Nestled between Interstate 5 and Oceanside Boulevard, the par-3 golf course Goat Hill Park seems an unlikely destination for a professional tour stop.

But what makes “The People’s Park” an unusual location for most professional golf events makes Goat Hill ideal for Grass League. Founded in 2023, Grass League bills itself as a “high-stakes par 3″ featuring amateurs and pros, presented with the enthusiasm of major golf tournaments.

Grass League hosts its Summer Grind event at the Oceanside municipal course with a practice round and showcase on Friday, with competition set to begin Saturday and Sunday mornings. The final round will be broadcast live on Golf Channel. Golfers grouped into 11 teams — “franchises,” as Grass League calls them — are vying for a $125,000 purse.

The event will also bring a variety of golf influencers to North County, including former San Diego State golfer turned media sensation Paige Spiranac.

“Goat Hill is parallel to where the league is and how we position ourselves,” Grass League president Michael Prindiville said. “Goat Hill went from being a threatened, rough-around-the-edges muni course to being heralded as one of the most culturally iconic golf properties in Southern California.”

Originally named Oceanside-Carlsbad Country Club when it opened in 1952, Goat Hill was nearly closed in the name of redevelopment.

John Ashworth, co-founder of the Ashworth clothing brand, led a campaign to save Goat Hill. Community response to save the publicly owned property led to the “People’s Park” nickname.

It’s in the same spirit of appealing to the community at large that brings GrassLeague back to Oceanside for the second time.

“We’re now able to bring on John Ashworth, who’s lived that story firsthand and turn that course into what it is, tell the story,” said Prindiville. “Then we have so many pros that either grew up in San Diego, went to college in San Diego, or live here now.”

Local connections highlighting Summer Grind include Ryan Ruffels, content creator and co-host of the popular The Lads YouTube channel who made his pro debut in 2016 at Torrey Pines. Murrieta native Ricky Romano, caddie for PGA star Rickie Fowler, represents the San Diego Munis franchise.

The Munis face competition that includes University of San Diego alum and Goat Hill members Alex Chiarella and Colin Featherstone, who represent the New York Blue Birds.

Featherstone, who matriculated from San Diego State to the Korn Ferry Tour, calls Oceanside home and is a regular at Goat Hill.

“Everyone’s welcome at Goat Hill. You’ll see (golfers in) t-shirts and flip-flops,” saidFeatherstone. “(The course is) trying to make sure that golf is accessible to anyone that wants to try, whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been playing golf for decades.

The league’s par-3 format on shorter courses invites a festive atmosphere that Prindiville likened to the famous par-3 No. 16 hole at TPC Scottsdale.

Grass League co-founders Jake and Jimmy Hoselton, residents of the Phoenix area, have cited the Waste Management Open’s iconic hole as an inspiration.

Much like Goat Hill is a muse for the Summer Grind.

“Everybody just feels the same way as a kid who’s growing up and hitting the range at Goat Hill,” Prindiville said. “It’s a place that just holds a special place in your heart.”