Hypegolf Clubhouse Classic Returns to New York
The second annual Clubhouse Classic culminated in a long-drive showdown, a three-team playoff and plenty of drama.
For the second consecutive year, the Hypegolf Clubhouse Classic returned to the New York metropolitan area, bringing together the many different corners of the city’s golf community for a day on the course.
The tournament arrived less than two weeks after the Hypegolf Clubhouse Powered by the 2026 Toyota RAV4 opened its doors at 430 West Broadway. Conceptualized as a golf “tune-up shop,” the Clubhouse is a place to discover new brands and gear, get clubs re-gripped, dial in distances and, just as importantly, meet other golfers. The Classic took that same spirit out onto the course.
This year, we headed north to New York Country Club in Spring Valley, New York. Perched above the surrounding landscape with views stretching toward the Manhattan skyline, the course provided an appropriately laid-back setting for a field composed of athletes, musicians, artists, photographers, creators, competitive golfers and those newer to the game. Ja Rule and Daniel Arsham were among those joining us for the day.
Players began arriving at 10AM, warming up alongside a 2026 Toyota RAV4 GR SPORT positioned on the driving range and outfitted with pieces from the Hypegolf x 2026 RAV4 collection. At noon, the field headed out for a shotgun start and the return of the Classic’s 6-6-6 format: six holes of two-man best ball, six of two-man scramble and a final six-hole four-man scramble. That format did its job, and by the end of 18 holes three groups were deadlocked at 60. But there was another matter to settle first.
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The men’s long-drive competition had produced its own tie, with one player’s longer drive finishing through the fairway while another found the short grass. So the crowd gathered around an elevated tee overlooking the 18th, where the two finalists would hit back over the green and downhill into the fairway beyond.
What followed felt closer to a prize fight than a golf tournament. Phones came out, the crowd closed in around the tee and the players emerged through a corridor of spectators. After trading blows, Headband Golfer ultimately claimed the long-drive title in dramatic fashion. From there, attention shifted to the 18th green, where the three groups tied at 60 contested the tournament playoff. When it was over, Ja Rule, Headband Golfer, Dr. Stephanie Chu and Artie Green emerged as the 2026 Hypegolf Clubhouse Classic champions.
It was a fitting ending to a day built around the idea that golf doesn’t have to look one particular way. Different backgrounds, different relationships with the game and different levels of experience all converged on the same course, with everyone suddenly very invested in who could hit one drive the furthest or hole one more putt.
