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The high-stakes, par-3 Grass League Championship features pro golfers, an LPGA player, an ex-MLB pitcher and live music

todd kelly
·3-min read
Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo: Grass Clippings)
Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo: Grass Clippings)

Former PGA Tour golfers, a current LPGA golfer, a former Major Leaguer and a celebrity golf champion are all a part of the Troon Access Grass League Championship.

There will be 44 two-person teams in all converging on the first fully lit golf course in Arizona, Grass Clippings Rolling Hills.

Just minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as well as Arizona State University, the golf course will host this 36-hole scramble over two days, Dec. 5-6 in Tempe, Arizona.

The first round on Thursday will start at 5 p.m., just as the sun is going down, and will be played under the lights. There will be an after party at 9 p.m. on the event lawn at the course. Friday's final round starts at 1:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony taking place at 9 p.m.

Who's in the field?

The notable teams include:

  • Hollywood Hitters - Mardy Fish, Mark Mulder

  • Phoenix United - George Gankas, Nick Mason

  • Minnesota Muskies (Team 1) - Drew Kittleson, Drew Stolz

  • Minnesota Muskies (Team 2) - Andrew Medley, Ken Tanigawa

  • Los Angeles Roses - Sarah Schmelzel, Carson Kemp

  • Scottsdale Strikes (Team 1) - Jonathan Kaye, Kenny Coakley

  • Scottsdale Strikes (Team 2) - Tommy Moore, Andrew Magee

  • Dallas Horsemen - Brad Dalke, Clay Seeber

Mardy Fish is a former World No. 1 tennis player who won the American Century Championship near Tahoe once. Mark Mulder won 103 games as a starting pitcher in the MLB and has won the ACC three times. Sarah Schmelzel is a current LPGA golfer who had seven top-10s in 2024. Jonathan Kaye is a two-time PGA Tour winner, including the WM Phoenix Open at nearby TPC Scottsdale. Andrew Magee is a former PGA Tour player who made the first-ever hole-in-one on a par 4 at TPC Scottsdale during the Phoenix Open.

What else is going on at the golf course?

There will be live music as well as a DJ. In addition, food trucks will be stationed at the course alongside a beer garden and hospitality tents.

The Grass Clippings golf course in Tempe, Arizona, has lights for nighttime play. (Photo: Golfweek)
The Grass Clippings golf course in Tempe, Arizona, has lights for nighttime play. (Photo: Golfweek)

What is the Grass League?

This is the first high-stakes par-3 league with teams in nine cities. There are four teams per franchise. The 2024 GL Championship is sponsored by Troon Access, a new loyalty program, and GolfNow.

More about Grass Clippings Rolling Hills

First opened nearly 66 years ago, the Rolling Hills Golf Course underwent a massive overhaul to become the first fully lit, 18-hole golf course in the state. It reopened in December of 2023 as a par-63 layout during the day and an all-par-3, par-54 venue at night, with clearly marked artificial turf tee boxes for use during the late hours.

There are about 80 LED lights on the course. The night-time yardages range from about 100 to nearly 200 yards. The topography provides multiple elevation changes and the design has several elevated tee boxes. Even at night, there are great views of the downtown Tempe area, downtown Phoenix and airplanes overhead making their descent into the airport.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: The high-stakes, par-3 Grass League Championship features pro golfers, an LPGA player, an ex-MLB pitcher and live music