New Lydgate Disc Golf Course

By Tommy Noyes

The people casting concrete for a new tee pad in Lydgate Beach Park are, left to right, Jansen Lee, Aaron Feinberg, Chris Cole, Brian Foster, Kyle Catbagan, Bobby Baxter, Nick Klauba, Andrew Panoke, Thomas Chongkil, Chad Puni, Jacob Mueller and Nanci Kea. Photo by Ryan Moen

This story centers on appreciation. A small band of volunteers has dedicated thousands of hours and a lot of personal cash building out a remarkable disc golf course that’s free and open to the public at Lydgate Beach Park.

The core team of reliable volunteers who put in the time and effort to design, coordinate and install the first nine holes of disc golf at Lydgate Beach Park back in 2018 includes Gabriel Catbagan, Keane Catbagan, Kyle Catbagan, Chris Cole, Brian Foster, Sarah Foster, Anthony Hessheimer, Erika Hessheimer, Ryan Jacobsmeyer, Nanci Kea, Larry LaSota, Ryan Moen, Jesse Naea and Larry Sloan.

Now, many of those same individuals are, with fiscal assistance from the County of Kaua‘i Department of Parks and Recreation, putting the finishing touches on an additional nine holes at the south end of Lydgate. Additionally, they’re installing two dedicated practice baskets and improvements to the popular original nine holes.

“The volunteers that have unselfishly stepped up and worked so hard building out 18 holes of awesome disc golf for everyone to enjoy truly deserve the community’s appreciation,” said Brian Foster, Disc Golf Kaua‘i Ohana’s spokesperson and the course completion project’s coordinator. “It’s been inspiring to collaborate with County Parks folks in Lydgate, work the Wailua Golf Course crew, help out with the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park’s big workdays, and partner with the educational nonprofit Kaua‘i Path.

“Everyone has worked together with good will to improve Lydgate Park and create a new world-class amenity for Kaua‘i. We look forward to once again participating in the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park’s Earth Day in Lydgate Park 2023 community workday, coming up on Saturday, April 22.”

Disc golf courses around the world are rated by udisc.com, and the nine-hole Lydgate course is favorably rated on that site.

“Once the new nine holes are complete and in play, we expect to see that rating edge up even higher,” Foster said.

People interested in checking on the progress of the Lydgate course completion project or getting involved in disc golf play here on Kaua‘i may check Disc Golf Kaua‘i Ohana’s Facebook page, or look for them on Instagram. The Ohana convenes frequent local tournaments, and participates in larger tournaments that draw players from off-island.

The Disc Golf Kaua‘i Ohana takes its role as a community service organization to heart. In the fall of 2022 they, supported the Kaua‘i Hawai‘i Food Bank. “We collected 392 pounds of food and took in a little over $100 in cash donations,” Foster said. “Good start for our first food drive!”

Coordinated by the Marine Corps Reserve, the annual Toys for Tots program that leads up to Christmas has also benefitted from the Ohana’s participation over for the past four years. In 2022, the Ohana delivered approximately $2,000 in donated toys in support of Toys for Tots.

“We’re just grateful to be healthy and able to contribute in some small way through our volunteer labor and donations to make our island community a bit better for everyone,” Foster said.

• Tommy Noyes is Kaua‘i Path’s executive director, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and active with the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps.