Lights, Camera, Grass League!

95 two-player teams paid $1200 to tee it up at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, Ariz., to qualify for a high-stakes tournament. It’s not for a spot in next year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It’s not for a spot in a LIV event. It’s for the Grass League: a par-3 scramble league consisting of 11 franchise teams and 132 players, played on a lit course at night. 

On Wednesday, 25 of the 95 teams will qualify for the Grass League Draft, where the franchises will select two qualifying teams each. 22 teams will be adopted into the league, leaving three qualifying teams out. 

I attended the Grass League event in December as a fan and wrote about the fun experience. LPGA player Allison Lee and Michigan Auto Aces teammate, Trey Kidd, played off against Tampa Bay Swamp Dawgs’ Billy Hanes and former Korn Ferry Tour player, Dan Buchner. On the first playoff hole, Hanes dropped a 40-foot snake from the back of the green, sending a packed crowd into a celebratory frenzy, and causing beer cans to rain down on the green. The Swamp Dawgs won the night. 

The event had a fledgling music-festival-meets-YouTube-golf feel that piqued my curiosity. Apparently, many others had similar reactions and signed up for the qualifier. I inquired about playing on a team shortly after attending the event and was invited to a “tryout” for the Canada Hat Tricks. 18-holes later, I had a spot on the team. 

My partner for the tournament is former ASU standout and Canadian, Jared du Toit. Du Toit hits the sweet spot between Canadian birdie-machine and Phoenix-resident, and has played in a handful of PGA Tour events. He is one of the many accomplished players in the field, which has been upgraded since the last event. Scroll through participants and you’ll find Michael Block, Garrett Clark, Brad Dalke, John Ellis, Mardy Fish, Joe Greiner, Claire Hogle, George Gankas, Jim Knous, John Mallinger, Drew Stoltz, among many other recognizable players and personalities.

With so many golfers trying to join the Grass League ranks, it’s obvious high-level golfers are looking to compete in new ways. While the purse is expected to be around $100,000 and the league is billed as “High-Stakes Par-3 Golf,” the true appeal might be getting into an emerging league that has three tournaments slated for primetime streaming. 

The tournament will be streamed on Peacock on Friday and Saturday. I don’t know if the leashed alligator mascot from the Tampa Bay Swamp Dawgs will be on site, but there will be live music, DJs, food trucks, cameras, grandstands, alcohol, cash up for grabs, and of course, grass. Carl Spackler would approve. 

I’ll be writing a report from the Grass League later this week. See you under the lights.