Grassroots effort transforms Allegan park into thriving disc golf destination

A once-underused corner of Allegan County’s park system is now a destination, thanks to a grassroots effort that brought together volunteers, local businesses, and county officials to create an 18-hole disc golf course at Littlejohn Lake County Park.

The project, years in the making, shows how community partnerships can turn recreation challenges into opportunities for connection, accessibility, and economic growth.“This was really a community effort,” explains Brandy Gildea, Allegan County parks manager. 

“The idea for the disc golf course was first brought to me by John Clark seven years ago,” she says. “Since then, John has worked tirelessly to help bring that vision to life. He conducted research and contributed to the course design. John’s dedication played a major role in building momentum and interest around the project, and his efforts helped lay the foundation for what the course has become today.” 

But despite Clark’s efforts, the project languished until recently when Josh Driscoll, a volunteer and member of the Allegan County Parks Advisory Board, saw on social media that efforts to establish a course at Littlejohn Lake, three miles southwest of the city of Allegan, were faltering.

“I had discovered that they were struggling with it a little bit,” Driscoll says. 

“So the first thing I did was join the Parks Advisory Board and realized the main problem was just organization and boots on the ground. Once we figured that out, we worked with Great Lakes Disc and other local businesses, generated the funds, and spent a bunch of time out there putting it in.”

Finding experienced support

The volunteer group partnered with Disc Golfers United, a nonprofit led by Shea Abbgy, who has helped design and steward courses across West Michigan. Abbgy says Gildea created the path forward.

It began by establishing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to raise funds so the volunteers could be insured.

“I already had a nonprofit and insurance in place, so I could provide answers for all the things they couldn’t,” says Abbgy.

A team of volunteers cleared trees, poured concrete tee pads, and installed baskets. The work spanned several months but ultimately paid off.

“After we installed it, it was all about activation,” Abbgy says. “We established a league there, created Allegan Disc Golfers United, and hosted events. This is what we do: help take care of courses and improve them over time.”

Abbgy owns Great Lakes Disc, a retail store in Grand Rapids that has become one of the largest brick-and-mortar disc golf shops in the region.

Located at 44th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue SE in the Town and Country Shopping Center, the 5,000-square-foot shop draws players from across the region. Half the space is a retail floor, while the back supports storage and tournament logistics.

“We have people coming from all over,” Abbgy says. “We’re the largest in the state, and one of the largest in the Midwest. Most stores are e-commerce-based. We’re really more of a community hub, a place where players can meet, learn, and connect.”

Over the past decade, Abbgy has organized more than 200 sanctioned tournaments and many unsanctioned events across Michigan, often as fundraisers for park projects or youth programs.

“You don’t make a lot of money running tournaments,” he says. “In sanctioned events, you’re required to give players merchandise equal to their entry fees. So I use them for community outreach and engagement. They’re about bringing people together.”

Taking advantage of park’s character

The Littlejohn Lake course makes the most of the park’s natural features, such as tall trees, creeks, and hills.

“It’s basically fully wooded. Tight and technical, but really picturesque,” Driscoll says. “There are numerous elevation changes, which always add an interesting element to play. It really turned out well. We’re super happy with it.”

Abbgy agrees that the park’s natural character enhances the experience.

“You have all these old, mature trees, waterways, and elevation changes,” he says. “It’s scenic and fun for throwing the disc down or up a hill or along the side of one. The land itself really lends itself to being a great disc golf course.”

Since opening in May, the course has been played thousands of times. It’s already ranked among the top 10 free-to-play public courses within 100 miles, according to the popular UDisc app.

“Within two weeks of opening, it went to No. 2  in a 200-mile radius,” Gildea says. “It’s been extremely well used all summer. People are coming from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Barry County — over a 100-mile radius — to play. That has an economic impact, with visitors stopping at gas stations, restaurants, and stores in the area.”

The course is free to use and maintained by volunteers and the county parks department.

“All you have to do is get yourself a disc and go play,” Driscoll says.

Disc golf’s appeal lies in its accessibility for players of all ages, abilities, and income levels.

“It’s a low-cost sport,” Driscoll says. “You can get started with a $10 disc, and most courses are free. You can go by yourself or with friends. It’s relaxed, it’s outdoors, and it’s something you can enjoy at your own pace.”

While casual players may set their discs aside during the winter, dedicated players keep the courses open.

“The main thing we worry about in winter is keeping the tee pads clear,” Driscoll says. “If there’s organized play, somebody goes out and shovels them off before the event starts.”

Abbgy adds that many of his events continue through the colder months.“Disc golf doesn’t have to stop when the snow flies,” he says. “It’s a sport built around community and persistence. People show up, no matter the season.”

Creating community

For Abbgy and his network, Littlejohn is one of several projects aimed at growing the sport across Michigan. Disc Golfers United helps municipalities plan, fund, and maintain courses through volunteer engagement and transparent partnerships.

“We host monthly community meetings open to anyone who wants to get involved,” Abbgy says. “Some projects take years, but it’s about building something lasting.”

Gildea says the course fits perfectly into the county’s mission to make parks welcoming and inclusive.

“Our parks strive to be accessible for people of all ages and abilities,” she says. “While the course may not be fully ADA-compliant, it offers recreational opportunities for everyone: older adults, kids, anyone who wants to be active outdoors.”

Decades ago, Littlejohn Lake County Park was known for its beach and baseball fields, but use declined after the city opened a new sports complex in the 1990s.

“Littlejohn used to be extremely popular,” Gildea says. “We’d love to see it full of activity again.

In the long term, we hope to add a modern campground and walking trails alongside the disc golf course. There are 117 acres out there. It’s a beautiful space.”

For Allegan County, the success of the Littlejohn project offers a model for how public agencies can collaborate with community groups to expand recreation without a heavy taxpayer burden.

“This shows what’s possible when volunteers, local business owners, and county government work together,” Gildea says. “It’s not just about a new amenity, it’s about community ownership.”

Driscoll also credited Clark’s efforts to get the project started.

“I know we wouldn’t have delivered what we did without the vision and persistence of John Clark,” Driscoll says.

Driscoll says the reward for his effort is simply watching people enjoy the course.

“It’s been super fun to go out there and play,” he says. “It’s challenging, it’s beautiful, and it’s something our whole community built together.”

Photos courtesy of Shea Abbgy.