5th Annual Chick Flick Women's Disc Golf Celebration
The 2012 Chick Flick Disc Golf Celebration!
A record setting women's disc golf tournament
Written by Kirsten Voyer
A record setting women's disc golf tournament
Written by Kirsten Voyer
In 2007, some Portland-area lady golfers decided to start meeting casually on the course to learn from each other and play recreationally. These meetings grew to include an annual event designed to introduce the sport of disc golf to beginners, as well as give experienced women golfers a competition designed specifically for them. The Chick Flick Women’s Disc Golf Celebration is a C-tier event where ladies play two sanctioned rounds on Sunday, after clinics and a mixed-division practice round on Saturday. With lunches included and camping available, the celebration is a disc golf immersion experience.
A unique and exceptional feature of The Chick Flick Women’s Disc Golf Celebration is its emphasis on education. The event always kicks off with several rounds of clinics taught by carefully selected instructors.
This year, Chick Flick was honored to have one of Oregon’s top professionals, Nate Sexton, teach a backhand clinic; the ladies raved about the tips—and the swag that was donated by Nate’s sponsor, Innova Disc Sports—that he had to give away.
Local pro Emma Rose Hanley offered instruction on disc golf etiquette and fundamentals.
Participants also learned basic and advanced putting skills, how to throw forehand, trick shots, rollers, and more from local advanced and professional women and men.
Behind many a lady golfer at The Chick Flick is at least one man who loves to see her grow in the sport. The Chick Flick values these men and the support they provide. Dozens of husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, brothers, and friends registered as caddies.
Not only did they carry a bag and support their lady on the course, they shagged discs at clinics, helped keep score during rounds, and were generally available to be of assistance. A few gents (notably, Steve McMahan), along with the incredibly helpful staff at Horning’s Hideout, donated their efforts assisting tournament central. Their presence was integral to keeping the event running smoothly, as well as keeping all the participants hydrated on the course.
The Chick Flick is proud to be family-friendly, and tournament staffers love to see how participants have grown their golf skills—and their clans—between events. Caprice Johnson and her family golf together regularly. They celebrated The Chick Flick with four generations in attendance, and three generations in competition.
Most Chick Flick participants call Oregon home, and many made it to Portland from other corners of the state. But this year, more women travelled from out of state to participate than ever. Washington and Jessie Westphal and Tanya Spence, both travelled down from Seattle, while Mindy Carbajal flew up from Tahoe. At age 17, Open player Jessica Weese relied on her mother to drive her all the way from Grass Valley, CA. The “Spoklams” from Spokane, WA, had a strong delegation representing. Kim Beals came all the way from Muskegon, MI, to experience the energy and comraderie of The Chick Flick.
The three-course layout of Horning’s Hideout provides the ideal competition backdrop for experienced golfers, as well as those who may be golfing for the first time.
Before awards could be handed out, players and caddies had to get to the business of winning the massive amount of swag that had been donated to the event. Emma Rose Hanley ran the Ring of Fire, while golfers and caddies alike mustered their best putts for shirts, discs, hats, stickers, patches, water bottles, and more.
Next, raffle entrants scoured their tickets as emcees and Chick Flick Planning Committee founding members Carie Coleman and Kirsten Voyer rocked a drawing for shirts, hats, discs, dvds, several baskets, golf bags, concert tickets, massages, camping, three certificates for Keen shoes, and much more.
Three divisions of Juniors played extremely competitive rounds on the Highlands & Canyon Courses. On the Canyon Course, Kendall Conroy held down the 19-and-under division alone, and Sai Ananda took down Sky Wilberscheid in the 16-and-under division. After an intense playoff in the 13 and under division, Joleigh Miller and Michelle Nava tied with 104 strokes each—four strokes under par for the Highland Course!
Also on the Highland Course, Donna Caldwell and Celeste’s step-mom, Irene Scandiffio, competed in the Advanced Senior Grandmaster Division; Donna came out with the win. 27 Recreational women brought their best golf, but only three could leave with hardware. Suzie Boaz secured third place with 111 strokes, Carolyn Defoe claimed second place with 108 strokes, and Jennifer Cartwright took center podium with 100 strokes.
Horning’s Canyon Course offered up some of the best technical golf in the area for 37 Intermediate women who battled to dominate it. After two rounds, Alexa Servid, Mindy Carbajal, Meredith Berry, and Kailey Carlson sat tied at 127 strokes; they moved into another exciting playoff. After a few hot holes, Meredith Berry secured third, Mindy Carbajal held second, and Alexa Servid took home the first place trophy.
It was also anybody’s day in the Advanced women’s division. 15 accomplished golfers, including co-tournament director Celeste Scandiffio (who had a broken foot in a boot-cast), minimized mistakes and kept the field tight. Only 8 strokes separated first and last cash, but Connie Vankauwenberg shot 122 for third, Ebee Pinca took second with 121, and shooting five over par at her very first tournament ever, Britney Quesenberry grabbed first place with 117 strokes. And while many ladies joke about that pregnancy can also incubate super golf skills, the weekend’s final results added more credence to the colloquialism: first and second place in the Advanced Division were visibly expectant mothers!
Arguably, the most notable member of the female Advanced Masters division—and the entire tournament—was Dexter, OR, resident and current President of the PDGA Board of Directors, Rebecca Duffy. At her very first Chick Flick, she came back after lunch with a powerful round and totaled 133 strokes to top third place winner Sheryl Bateman’s 135. Nichola Landry shot a 130 for the day to take home the win. Cindy McMahan was the lone Masters woman, but shot a 116 while having a blast with the 6 other Advanced Masters.
Nine Open women vied for cash in a division loaded with regional star power. In this talented field, three rose to the top with scores under par. Shooting one down, with 111 strokes, Jessie Westphal claimed third place. In second place, with 110 strokes, Jessica Weese made a strong bid at two down. But the first place trophy and top cash prize went to the regional representative of the PDGA Women’s Committee, Emma Rose Hanley. She set a stunning example for all by shooting 8 strokes down for the day at 104.
Participants left with tons of loot, thanks entirely to many generous sponsors, especially Bryan Knundsen and Next Adventure, Innova, Keen, Stumptown Disc Golf Club, Paragon, huk lab, Bad Monkey Bikes, Muscle & Bone PDX, and Ataraxia Wellness. Some folks were thrilled to leave with signed discs and swag packs from female touring professionals and World Champions Paige Pierce, Sarah Hokom, and Valerie Jenkins.
The Chick Flick is especially grateful to Chadwick Warner, founder of Acerbinky Disc Golf Club, for taking pictures of this year’s event. And as always, Bob Horning, his family, and the chivalrous crew of Horning’s Hideout employees are the most generous and gracious of hosts.
The Chick Flick is proud to help cultivate a local disc golf culture that embraces female players. In cooperation with other strong events and organizations, first-ever female president of the PDGA, Rebecca Duffy, was honored to win her bid for the 2013 United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships. She will be the tournament director for the event held next year in Portland, OR. The Chick Flick looks forward to supporting her efforts and helping to host the Pacific Northwest’s first PDGA Major Event.
Every year, The Chick Flick strives to raise the bar on women-only competitions, but tournament directors Cindy and Celeste keep their eye on the original vision of its founding members—a vision the PDGA now shares. Born out of a simple to desire to share this game with beginners, The Chick Flick will continue to emphasize creating a rich experience for female amateur golfers. “The 2008 Chick Flick was the very first Chick Flick, and also my very first tournament ever. I have been growing with the Chick Flick the past 5 years, and our growth together has been very rewarding,” says Cindy McMahan. She is solid proof that The Chick Flick’s strategies for recruitment and retention have worked. “To go from playing in my first ever tournament in 2008, to helping co-TD what is now the largest women-only event in PDGA history, is so special to me. I look forward to what the future holds for the Chick Flick. Because you know we are already planning for next year.”
Cindy, Celeste, and the whole Chick Flick family look forward to seeing you next August. Until then, Portland-area Chick Flickers will continue to meet once a month for fun, casual rounds. See you on the course!
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