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Tempe,
AZ – February 2024 / NewsmakerAlert:
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:
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20 Franchise
Teams: Each franchise is entitled to field two teams, fostering local representation.
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Past Champions:
Two spots are reserved for previous winners, honoring their legacy and
skill.
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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.
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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.
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“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 www.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 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,
or connect with Troon on Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
Troon
Chronicles,
Press Room,
and via The
Turn Podcast.
Media
Contact:
Rob
Myers
Troon
480-477-0506
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