by Todd Dobson

I’m still digesting what transpired last week at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills. I still haven’t fully wrapped my head around the week that was. Record breaking performances, a loaded draft class, a fued between two franchises, a qualifier to remember, and an upcoming match series to keep things in motion. 

Here are my 5 knee jerk reactions to the 2026 Grass Clippings Open.

Takeaway #1: Apparently Anything Is Possible in Grass League

The unexpected has become the expected. 

We witnessed Ryan and Gabby Ruffels set the course on fire in December after firing a record (-21) over two days of play. That record seemed nearly untouchable immediately following the 2025 GL Championship. 

Well a little over 4 months later, the record has been shattered. 

Austin Quick and Tyler Weworski set a new two-day record at (-23), becoming the only pair to shoot (-10) or better in consecutive rounds. They played the two days bogey free and carded 13 birdies in the final round. 

To put it into perspective, Quick and Weworski made a birdie on the 18th hole in the 2024 Grass Clippings Open to shoot (-14) and force a playoff. In this year’s edition, they stood on the 11th tee at (-19).

Throw all your predictions out. Apparently anything is possible.

The question for me becomes: is a perfect lap attainable….18 birdies? 

Takeaway #2: Franchises Can Absolutely Build Through the Draft

For months leading into the tournament, I admittedly focused on the loaded rosters of the 11 franchises, so much so that I underestimated the impact this 2026 draft class would have on the Grass Clippings Open and on the season moving forward.

Two drafted teams tied for second. Two more drafted teams tied for fifth.

That’s four drafted pairings finishing inside the top five at the event with the largest field.

Results:
T2 Mullins | Labeyrie (-17) | New York Blue Birds
T2 Steger | Visacki (-17) | Michigan Auto Aces

T5 Roth | Casto (-16) | Las Vegas Action
T5 Daniels | Klein (-16) | San Diego Munis

I do have to give myself some credit, though. I predicted that a drafted team would win an event in 2026.

That prediction is looking like it may come to fruition.

Takeaway #3: Franchise Rivalries Are Good for the League

The Muskies and Horsemen have officially solidified their rivalry. 

The Horsemen taunted the Muskies in the lead-up to the tournament while the Muskies remained relatively silent. An Instagram story from the Horsemen on the night of the draft appeared to be the final straw.

When the Muskies got their chance to make their first selection, they finished by calling out the Horsemen directly:

“Y’all have been talking a whole lot of s***. Why don’t you back it up on the f****** course?”cried Muskies new captain Tony Bagneshi.

I personally love a little bad blood between competitors, especially between two franchises fighting to stay relevant.

I can’t wait to see how this unfolds over the rest of the 2026 season.

For those keeping score, the Muskies currently sit in fifth place in the season-long points race, while the Horsemen sit in eighth.

Takeaway #4: The GL Qualifier and Draft Are Their Own Spectacle

Some quick math from the qualifier, because the numbers tell the story better than I can. 206 golfers. 103 teams. 28 teams advanced through the qualifier while 22 heard their names called on draft night. 

The leaders of the qualifier shot (-10), and (-6) was the cut to get the invite to the draft. That’s a tournament inside a tournament, and frankly, it might be the most pressure-packed round in the league all year. 

And the draft? The draft felt in some way like the NFL Draft. There were players posting social media videos pleading their case to be drafted, a team that shot (-10) went second to last in the second round, and the actual last pick of Roth and Castro (Las Vegas Action) finished T5.

The qualifier and draft were meant to help build momentum into the Grass Clippings Open, but now are just as entertaining. 

Takeaway #5: The Grass League Match Series Presented by Blue Tees 

I left the Grass Clippings Open wanting more. Much more. Too many storylines and or rivalries in their infancy. Well the good news is that the Grass League is launching a season long match series, a single-elimination bracket that runs the entire season pitting Franchise teams against each other until there is one left standing.

The first wave of matches is set to begin in early march and will include the bottom six franchises from the GCO. Think of Round 1 as the play-in round Round 1. These upcoming matches are set to be held under the lights at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills:

Grass League Match Series presented by Blue Tees Round 1 Schedule: 

Thursday, May 14 — 6:00 PM: San Diego Munis vs. Tampa Bay Swamp Dawgs

Friday, May 15 — 7:50 PM: Hollywood Hitters vs. Los Angeles Roses

Saturday, May 16 — 6:00 PM: Dallas Horsemen vs. Scottsdale Strikers

…

The Grass League season has only just begun.