golfin'

audi

1. Pitch and putt= no holes over 300. I'm throwing my mids a good 280 on flat ground.

As for a female-friendly course:
-- Bathrooms is huge. I mean, I'm pro at finding a spot in the woods at tourneys/ leagues/ rec rounds, but it'd be nice to have a bathroom.
-- Water- if you are going to have a pond that needs to be thrown over, make sure it is one that the women should be able to clear. Having to carry 280+ just to clear water is probably too much to ask for most women, especially Ams/ rec women.
-- If you are talking more beginner women, then having a tightly wooded course could become an issue.


Those are really the only two suggestions I have Steve. I'm so used to playing leagues with the guys here in the cities and being in contention at the leagues that there isn't much I could ask for to make a course female friendly.

Good luck with the design Steve! If the course is in MN, maybe let me know where? If it's metro-ish maybe my women's league could take a day or two to come help work on putting it in the ground or clearing brush or whatever is needed when it gets to that point. I'm sure many would be willing to help, so just let me know!

You gals spoiled our surprise for the Ladies at this years USWDGC in Jacksonville NC...

Trig out

Oh man oh man! If I wasn't sold before on USWDGC, I am now! LOL.

EVERYONE should make a trip to USWDGC if you can afford it!!!! I made my first trip in 2009, and it was so much fun. I don't think I'll ever forget it. What could be better than a long weekend with a bunch of discin chicks? The TDs work hard to make this such a great event and so much fun. Get there if you can ladies!