www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 831 Pebble Beach may be at the epicenter of the golf world during this time of the year, but there’s another type of golf that’s exploding in popularity throughout the country, especially so in the northern end of Monterey County. There are no clubs or balls here, only discs and baskets. This is disc golf, where many of the same rules of traditional golf apply—the goal is to hit the target in as few strokes, or in this case, throws, as possible. A new disc golf course at Royal Oaks Park, which opened on a trial basis in October, is a hit, with players from throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, as well as out of state, converging to try out what some local enthusiasts are calling a unique experience. Monterey County Chief of Parks Bryan Flores says when county staff asked the public what projects they would like to see, following voters’ approval in 2018 of state Proposition 68 (which provides funding for parks), there was one constant: The county needs more disc golf courses. Pickleball may be getting a lot of press about how quickly the sport is growing in the United States, but disc golf is right there with it. The Professional Disc Golf Association, which was founded in 1976, took 40 years to hit 100,000 total members since its formation. However, in the past decade, it has grown to nearly 300,000, most of those coming during the pandemic years. According to UDisc, an app that allows disc golf players to track their stats, more than 450 rounds have been played on the 21-hole course as of Jan. 9—and that’s just from those who use the app. Flores estimates that number makes up less than half of the total number of players. “People are really happy to have a new course,” he says. “It’s a really close-knit community. Everybody looks out for each other.” Credit for the course design goes to disc golf enthusiasts Nick Kite and Kelly Stracke, two Monterey County Parks commissioners who met over their shared love of disc golf. Kite got involved when the City of Monterey shut down an informal disc golf course at Ryan Ranch in 2018, which was maintained by the Monterey Stinging Jellies Disc Golf Club. The course eventually reopened in 2022, sanctioned by the city, but during that time, Kite joined the board of the club. He was also appointed to the County Parks Commission. Stracke was also appointed to the commission around that time, and the two worked with their fellow commissioners and county staff to find ways to accommodate the growing sport by adding more courses. The 122-acre Royal Oaks Park on Maher Road—the oldest in the county system, having opened in 1966—was viewed as a possibility not only for its central location in the region, but also for its unique landscape. “It’s got an amazing landscape, with different types of terrain and elevation,” Kite says, adding that the amenities of the park, including barbecue areas and playgrounds, add to the experience. “You’re throwing through oak trees, through nicely manicured grass fairways. That’s what really makes this course unique.” “It really challenges not only the beginner, but the professional player,” Stracke adds. Disc golfers from the tri-county area volunteered to help install the course, while the baskets were loaned by Watsonville-based disc golf manufacturer Disc Golf Association and local clubs. Flores says he expects the trial run to last through the summer, and based on the response, it’ll very likely become permanent, pending county approval. After that, tee pads and signage will be installed. Kite notes that he follows the usage statistics of all the courses in Monterey County on the UDisc app. CSU Monterey Bay’s Oaks course is one of the most popular, yet in December, the Royal Oaks course had more rounds scored on it by comparison. “That’s a pretty cool accomplishment in such a short time,” Kite says. Fling of Things A new disc golf course at Royal Oaks Park is attracting players from throughout the region and beyond. By Erik Chalhoub Nick Kite plays a round of disc golf at the new course at Royal Oaks Park. Kite, along with fellow Monterey County Parks Commissioner Kelly Stracke, designed the course, which is currently in a trial run. “Everybody looks out for each other.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS FOR MORE INFO: 831-394-5656 sales@montereycountynow.com Photo: Michael Dadula Published by 2024-2025 FREE Best of Monterey Bay® Wedding Guide cover_WG24.indd 1 2/22/24 10:53 AM Connect with eager couples and their families to make their Monterey County wedding even more memorable. HAPPILY EVER AFTER BEGINS IN MONTEREY COUNTY Best of Monterey Bay® Wedding Guide Coming March 2025
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==