Paige Spiranac Makes Big Announcement About Buzzy Golf Startup
Paige Spiranac's set to take over the golf world with her involvement in a league that aims to challenge the sport's stuffy norms.
The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday announced that the par 3 golf league Grass League will include the former golf pro and influencer as a front-office staffer.
The outlet reports she's being tasked with building out Grass League's "entire content strategy." That content includes social media. Spiranac, of course, is a powerhouse on social media with a whopping 4 million followers on Instagram alone, not to mention another massive following on Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok.
Spiranac will also put her golf reporting background to use for the Grass League, as The Hollywood Reporter reports Spiranac will do some front-of-camera stuff as an on-course reporter for the league.
So, what is the Grass League?
The par 3 golf league is an alternative to traditional golf, which novices have shied away from due to its formality. Not to mention it's a slow pace. On top of that, it's also an expensive sport.
In an effort to cast a wider net, the Grass League will be a par 3 league that is played at night. It'll be a "2 v. 2 come-as-you-are team format," The Hollywood Reporter says.
Who is funding the Grass League?
The Grass League is relatively new. It was founded in 2023 by Jake Hoselton, brother Jimmy Hoselton, Pete Wilson and Connor Riley.
So far, there are 11 franchises in 11 cities across the U.S. and Canada with owners that include Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Roses) and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark (San Diego Munis), among others.
The Grass Clipping Rolling Hills in Tempe, Arizona is considered the league's flagship site.
The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday also announced that the Grass League has raised $2.75 million in its seed-plus round, the benchmark that comes after an upstart's original seed money and its official Series-A round.
Creator Sports Capital invested a majority of that $2.75 million. the golf innovation company Old Tom Capital is also an investor.
Related: Paige Spiranac Reveals Her Reaction to 'Happy Gilmore 2'
What are they saying about the league?
“The brilliance of Grass League lies in its transformation of a universal pastime into a compelling, creator-driven sport,” said Brian Kabot, co-managing partner of Creator Sports Capital. “What impressed us most is how they’ve built more than just a league; they’ve cultivated a vibrant digital community where passion and creativity are the main event. We invest in the future of fandom and athlete empowerment, and Grass League is pioneering that in a truly unique and authentic way. We are excited to support their vision as they scale this innovative concept into a household name.”
Where can I watch?
Some live events are already streaming on Peacock and Golf Channel, as well as on Golf Channel's YouTube channel.
Who is Paige Spiranac?
She's a 32-year-old model and former NCAA golf champion. She also recently had a cameo in Netflix's Happy Gilmore 2, playing the role of a Dick's Sporting Goods employee in a major scene with Adam Sandler.
Spiranac played Division I golf at the University of Arizona and San Diego State, where she earned All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2012 and 2013. She also helped the Aztecs clinch their first conference championship in 2015.
After college, Spiranac attempted to go pro and competed in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
Though she did not earn her pro card, Spiranac earned a strong following on social media as a model and golf influencer. She has more than 4 million followers on Instagram; more than 1 million followers on X; and more than 1.6 followers on TikTok.
Spiranac also appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2024, and dropped knowledge with her monthly column in Golf Magazine.