In the heart of Augusta, Georgia, nestled among the rolling hills and sprawling trees, the sound of chainsaws echoes across Lake Olmstead. Hurricane Helene swept through the community in mid-September, its fierce winds ripping through the lush landscape and leaving a trail of debris and destruction on the beloved community, including the disc golf courses that locals cheerfully frequented.

The spirit of the Augusta Disc Golf Association (ADGA), however, has not been easily dampened. The club, a tight-knit group of enthusiasts, has found their passion in navigating the unique challenges of each course in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) while sharing a love for the sport and community. When the hurricane’s destruction became clear, ADGA members sprang into action, banding together for a community-wide cleanup effort.

Some area courses are heavily damaged and will take months if not years to get back, so the overall goal initially has been simply to reopen a couple courses so that the community has an opportunity to throw again. Due to the reasonably modest damage sustained, Lake Olmstead, Boyd Pond Park, and Patriots Park were the best options.

Workdays are announced on the Club Facebook page, and members and their families have gathered at the various courses, armed with an unwavering sense of determination. With chainsaws, shovels, wheelbarrows, and gloves in hand, team members have begun to clear the fairways, pulling branches, and making quick work of the obstacles littered in their way. Laughter mingles with the sounds of hard work, as stories are shared and plans for potential course changes and leagues starting back up are discussed. Children have joined too, collecting fallen branches as their parents work, filling the air with the bright energy of youth and encouragement of opportunities to come.  

“It is in times like these when I am most proud of the folks in our disc golf community,” says Jeremy Hughes, acting ADGA Club President at the time the hurricane hit Augusta. “Over the past several weeks It has been encouraging to watch dozens of our local disc golfers selflessly help people in need. I have been blown away by the compassion that has been poured into the community by folks as they volunteer to repair roofs, remove trees, and donate basic supplies to people in need. 

"We have had an overwhelming number of local volunteers from the Augusta Disc Golf Association who have already spent hundreds of hours working to restore our courses and we are committed to rebuilding each course even better than before. While it is unfortunate that our beloved courses were mostly destroyed, we recognize the seriousness of this storm and acknowledge that things could have been much worse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends in areas around Western North Carolina who suffered unprecedented devastation by this storm.”

The disc golf community, known for its diversity, has bonded even more through this effort. College students, young families, retirees, and seasoned players have worked side by side. They swap tips on their favorite throws, share beverages after a long day, and cheer each other on as courses begin to take shape once more.

After weeks of toil, the fruits of their labor have begun to unfold. The courses that had been the least impacted have gradually returned to playing condition, their natural beauty preserved as phases of repairs are completed. Every sweep of the rake, every lift of a heavy log has made the courses feel alive again, revitalized by the love and dedication from those who call them home. 

“I am proud to be a part of the disc golf community, and I just want to encourage everyone to look for ways to show love to your neighbors during tough times,” said Hughes. 

Through the collective effort, the Augusta Disc Golf community has weathered the storm and emerged stronger than before, a tapestry of friendships and memories interwoven across the beautiful fairways. Today, the ADGA celebrates not only these courses being safe for play again, but the resilience of their community. A hurricane could disrupt their world for a moment, but it will never wash away the mutual passion for this beloved sport and the shared respect for their neighbors.

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