Welcome to The Goat Rodeo Open
A weekend like none other...
GRO XV
June 5th - June 8th, 2025
Grand Traverse Resort
Welcome to The Goat Rodeo Open
A weekend like none other...
GRO XV
June 5th - June 8th, 2025
Grand Traverse Resort
Players
This Year's Open - GRO XIV
Previous Opens
Explore players of the Open past, present, and future. Read bios, stats, and pictures.
Previous Opens
This Year's Open - GRO XIV
Previous Opens
From the early years at Yarrow and A-Ga-Ming to the current year. Dive deep into the history of the GRO and all its unholy splendor
This Year's Open - GRO XIV
This Year's Open - GRO XIV
This Year's Open - GRO XIV
Some of the best hidden gems in Northern Michigan
Group Shots
History of the Trophy
Group Shots
Enjoy a slideshow of group shots of the past in all their hideous glory!
History of the Trophy
History of the Trophy
History of the Trophy
Origin story of the GRO trophy and it's journey...
Golfers
Current Golfers 2025 Open
This year's round of competetors
Ryan Anderson
The word around town is RHan moved even further from us out of shame of his back to back Daisy wins and it desperate to not three-peat. Can he dig deep to prevent cementing himself in the history books
Highest Finish - 7th - VII
Handicap - 32
FanDuel Odds : +3400
San Danborn
Sanborn is back in action at XV. Word is he is running to Traverse to save gas and work on those calves. Suspect handicap and more suspect face Dan will be a wildcard as always.
Handicap - 18
FanDuel Odds : +1000
Bubbles 2.0
Chimps is back and ready to fuck some shit up. The better Matt is honing his skills at TPC and could be a threat this year as a 13 handicap. Will he be able to tolerate us for another weekend is the true question?
Handicap - 13
FanDuel Odds : +550
Derick "DD" Daisy
Our favorite flower girl Daisy has given up the boat club for the country club in ATL. Will it be just what he needs to finally get back on top? Will this Georgia peach be juicy or rotten at this years GRO?
Highest Finish - 1st (kinda)
Handicap - 20
FanDuel Odds: +8000
Bradford T. Garrity
A lot has changed since his last victory - new house, new special lady, new sciatica, new iron distances, same salty personality. After a nice 2nd place last year hes thirsty for more.
Highest Finish - 1st - IV, X; XI*
Handicap - 9
FanDuel Odds: - 220
Tommy Gunzz Graham
Tommy is down weight, down rounds played, down to clown, but up on brownies. Can his old man strength carry him to the top despite still reeling from his runner up at Bandon in 2022?
Highest Finish - 2nd - XII
Handicap - 12
FanDuel Odds: even
Sean Haynes
Sean is peaking like Daisy’s cargo shorts at a Twin Peaks. His handicap is plummeting and if he can keep it together maybe, just maybe he can bring his child home a trophy to finally get some respect in his house.
Highest Finish - 2nd - VII
Handicap - 22
FanDuel Odds: +110
Sha-Baby Rajaee
Sha parviendra-t-il à surmonter des obstacles presque insurmontables et à soulever à nouveau le trophée ? Sa nouvelle fille au pair française sera-t-elle impressionnée ? Emménagera-t-il chez Brad avant Noël ? Nombreux sont ceux qui disent oui…
Highest Finish - 1st x2
Handicap - 28
FanDuel Odds : +4500
Tommy Ruggles
Hand is fucked, shoulder is fucked, ankle is fucked, brain is fucked as always. TR coming off the 5 year IR to give us sass and putts. Look out for the godfather this year. I mean really look out for his well being, Traverse is hilly.
Highest Finish - 1st x2
Handicap - 36
FanDuel Odds: +550
Stephen Slessor
Well it’s not technically a coastal Goat but it is a destination and The MatQueen thrives in events like this. Hes going to be dangerous this year like most years. God forbid hes in the final group on Sunday, if he is start engraving the trophy now.
Highest Finish - 1st - IX, XII
Handicap - 18
FanDuel Odds: -110
Tom Stansell
Green Jackets and green leafy veggies! The one true Champ is playing host at GT and wont leave without the jacket and trophy. Game is in shambles but like Kelly trying to meet a Pin-up deadline he’ll find a way.
Highest Finish - 1st XIV
Handicap - 15
FanDuel Odds: +100
Trenton Toor
Trent is in love but will it be a distraction for him or just the motivation he needs. We all know hes the best putter at the goat and he’ll need it on the greens in Traverse. Start pouring the Bud Light into the trophy now
Highest Finish - 4th - X
Handicap - 18
FanDuel Odds: -220
C-Man III
Rehabbed the flatstick and still using that Peter CottonTail of his to bomb drives, C-Man is rising up at the right time. Give this man some respect when betting this year.
Highest Finish - 2nd - V
Handicap - 26
FanDuel Odds : +3500
Jeffery Waterstradt
Jeff’s game is realizing that he has a daughter who just graduated High School and it’s showing. Hes got to get focused going into the Pre-Goat stretch or we’ll be fitting him for yet another Daisy Bib.
Highest Finish - 7th - VIII
Handicap - 10
FanDuel Odds: +300
Anthony Welmers
Andy is looking solid as always going into the Goat. Can he wrestle the demons of what should have been a walk off win last year and the fact that his son is piece of garbage and get back to the winners circle.? Mayhap…
Highest Finish - 1st - IV
Handicap - 18
FanDuel Odds: +450
vHelm
Much like Rory’s years lost in the woods, Vhelm has squandered his golfing prime by shitting the bed for the past decade. Will he have a story book ending to Traverse this year. Probably not…but.but the meltdown will be entertaining as hell.
Highest Finish - 1st x2 ten years ago
Handicap - 7
FanDuel Odds: suckerbet at +110
Golfers of the Past
The GRO has hosted some of the world's best
Matt 1.0
Twins…Schmins…someone needs to sort out the priorities. After a stressful month with one twin in the NICU Matt needs to take a year off to be a good dad. And despite our history we at the GRO support good dads. Cheers Matty We’ll see you next year
GRO - III, V, VI
Ben Jammin Schepis
Ben was an original member of the GRO, and was an inconsistent player in the years that followed. He is currently coordinating the GRO East from Balitmore
GRO - I, IV, VI, VII
Dave Haynes
BDD had a rough go during his year at the outing. Plagued by chants of Big Dick Dave and a lackluster performance made it a tough weekend for him at Tullymore.
GRO - V
Greg Haynes
The third of the Haynes boys flew in for the outing in 2018, only to be hobbled by a nasty sciatica. He was only able to take limited swings.
GRO - VIII
Clint Cezon
Goddamned COVID 19 claims one of our own...Hes not dead just too high risk of the Open in 2020. He shall return...
GRO - IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX
Jake Jarvis
Jake Poo decided to choose a wedding over us and bail on Traverse…we dont want or need him anyway, we were just using him to get closer to Kelly
GRO - XI
Rodeos Through the Years - The Early Years
GRO I - Yarrow/Gull Lake
The one that started it all...8 guys with no fucking idea what we were doing. Flip cup tutorial for Andy, Lare Bear, late night boxer burnings, outhouses from hell, and a TON of hangovers. We were not invited back...
Winner - Derrick Daisy
Daisy - Unknown
GRO II - A-Ga-Ming
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. The Rodeo was lucky to survive past the second year. All the rounds but Sunday were rained out. Time was spent night putting, drying off, playing indoor putt-putt, and more drying off.
Winner - Aaron Surma
Daisy - Unknown
GRO III - Treetops I
Our first true foray into resort golf was Treetops. What the outing is now was born from this year. The first year of the trophy and the Daisy award. The year was highlighted by Sanborn starting a fight in Gaylord and destroying a fence.
Winner - Shahein Rajaee/Brad Garrity
Daisy - Derrick Diasy
GRO IV - Garland
The shenanigans continued at Garland. Team America is born with Grant and Shahein, mustaches are grown, and we have another shared trophy. Our one and only trip to Garland. Also the first year of including Tamarack as the practice round. The poster also begins this year.
Winner - Shahein Rajaee/Andy Welmers
Daisy - Derrick Daisy - again
GRO V - Tullymore/St. Ives
Easily the best golf up to this point. Pohlcat, Buck's Run, Pilgram's Run, St. Ives, and Tullymore. The courses were amazing, the driving was not. Facial hair, Ryan's allergies, interviews, and Mole Man sightings.
Winner - Grant Welmers
Daisy - Derrick Daisy - again
GRO VI - Treetops II
Back into the trees we went with a Welmers' bounce to be sure. Here we see the first back-to-back solo champ in Grant and the highlight round of Threetops. Girl Penis and The Dutchman makes their first appearances. As well as yet another domination by Sean in scrambles.
Winner - Grant Welmers
Daisy - Ben Schepis
Rodeos Through the Years - Shanty and Beyond
GRO VII - Shanty Creek I
Our first trip to Bellaire and The Shanty Creek Resort. Ruggles makes a name for himself as a legend at the Rodeo. Cheetos fingers begins as well as the Official Champion's Dinner. Experimentation with big cups is a hit.
And of course Surma's hole in one...
Winner - Tommy Ruggles
Daisy - Derrick Daisy - again
GRO VIII - Shanty Creek II
We took the best parts of Shanty and added The Chief and Hawk Eye. The difficulty level was maxed out, but it mattered little when Ruggles drops a GRO record 84.5 points! A Light; A Life; A Champion; A Tom had a rare live read by the subject, there were tears. Plus a first-time duel Daisy!!!
Winner - Tommy Ruggles
Daisy - Andy Welmers/Shahein
GRO IX - Manistee/Arcadia
A battle for the ages at Arcadia. A heated run by Brad Garrity comes up Shakespeare-ianly short as Stephan Scott Slessor dominates Sunday without a driver for the GROIX win. Steve hoisted the trophy as a gentle rain continued to fall on the 18th green. Our first trip to Arcadia was a success. Bonus appearance by Sanborn!
Winner - Stephen Scott Slessor
Daisy - Matthew Boroniec
GROX - Boyne Highlands
COVID didnt keep the Rodeo down as the group headed the furtherest north it has gone. Boyne Highlands and Bay Harbor were one of the best collections of courses we’ve played. Mr. Garrity and his Fantastic Fifteen were able to stave off the clubhouse leader Grant Welmers for a dramatic Sunday finish that came down to a final putt. Mr. Surma made is return to the Open. Photo shoots, golf boards, bucket hats, Mr. Zimmerman, and borderline cart girl harassment were all the highlights of the Xth year. Oh and C-MAN Origins story begins.
Winner - Brad Garrity
Daisy - Matthew Boroniec
GRO XI - The Loon
The Gaylords have landed! A tour of the south side of Gaylord gave us some great courses and a thrilling finish. Vhelm went out and lost it in 5 different ways after an early departure of Sean and a steady Sunday from Brad. Jake Jarvis made a splash in his rookie season but came up woefully short. Sean died on the course. Team America round was taken to another level. Sless and Brad almost knifed each other. And a new Daisy bloomed in Jeff. We all had Bandon on the brain though...
Winner - Bradford T. Garrity
Daisy - Jeff Waterstradt
Bandon and Beyond
GRO XII - Bandon Dunes
Oregon called and we answered. 3 days in Portland - Ghost Creek and McMennimens Pitch and Putt, Biergarten, rubbing dirty bodies and Rick Moranis nude scenes. Down the coast to THE Bandon Dunes - Bandon Crossings and all that Bandon had to offer. Bubbles emerges, wine club, vistas, steps, Shane bacon, peeping and tuggin, Widdle Kitty, COVID Tommy, and Sless claiming the Jacket. Literally couldnt have been a better trip .
Winner - Slessor
Daisy - Anderson
GRO XIII - Kamori Cup - TreeTops 3
An experiment failed…We tried but our bloodlust got the better of us. Ryder Cup style match was good in theory but ultimately led to our destruction. Tensions were high and the better team won. Full Blown Fades curb stomped The Dead hands through the first three days but Sunday The Dead hands rose from the graveTo make it interesting. The Toms almost died, Anderson’s almost died, Matt and Slessors friendship almost died, our bank accounts almost died with Treetops drink prices. All around clusterfuck of a trip.
Winner - Full Blown Fades
Daisy - The Dead hands
GRO XIV - Crystal Mountain
A return to form with a killer set of courses - Pinecroft, Championhill, Wolf River tease, Crystal Mountain. Cool lodging, and cooler heads than the year before. And who can forget the story book ending of Tommy getting the best of Andy and Brad in the final round. DJ3Putt as a champion brought us all to tears. And of course Anderson winning back to back Daisys.
Winner - Tommy Stansell
Daisy - Anderson
"The" Trophy
An Oral History of the Greatest Trophy in Sports
The Ark of the Covenant, Excalibur, The golden medals of Olympia, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Goat Rodeo Open Trophy...
All exude a legendary status passed down through the centuries. The high-water marks of conquest and glory. Each with its own storied history full of heartbreak, defeat, and excellence.Mortal men tremble beneath their silhouette. Tears streaming, bruises not yet healed, and egos shattered they raise their trophies to the heavens and thank God for their chance to be even a bit closer to his glory. "The" Trophy as it is called in most circles is no different...
The origin story of the GRO trophy begins as any great story begins, with that of loss. The original trophy was created in 2011 by founding member Grant Welmers. It was minuscule compared with its modern day counterpart. A simple used pine wood derby runner up trophy standing but 8 inches high with "winner" written on masking tape. This first inception was lost to the ages as that years winner, Derrick Daisy, lost it out of pure apathy.
It wasn't until the GRO III that the trophy took its current form. The names were retroactively added to commemorate those early wins (no matter how unfair they were.) The second edition featured the now expected goat, gilded in the king's gold standing atop the famous Cup of Envy. The base is made of Peruvian maple and names are inscribed by the master tinsmith from Oxford University in London England.
The second iteration would continue to be passed from winner to winner and among the shard winners of the GRO III and IV. It would finally find a reprieve from travels in the arms of Grant Welmers who would win two years in a row. Though solace would not be found, for in late 2015 tragedy struck; the trophy would be the victim of drunkened assault at the hands of GRO member Stephen S. Slessor. Repairs would be made and it's soul strengthened.
GRO VII and VIII are deemed the Ruggles Years and its home was resting peacefully on Vermont st in Royal Oak, Mi. After a late surge for the ages the trophy was placed in the loving arms of Stephen S. Slessor, where God only knows what Was done to her during those 12 months. Unfortunately for the last two years Mr Garrity has made the trophy a home in the grip of his two sons . It will take all 15 of us to pry it away…
Learn More
Click here to learn more about "The" trophy, behind the scenes shots of its birth, and its ranking in the history of trophies...
The GRO Caddie Program
A Helping Hand for Winners
In 2018, after generous grant from the McArthur Foundation, the Goat Rodeo Open was able to start it's annual caddie program. The program's design was simple: Those at the bottom help the top. It reflected the philanthropy and service ideals the GRO in a way that also allowed for full humiliation. Each year the Daisy Award is handed out to the year's worst golfer (determined per overall score) and carries over to the subsequent GRO the next year. As the Daisy winner, the golfer(s) is required to become the caddie for the previous year's champion.
Official Caddie Duties include:
- Ensuring that clubs are transported, cleaned, and loaded onto the player's cart.
- Shoes are cleaned and spikes are cleared of debris.
- Drinks/cocktails are made per request and delivered to champion in a timely fashion.
- Any other requests (food, cigars, scented toiletries, etc...) are provided at champion's discretion.
- Caddies are required to wear bibs when available.
- Eye contact shall not be made for the duration of the Open.
- The champion may call their caddie by any name they see fit.
- Caddies will NOT sass back.
- Most importantly have fun!
Once the new Daisy winner is crowned on Sunday afternoon the duties are bequeathed to the new winner and they are relieved of their duty. Caddying is a rich tradition since the early days of Scottish golf and one that we here at the GRO are proud to carry on.
Previous Daisy award winners:
GRO III/IV/V - Derrick Daisy
GRO VI - Ben Schep
GRO VII - Derrick Daisy
GRO VIII - Andy Welmers/Shahein Rajaee
GRO IX X- Matt Boroniec
GRO XI - Jeff Waterstradt
GRO XII - Ryan Anderson
GRO XIII - n/a
GRO XIV - Ryan Anderson
Replica GRO Goat Coozie
$120.00
Did your team let you down in the fourman scramble?
Did you lose your one of a kind coozie?
Do you longingly stare at your partners coozie as he sips a cool refreshing beer on the course?
Place your order now for this official replica coozie from the design studies of K-Stansell Golf Design.
Coozie is adjustable to can or bottle and comes in custom plaid backing in black, red, or green. Coozie is insulated up to 30*F.
Limited Supplies
Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery
XV Schedule
Thursday 1pm - Bahle Farms
Two Man Best Ball
Friday 12pm - Wolverine
Two Man Best Ball
Saturday 8am - Spruce Run
Two Man - Combined Score
Saturday 2pm - The Bear
Fourman Scramble
Sunday 9am - Wolverine
Championship Round