PDGA Women's Global Event Celebrates a Decade of Record-Breaking Success

It's hard to believe it's been a decade since the PDGA Women's Global Event (WGE) first took flight. The brainchild of Valarie Jenkins and the PDGA Women's Committee, this innovative concept has revolutionized women's disc golf globally. Launched on May 12, 2012, the WGE was designed to connect women from around the world, allowing them to compete against each other despite geographical barriers.

"We were inspired by Chuck Kennedy's idea of the IDGC Global Tournament," says Sara Nicholson, a former PDGA Memberships Manager and current Women's Committee member. "We wanted to create something that would allow women to participate globally, so we made it specifically for women." The inaugural WGE saw an impressive 636 women from nearly every corner of the globe participating in various divisions.

Fast-forward to 2014, and the event had already gained momentum, with a staggering 1,132 participants. By 2016, numbers continued to soar, with over 1,616 women taking part. The 2018 WGE saw an incredible 80 registered tournaments spanning 39 states and 14 countries, boasting a combined turnout of 2,092 women across 23 different PDGA divisions.

One of the most significant achievements of the WGE is its impact on junior girls and women, providing them with the opportunity to compete against a large field of peers without having to attend high-level events. In 2018, the Recreational Women's division alone boasted an impressive 444 competitors.

The WGE is held every other year, with the primary goal of increasing female participation in disc golf. As evidence of its success, women-only events and clubs are on the rise, setting the stage for another record-breaking turnout at the next WGE on May 9, 2020.

So, how does it work? On May 9, local participating PDGA Women's Global Events will take place worldwide. Players from all corners of the globe will compete in two rounds of disc golf, with their scores submitted and rated by the PDGA. The "Global Score" will determine the WGE Champions.

To be part of this incredible event, simply register to play in a local PDGA-sanctioned tournament scheduled for May 9, 2020. You don't need to be a current PDGA member; the organization has waived all non-member and player fees to make this event more accessible to new players.

For additional information on how to get involved or become a tournament director, visit the Women's Global Event FAQs.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/decade-display-pdga-launches-womens-global-event