BY EASTON STOCKFORD

Nearly 365 days ago, Billy Hanes of the Tampa Bay Swamp Dogs stood over a 45-foot putt on the first playoff hole of the Grass League Championship. With the opposing Michigan Auto Aces having merely eight feet left for birdie, Hanes’ putt had an opportunity to put all the pressure in the world on Michigan’s Alison Lee and Trey Kid.

As the ball began its nine-second journey towards the hole, all parties at Grass Clippings watched the left-to-right swinger trickle over the lip of the cup — the shot that ultimately won the Swamp Dogs the GL Championship, sending a crowd of over 2500 into a frenzy.

Grass League is a one-of-one event in the golf world, and moments like the one at the 2024 GL Championship are exactly what the league is aiming to do — break barriers. Defined as “the world’s first high stakes par 3 golf league”, post-round concerts, exhilarating crowds, and a one-of-a-kind structure have put Grass League in class with the fastest growing phenomena in the golf world.

Fast-forwarding to 2025’s GL Championship in Tempe, Ariz., the lights of Grass Clippings are set to shine even brighter, and the stage is poised for a cinematic finish amongst one of the most electric atmospheres in the sport.

The San Diego Munis — owned by US Open Champions Wyndham Clark — top the leaderboard heading into the concluding weekend with 1153 points, but with 5,000 points at hand for this weekend, a single stroke can reshape the entire season.

The Munis’ league-leading season has been spearheaded by Ricky Romano and Hayden Wood, who finished second at the Grass Clippings Open and fourth at the Summer Grind. Hayden Wood is the team’s highest-ranked player, but he will not be playing in the GL Championship; Taylor Wood will step in to take his place.

Last year’s runner-up in the Michigan Auto Aces is hot on the heels of the Munis at 851 points. Gabriel Salvanera and Ryan Macpherson headlined the Auto Aces’ win at the inaugural Summer Grind in August, where the team led the field at 64-under-par at Goathill Park in California. Daniel Ochoa and Skylar Finell make up another threat on the Auto Ace’s roster, finishing in the top ten in both of their starts this season.

Sitting in third is the New York Blue Birds at 694 points. Lazerow Enterprises’ squad features the fourth and fifth best players in the field — Kurt Watkins and Jake Byrum. The pair claimed the crown at this year’s Grass Clippings Open, followed by a fourth-place finish at the Summer Grind. Byrum and Watkins are slated to play together this weekend and could be the pair that sparks a climb to the top.

Further down the leaderboard lie last season’s winners of the points race, the Minnesota Muskies. The Muskies are currently sitting in eighth place, but feature one of the more exciting teams in the Grass League. Drew Stoltz and Drew Kittleson will be one of the pairings to watch this weekend, as it was Kittleson’s closing birdie at the 2024 Grass Clippings Open. The two did not play in the Summer Grind but could prove to be heavy hitters come this weekend.

The reigning champions of the event in the Tampa Bay Swamp Dawgs are also a little lower than expected heading into the event. The Swamp Dawgs are currently ninth in the franchise rankings despite having the top two players on the tour. Billy Hanes has been dubbed “the world’s best par 3 golfer,” and his partner, Dan Buchner, is not too far behind him. Tampa Bay has over 1,000 points of ground to make up in the standings, but Buchner and Hanes will be looking to defend their title come Friday night.

With the GL Championship already gearing up to be a photo finish, a few new additions might add fuel to the fire.

The seventh-ranked Hollywood Hitters added former PGA Tour professional and current on-course commentator for CBS Sports, Colt Knost. The 2007 US Amateur Champion came to Grass League looking to rekindle his golf career, adding another strong challenger in a field already full of them. Knost will play with another PGA Tour veteran, Scott Harrington, on a Hitters team full of talent. 

The Scottsdale Strikers also added a pro of their own — PGA Tour winner, Charlie Beljan. The Striker’s latest addition claimed a win at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in 2012 during his six full PGA seasons. Beljan and the Strikers were one of the first teams at the course for Thursday’s practice round and could be a sneaky pick to climb the leaderboard at the GL Championship.

With chaos all around and a $100,000 prize pool on the line, all bets are off on the Grass League’s biggest stage. The ever-growing event is likely to attract a significantly larger crowd than last year, and all attendees will be treated to a show both on and off the course.

Vendors and food trucks will act as a complement to the elite golf, but one of the event’s biggest draws comes after the last putt drops. Popular country band Midland will take the stage after the round on Friday, followed by BigXthaPlug for the season’s closing night with Country Night opening for both acts.

The action all unfolds this weekend with gates opening on Friday at 2:00 p.m. before the shotgun starts at 5:00 p.m. Saturday’s round will kick off at 12:45 p.m. with the leading groups teeing off at 4:30 p.m. Final round coverage will be live on Golf Channel at 5:00 p.m. MST, where a champion will be crowned. 

40 teams, 5,000 points for the takings, and $100,000 on the line. Grass League’s biggest event to date is primed to be a weekend full of low numbers and high drama. 

The Grass League Championship from Grass Clippings Rolling Hills is back, and it’s ready to drop jaws once again.