There are a select few places in golf that exude the spirit of the game especially well. There are also a handful of people that celebrate the game in a special and unique way. On August 30-31st of 2025 those two things collided when the Grass League came to Goat Hill Park for the Summer Grind. The result was just as you might expect, spectacular.
The Grass League is the world’s first High Stakes Par 3 Golf league. It features competitive tournaments with both amateur and professional players in team-based formats. The Grass League uniquely includes franchises representing different regions, going head to head on some of the countries most spectacular par 3 golf courses. The end product is a version of competitive golf that is fun to watch and fun to be a part of. Since Goat Hill Park isn’t a par 3 course, they shortened every hole to play as a par 3. Somehow, The Goat managed to be even more fun than normal for the final two days in August.
The Grass League environment isn’t like most competitive tournaments, the music is loud, the dress code is non-existent and the vibes are off the chain. The players take the golf seriously, but the main goal of the event is to make sure that everyone involved has a rocking good time.
The Grass League has wisely hired Paige Spiranac as their on course reporter. Emblazoned in some sort of leopard print onesie and adorned with official GL communication gear, Paige calls the action with style and grace.
One of the many things that I love about Goat Hill Park is the ever present canine element. I can’t remember the last time that I visited and didn’t get to pet a pooch. The Summer Grind was no different. I encountered a dozen doggos on Sunday afternoon and all pups reported having a very good time.
It’s easy to have fun at these events without even paying attention to the golf action. Food trucks and friends can easily consume your time at The Grass League. However, there was a competition going on and this was the final moment on the ninth green. The winner of the franchise competition was the Michigan Auto Aces with a score of -64. The two man scramble winners were Kropp & Bigley with a score of -20. To further illustrate the quality of play, that is 20 birdies and 16 pars over 36 holes. These guys know how to golf their balls.
Like any good golf party, the evening ended with a Donovan Frankenreiter concert. With his laid back approach and feel good tunes, Donovan embodies the Southern California lifestyle. The perfect mixture of golf, music, dogs and friends had finally been achieved. The stage was set on the first fairway and it was easily one of the coolest spots that I have heard It Don’t Matter.
If you are interested in learning more check out the Grass League website or watch the high stakes footage from their YouTube channel