This story is part of a series of member spotlights, featuring players of all ages and skillsets.

• Name: Victoria Fenninger & Crystal Gillis
• Member #: 196268 & 189819
• Age: 36 & 39
• Hometown: Sharon, ON & Bracebridge, ON
• Currently residing in: Barrie, ON/Haliburton, ON & Barrie, ON
• Favorite course: Abbey Gardens / Sandy Hollow &  Sandy Hollow / Toronto Island

Victoria Fenninger & Crystal Gillis

Profession: 

Victoria - Program Director and Head Coach - Fenninger Racing

Crystal - Trustee Program Case Manager - Busby Centre (primarily supporting individuals experiencing homelessness)

When and how were you first introduced to disc golf: 

Victoria -  About 12 years ago, after ultimate games, our team used to make our own targets and play disc golf holes around the park the field was at. Since then I have always carried a disc in my luggage when I travel in case I find a new course to play. In the last year, I started playing more regularly after helping put together a proposal to build a disc golf course at Abbey Gardens and pitching it to the board of directors. My pitch received a unanimous vote in favour of the 18-hole course and we received the go ahead to start planning and building. The course opened last July. 

Crystal - I was first introduced to disc golf at the beginning of the pandemic. I had thrown frisbees before, but I had never enjoyed the glory that comes from throwing discs at (semi) amazing distances, and into baskets. Needless to say, it was love at first toss. 

How often do you play?

Victoria & Crystal -same answer: 3-6 times a week.

Who do you play disc golf with? 

Victoria - Usually with James McKenna and a group of Barrie Ultimate players along with the Barrie Women’s Disc Golf Club. My favourite people to play with are my nieces Olivia (9) and Ava (7). 

Crystal - Nine times out of ten I am playing with my husband Patrick, my daughter Abigail (8), and my 18 month old son Raedyn (also an avid player). At club nights, I can be found playing with the kids card, and other moms with children.

What is your favorite thing about disc golf? 

Victoria -  I love that it can be played in so many ways: a more serious scored round, a solo round where I can test out new discs/alternate shots, a fun social round where we don’t keep score, doubles best disc when introducing new players. 

Crystal - I am almost 40 years old (in two days actually); the fact I am able to get out very regularly, with the people I love, and enjoy the fresh air, while getting a modicum of exercise makes disc golf even more appealing. Playing with other women, and introducing other women to the sport has been liberating. 

What makes disc golf different than other sports/hobbies for you? 

Victoria - It’s so accessible and playable for any age and ability. If you enjoy a walk or hike in the woods, you’re probably going to have fun playing disc golf. It is quick and easy to learn the basics but takes time and dedication to master. 

Crystal - With disc golf, I had a really easy time getting started, and I now feel this innate need to improve my game. I am forever trying out new discs and new techniques; I just don’t see myself playing anything else with that commitment.

What is your favorite ever disc golf memory? 

Victoria - My first two tournaments were really special. I was on cards with great people. We talked about disc choice, gave each other tips, supported each other, cheered each other on. We celebrated great shots, and consoled each other when we felt the chains should have caught a disc they let slip through. It felt like a real community even though we were competing against each other. I have stayed in touch with most of the women I played with at both events. 

Crystal - One of my favourite memories was my very first clinic taught by Henrik Londen; he was teaching us all to drive at an open area on our home course. I believe it was my second throw, but I ended up hitting an elevated basket at over 100 feet. It was miraculous; what a feeling!

You are founding members and co-presidents of a PDGA Affiliate Club. How did your club get started and how did you grow your membership? 

Victoria - I met Crystal in the parking lot of Sandy Hollow. I had just finished a round and she told me that there is an unofficial ladies night every Wednesday that I should come out to and that she was looking for people to help start a women’s league in Barrie. I took her contact info and we started talking about what our community needs and how we could create something to fill those needs. Our main goal was to remove as many barriers as we could that could potentially keep women from coming out to play regularly. 

Crystal - What she said! 

I saw a post on instagram where you offer a group babysitter for up to 5 children. Can you tell me more about that? 

Victoria - One of those barriers is sometimes childminding. We organized a trained babysitter to come to the course on days we held league nights to watch kids at the course so that women that want to play but need someone to watch their kids, were able to join! 

Crystal - Before our club was formed, my husband would go out on Tuesdays with the Barrie Disc Golf Club, while I stayed at home with the children. I had tried going out to the club a couple times without my husband, but honestly I was nowhere near most of the other club member’s skill level, and it just felt weird. Starting the women’s club was two fold: creating a safe space for other women to play at their own levels, and reducing boundaries preventing women from coming out. As women notoriously put their spouses and children first, I wanted to put the women first. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a break from their children? 

Your “About” on Facebook says that you are "group of women who want to build community by creating safe spaces for women in the Barrie area to play disc golf” , can you talk more about that? 

Victoria - We also have nights that are kid friendly so that women can show up with their kids and play with the league and their kids can play too. We keep it free for anyone to play and also have discs to loan out if anyone is in need. We try to remove as many barriers as possible to make it easy for anyone to come out and enjoy the sport. 

Crystal - When I used the words “creating safe spaces”, what I was really addressing was the fact that playing with highly skilled men can be really disconcerting; you don’t have to be amazing to enjoy this sport, and why should you? Women need more spaces in this world to be themselves, and not feel like they need to constantly live up to everyone else’s standards; it’s simple, they need to feel safe, and it is our job as women to make that happen.

What kinds of events do you have locally?

Victoria - At Sandy Hollow we have hosted a few really fun disc decorating sessions along with offering free coaching to new players. Along with James McKenna, I was a tournament director and organized the first tournament at Abbey Gardens after the new course opened. Our most exciting news is that we are planning to host our first WGE events! Crystal and I are working together to host a WGE at Sandy Hollow in Barrie on August 6th and I am involved in hosting a second WGE at Abbey Gardens in Haliburton on August 7th! A first for both courses! 

Crystal - In addition to that, the BDGC will be hosting the Sandy Hollow Open Sept 24-25, and @TeamGillis2021 will be doing more pop-up events this season, bringing Disc Golf awareness to Barrie at large.

What do you think is an important consideration with females in disc golf that may not be obvious to the majority? 

Victoria - We have voices and interesting ideas that can grow the sport in new and exciting ways. I see a lot of events that are run by guys and participated in by mostly guys. Help more women get involved with organizing and running events and other women will be more likely to attend these events because their interests will be represented.

Crystal - I remember in math class being told that girls and boys learn differently, well the same applies to disc golf. Our bodies move differently; we learn differently. We have different demands in our lives, but given an opportunity we can be just as great.

Anything else you'd like to share with the disc golf community? 

Victoria - If you are ever in Barrie, ON come join the Barrie Women's Disc Golf Club at Sandy Hollow on Wednesday nights at 5pm for our women's league night. It is free to drop in and play (we do accept donations). If you bring out a new player, your name goes in a monthly draw for prizes! So come out and bring a friend (or friends)! For details on upcoming events find us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Crystal - Keep creating safe supportive spaces for women to enjoy this amazing sport. We may throw different discs, but when it comes down to it, we play for the same team - Team Disc Golf.

Thank you to the ladies at Barrie Women's Disc Golf Club for being a PDGA affiliated club, creating safe and fun places for women to play, and sharing your disc golf experience with all of us.