Tempe, Ariz. (February 27, 2024) – Grass League, the world's first high stakes par 3 golf league, has partnered with Bleacher Report (B/R) to produce and distribute its first event, the Grass Clippings Open at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, via the B/R website, award-winning B/R app and social channels, Golf Digest and truTV. The Grass Clippings Open will take place April 17-20 at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, Arizona’s first fully lit 18-hole golf course, and will showcase amateur golfers in team-based formats. Registration for tickets and players will open in March.
The Grass Clippings Open will be a two-person scramble golf tournament, showcasing a blend of competitive spirit and diverse entry paths. The event begins with a no-stroke, 18-hole qualifying scramble, from which teams emerge to join the final lineup of 75 teams. These selected teams then engage in a gripping 36-hole tournament over two days, adhering to a no-stroke, 2-person scramble, low gross format.
The Grass League welcomes qualifiers, encouraging broad participation and the discovery of emerging talents with a six-figure prize on the line. Founded by Jake Hoselton, Jimmy Hoselton, Connor Riley, Pete Wilson, and TJ Forster, the Grass League will feature a 75-team composition including:
- 20 Franchise Teams: Each franchise is entitled to field two teams, fostering local representation.
- Past Champions: Two spots are reserved for previous winners, honoring their legacy and skill.
- 11 Sponsorship Exemptions: These entries are granted to teams sponsored by various entities, adding a commercial aspect.
- 28 Exempt Independents: These teams secure their place by finishing in the top 30 of the previous year's tournament, ensuring consistency and quality.
- 14 Qualified Teams: These teams earn their entry through intense qualifiers held April 17, two days before the main event. The qualifiers are divided into two rounds, each featuring 54 teams (10 franchise and 44 independent) vying for the top seven positions. The top seven from each qualifier, be they Franchise or Independent, complete the tournament's roster.
- The top 10 teams from the Grass Clippings Open gain automatic entry into next year's tournament, creating a cycle of excellence and competition.
Grass Clippings at Rolling Hill is planning another Grass League tournament in the fall strictly for professional golfers as the League will feature both amateur and professional tournaments. Grass League teams are divided by regional markets, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Minnesota, Michigan, Canada, Tampa Bay, and New York. Team investors include Dodgers’ Manager Dave Roberts; Golf.com Founder Michael Lazerow, investment firm Social Leverage, and Eberg Capital, among others.
“Grass League is bringing high stakes par-3 golf to the sport with the ability for the first time to broadcast live in prime time,” said Grass Clippings Co-Founder Jake Hoselton.
"The Grass League is unlike anything out there right now,” Bleacher Report General Manager Bennett Spector said. “Our mission is to connect with golf fans on a human level and the electric par 3 format means anyone and everyone has a shot at taking home the massive cash prize — it’s like the World Series of Poker for golf.”
In addition to the Grass Leagues Events, B/R and Grass Clippings have agreed that B/R will have an on-going presence at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, including B/R exclusive events and always-on content capture throughout 2024 to generate content for the next generation of fans.
On March 2, 2023, the Tempe City Council approved Grass Clippings’ plan to overhaul and operate Rolling Hills Golf Course. Grass Clippings executed a long-term lease with the City of Tempe, and took over the property on July 1st of last year, with Troon immediately assuming management of daily operations. Scottsdale-based WestHawk Capital partnered with Grass Clippings to lead a $15,000,000 round of equity capitalization to finance the complete renovation of the facility, including the installation of lights and the full F&B and amenity package currently under development. The golf course reopened on Friday, November 3rd following a four-month golf course renovation project and rye grass overseed, construction of a newly designed 9th hole, new tee boxes, installation of a new state-of-the-art irrigation system to improve turf quality, and a new 15,000 sq. ft. practice putting green. Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills then opened to night golf play on Friday, December 1, 2023 and has instantly become a favorite destination for golfers. More than 78 LED lights illuminate the golf course, which plays as a par 54, par-3 golf course at night and as an executive-length golf course (with par 3s and 4s) during the day. Golfers are able to track ball flight through the night sky on holes that range from 90 to 200-plus yards, while enjoying 360-degree views of downtown Tempe, Sky Harbor Airport, downtown Phoenix, the Phoenix Zoo and the nighttime silhouette of Papago Buttes. The introduction of lights and night golf is just the beginning for the golf and entertainment venue, the flagship location for Grass Clippings’ cutting-edge vision. The team is also in the process of renovating the clubhouse, adding a new Mexican food restaurant, a patio bar and refurbishing the former Rolling Hills golf shop. In addition, Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills will add a hilltop bar near hole 8, an activity lawn and video display, and an entertainment site for live music, markets, and events, with full completion of all projects targeted for fall 2024.
For more information on Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, visit https://grassclippingsaz.com.
About TNT Sports
TNT Sports is a global leader in the delivery of premium sports content. The TNT Sports U.S. portfolio includes expansive, multi-platform partnerships with the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, National Hockey League, Nascar and United States Soccer Federation. TNT Sports also includes TNT Sports in Europe and the Republic of Ireland – including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UFC, WWE and more – and much-loved brands Eurosport, Global Cycling Network (GCN), Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN), Golf Digest, as well as multi-sport programming and content on discovery+ and Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks. Owned and operated platforms are highlighted by Bleacher Report, the #1 digital destination for young sports fans, along with House of Highlights, HighlightHER and a full suite of digital and social portfolio brands. Additionally, WBD Sports co-manages NBA Digital – comprised of NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE Pass, the NBA App and NBAGLEAGUE.com – as well as NCAA.com and NCAA March Madness Live.
About Grass League
The Grass League is the world's first high stakes par 3 golf league, uniquely embracing both professional and amateur events in team-based formats. Grass League events are set on lighted par 3 courses with the flagship host site located in the Phoenix market. The League welcomes qualifiers, encouraging broad participation and the discovery of emerging talents. With teams divided by regional markets, the League drives a sense of rivalry and community involvement. This innovative approach to team ownership and competitive play marks an exhilarating new chapter in the world of golf. The initial teams in the League are Los Angeles, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Minnesota, Michigan, Canada, Tampa Bay and New York. Flagship host site in Greater Phoenix, AZ - Grass Clippings Rolling Hills (1415 N Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85288).
About Grass Clippings
Grass Clippings was originally founded in 2018 as a company dedicated to growing the game of golf and celebrating the greens keepers that make the game possible. In 2019, after hosting the first Grass Clippings Open, Grass Clippings launched a line of golf apparel and opened its first retail shop, located at 39th St. and Campbell in Phoenix. The Grass Clippings Open grew rapidly and by 2022 had outgrown its venue. As co-founder Pete Wilson explained, “We needed a venue we could grow with.” The Grass Clippings Open is poised to be the greatest par 3 golf tournament in the world. Follow Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills on Instagram at @grassclippings.Arizona and on Twitter @GrassClippingsc.
About WestHawk Capital
WestHawk Capital is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based investment management firm who partners emerging real estate sponsors with scalable investment strategies to accelerate the growth of their platforms. Additionally, WestHawk partners with operating businesses who require strategic real estate investments to achieve their growth. WestHawk has partnered with Grass Clippings to capitalize the real estate in the rollout of a pioneering concept in par 3 night (lighted) golf courses, beginning with the 2023, $15 million funding for the transformation of Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, Arizona. WestHawk makes these investments both directly and through its affiliated commercial real estate investment operating platform Alignment Realty Capital. For more information, visit www.westhawkcapital.com or contact Gary Linhart at gary@westhawkcapital.com.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company, providing services at 850-plus locations, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 35-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com