There are two issues at play here:

1) your project,
2) your request for advice on electronics,

You have observed quite rightly that we know nothing about Disc Golf and park regulations.
That should be expected since this a website All About Circuits. We can only provide advice on circuits and electronics and its application to your project.

It is unfortunate that we were unable to fulfill your expectations.
We wish you success on your project.

 

Sorry I didn’t get in earlier since I know a lot about using this type of strip and ESP8266. I just finished a lighting project using 8 similar strips controlled by a PIC24 and using ESP8266 for internet connectivity.

Those strips appear to be using a WS2811 chip to drive 3 LEDs in series off 12V. The chip controls the current to the LEDs, you need to supply 12V power and a data signal to set the color of each set of three LEDs. They will do nothing, not even come on, without the data stream, which goes to the DI (data input) at the beginning of the strip. That is where the ESP 8266 comes in.

Let me know if you are still there and I will be glad to help with this project.