Participation numbers suffer due to the minimal winnings offered in the women’s events.

Below is what the majority of women (and men, but I’m strictly talking the female gender here guys) spend to attend tournaments. Most of the top women average 2 tournaments per active month ~ so we’re looking at between 20 and 24 tournaments per year. The cost of food and drink is not listed since no matter where one is, they must eat and drink something. It’s an individual choice as to what you are going to eat and drink and where. Personally, I could eat from the fast food places $0.99 menu or grab one of the many salads and a beverage for less than $5.00.

The average tournament requires 2 nights hotel. Hotel rates average approximately $75/night darter’s rates.

Travel, usually airfare ranging between $200 and $350. Tournaments within an 8-hour round trip I , personally, would drive. Fuel expenses for myself are about $50 per 6 hours of driving time.

Entry fees for all events in which women play, excluding blind draws and pro-shoots, usually fall between $85 and $100. This covers the Ladies Singles events, Ladies Doubles events and Mixed Doubles/Triples events.

The payouts at the smaller tournaments $5,000 up to $10,000 usually require a woman to win at least 3 events, with at least one singles win and one mixed event win, just to cover the expenses of the tournament. I would only attend a tournament of this size if it were within a 6-hour round-trip driving distance.

The mid-size tournaments $10,000 up to $20,000 , usually require a woman to win at least 2 events, with at least one singles win, just to cover expenses. Tournaments of this size I would attend if it were within an 8-hour round trip driving distance or if I could get airfare for under $200 ~ not completely impossible.

The large tournaments $20,000 and above, if you are skilled and luckier then the other women shooters that weekend you will get lucky and make a “profit” to be used for future tournaments. I would attend every one of these tournaments. Not just for the money aspect, but for the experience aspect. Playing the top players, getting tips, learning to “master” my nerves, are just a few reasons along with the possibility of winning that give me the drive and desire to participate.

If makers of products used by women the majority of the time could provide monetary sponsorships to tournaments and that money be exclusively used for women’s events, doubles and singles, I see more women participating.

For tournaments offering total prize monies of at least $5,000 but less than $10,000 perhaps a “Women’s Product Sponsor” (“WPS”) could provide up to $1,000 in additional payouts for women. The “WPS” would have to have an already fully approved tournament flyer before providing any sponsorship money ~ then the “WPS” would receive a revised tournament flyer showing the increase in the women’s events. This sponsorship money would be used solely to increase the payout for the Top 4 placements in each of the 4 women’s events.

Tournaments $10,000 to $15,000 perhaps $2,000 once again increasing the payout for the Top 4 placements only.
Tournaments $15,000 to $20,000 perhaps $2,500 and to be used to increase no more than the Top 8 placements.
Tournaments $20,000 and above perhaps $3,500 and to be used to increase no more than the Top 8 placements.