Short courses are fun, exciting and take less time to play than their full-size brethren; they also occupy smaller footprints and are less expensive to build. Witness the surge of par-3 offerings from A-list destinations like Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links to more local hangouts like 3’s in North Carolina. Or ask the USGA. In a nod to par-3 courses’ growing popularity, the governing body announced earlier this year that courses as short as 750 yards are eligible for ratings, meaning scores at those courses can be included in a player’s Handicap Index.
In Arizona, one course — and operator — is capitalizing on the short-course movement in an enterprising way. In 2023, Grass Clippings, a company founded in 2018 by a group of Phoenix-based entrepreneurs, agreed to a 50-year partnership with the city of Tempe to operate Rolling Hills Golf Course, an executive course in Tempe.
Over the last year and a half, a $15 million investment has transformed the experience at what is now known as Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills. The course is outfitted with lighting for night play, has a lit practice range with Toptracer technology, a new irrigation system and new tee boxes. The facility also has an activity lawn and video display, hilltop bar, patio bar, a renovated clubhouse and an entertainment venue.
Perhaps the biggest element of its success, though, is its starring role as the venue for an innovative new competitive format. In December, the course will host the Troon Access GL Championship Presented by GolfNow, a tournament that is part of The Grass League, the world’s first high-stakes par-3 golf league. The Grass League was created by the founders of Grass Clippings and stages competitive tournaments with both amateur and professional players in team-based formats.
Grass League co-founders Jake and Jimmy Hoselton, Pete Wilson and Connor Riley say the Grass League delivers everything a modern sports fan wants — in an engaging and compact par-3 format.
“Par-3 golf is a standalone sport,” said Jake Hoselton, who is Grass League’s CEO. “It’s quicker, it’s more action-packed, but it’s still golf.”
The Troon Access GL Championship will kick off on Dec. 5 with 44 two-person teams competing at Rolling Hills in a 36-hole scramble over two evenings. The rounds will be played under the lights and in front of a party-hardy gallery of thousands. For a $20 admission fee, attendees will have access to a beer garden, hospitality tents, food trucks, live music and a daily after-party.
And then, of course, there’s the golf; fans will be permitted to stand within a club-length of the competitors and enjoy unobstructed views from start to finish.
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Courtesy of Grass League
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“There’s opportunity here,” Jake Hoselton said. “Par-3 golf, and particularly the format that we use — the two-person scramble — lends itself the ability to have men and women ages 18 to 75 who are competitive. It levels the playing field. And all of golf’s greatest moments happen from 150 yards and in.”
After a successful debut event at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills in April, the Grass League is looking forward to expanding its tournament schedule. Eleven teams from cities such as San Diego, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Dallas will add a sense of rivalry and intrigue, and there’s plenty of room for expansion. Team owners and investors include the likes of U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts and Good Good Golf.
Owners can decide how to fill their rosters. Some offer open qualifying to nab a spot; others hand-pick their squads. Anyone can submit a profile on Grass League’s website to enter the portal in the hopes of getting picked up by a team. Players who make a roster can negotiate compensation with their respective owners and amateurs can explore NIL opportunities. Every Grass League tournament has a purse, which is paid out to the team owner as opposed to the individuals. The owners can then, in turn, compensate their players. In the December tournament, competitors will include LPGA players, YouTube influencers and past PGA Tour winners as well as amateurs.
Part of the Grass League’s allure is its ability to be viewed in prime time. NBC Peacock will air live coverage of the Troon Access GL Championship, as well as three additional Grass League events in 2025. The league already has grown rapidly since its debut event and, given the exposure that’s on the way, seems poised for an even bigger launch in the coming months.
“We believe next year and the years to come, this is going to be a great platform,” Wilson said. “If you’re trying to get on Tour, there’s only so many places you can play. And this could be a great option to just continue to sharpen your game while making money, while getting exposure through social media. If your dream is to play on the Tour, maybe this helps you get there. Or maybe this is just ultimately a better tour to try to make a career on.”
Wilson’s partner, Jake Hoselton, agrees.
“I don’t think it’s that far away from players being able to make a living playing on the Grass League full-time,” Hoselton said. “That’s our goal.”
For more information on the Grass League and the upcoming Troon Access GL Championship, click here.
As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.
