Michael Jordan's 'Slaughterhouse' golf course was designed to give him an advantage against pro players (2024)

Michael Jordan's 'Slaughterhouse' golf course was designed to give him an advantage against pro players (1) Michael Jordan's 'Slaughterhouse' golf course was designed to give him an advantage against pro players (2)
  • Michael Jordan's new golf course The Grove XXIII is tough on the pros.
  • Pros have to choose between short drives or risk being in the rough on every hole.
  • Rickie Fowler said it's one of the toughest courses he's played.

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Michael Jordan's exclusive golf club, The Grove XXIII, has a clever design layout that creates a unique dilemma for visitors, especially pro players.

PGA golfer Rickie Fowler spoke during a Golf.com podcast about why pros call the course "Slaughterhouse XXIII" and why MJ has such an advantage.

Fowler told Golf.com that Jordan designed the fairways so that long hitters hit their drives into narrower fairways. Conversely, shorter hitters, like MJ, drive into much wider sections, and this takes the advantage away from Jordan's professional visitors when they are playing for money.

"The shorter you hit it, the wider it is," Fowler told Golf.com. "He can basically hit driver on all the par 4, par 5s. And if I want to hit driver, I have to kind of put it into a bit of a tighter spot. I can obviously play back if I want, but that becomes a little bit of a disadvantage, especially if it's a hole where he's getting a stroke on."

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Michael Jordan's 'Slaughterhouse' golf course was designed to give him an advantage against pro players (6)

Jordan ensured that the course gives him an advantage when competing against other golfers, especially the pros. Fowler added that he has to give Jordan 10 shots during a round.

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"If I'm giving him a shot, I can't then play from the same spot he is when he's laying zero," Fowler said. "He can shoot anywhere from 71 to 74. If he's shooting 77 and he's got a double in there, I got to shoot 65 to get to 18!"

The advantage for Jordan is not all bad. According to pro golfer Dustin Johnson's trainer, Jordan's trash talk during their one-on-one rounds gives DJ a greater edge when competing at major championships.

The fairways are just one of the many intentional challenges designed into the course. Jordan contracted renowned golf course designer Bobby Weed to build the course, including using South Florida trade winds to create more random shot complexity.

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This isn't the first time Jordan created an advantage for himself when money was on the line. During his playing days, the scoreboard at the United Center would show animated bull races. Jordan would find out which Bull was going to win that night's race and then bet Scottie Pippen $100 on the race's outcome.

Jordan opened the club in Hobe Sound, Florida, in the fall of 2019, and Fowler is just one of the fewer than 100 members to play there. Fellow pro golfer Phil Mickelson accompanies Fowler as two of the club's biggest-name members.

Jordan appears to have kept the membership small to ensure it's one of the most exclusive clubs around.

You can see Fowler's comments here.

Jackson Thompson contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Michael Jordan's 'Slaughterhouse' golf course was designed to give him an advantage against pro players (2024)

FAQs

Michael Jordan's 'Slaughterhouse' golf course was designed to give him an advantage against pro players? ›

Fowler told Golf.com that Jordan designed the fairways so that long hitters hit their drives into narrower fairways. Conversely, shorter hitters, like MJ, drive into much wider sections, and this takes the advantage away from Jordan's professional visitors when they are playing for money.

Why did Michael Jordan make his own golf course? ›

It was a coincidence, but ultimately fit the theme of a course tuned to the finest degree to its owner's style. Jordan wanted firm and fast, a course that could both excite and challenge its members, many of whom would be among the PGA Tour's current stars.

What is Michael Jordan's golf course called? ›

The Grove XXIII – a nod to his signature No. 23 jersey — is Jordan's very own golf paradise, a private club tucked away on the outskirts of Hobe Sound, Florida.

How much did it cost Michael Jordan to build his golf course? ›

Based on the last reports, it has less than 100 invitation-only members, which is crazy to think when it cost $15 to $20 million to build. Drawing inspiration from Shinneco*ck Hills, the state-of-the-art 18-hole golf course itself was designed by internationally celebrated specialist architect Bobby Weed.

Was Michael Jordan bad at golf? ›

"I'd say from 30 yards and in – his chipping is as good as a lot of pros, I think," he noted. That's not to say Jordan is only dangerous when he gets close to the green, though. "He makes a nice smooth swing," Phil Mickelson, who played with Mike at the 1991 Western Amateur, was quoted as saying.

What did Michael Jordan say about golf? ›

I want to get up, I want to win, I want to experience that thrill – golf is the new basketball! RSNG Some of your golfing bets have become legendary? MJ 'I always want to play for something, although the stories get exaggerated as time goes on.

How much is Michael Jordan's golf course? ›

A Look at Jordan's Exclusive $20 Million Golf Club, Grove XXIII by Nichols Architects - Nichols Architects.

Who taught Michael Jordan to golf? ›

Ibarguen ended up teaching Jordan until the NBA star moved to Florida several years ago. The two still play together frequently and are Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stalwarts. “I asked him if he was really interested in learning and he said he was,” Ibarguen says.

What golfers wear Jordan? ›

There are five other Jordan golf athletes—Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald, Pat Perez, Camilo Villegas and Bubba Watson—but they have other sponsorships that require branding on their clothes.

What was Michael Jordan's school called? ›

Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School, where he highlighted his athletic career by playing basketball, baseball, and football. He tried out for the basketball varsity team during his sophom*ore year, but at a height of 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m), he was deemed too short.

Who has more money Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan? ›

Michael Jordan tops list of highest paid athletes of all time with $3.3 billion in earnings. He beats his closest competitor, Tiger Woods, by $800 million.

Is Michael Jordan's golf course private? ›

In 2019, the Chicago Bulls icon opened another: The Grove XXIII, his personal, invite-only golf club in Hobe Sound, Florida. Scroll through the gallery to see more. Jordan is a well-known golf enthusiast.

Did Michael Jordan ever play golf professionally? ›

Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, has always had a passion for golf. While he never played professional golf, he has been deeply involved in the sport and has even built his own private golf course.

How much did Michael Jordan lose in golf? ›

Jordan Loses $1.25 million

Richard Esquinas, a San Diego businessman, wrote a book about his four-year golf relationship with Jordan. In the 1993 book, “Michael & Me: Our Gambling Addiction… My Cry For Help!”, Esquinas tells how the two would play each other for thousands of dollars at a time.

Are Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan friends? ›

Woods had idolized Jordan when he was growing up. Furthermore, MJ had achieved everything that Woods aspired to achieve. So he was happy to befriend the six-time NBA champion and a superstar like Barkley as well. The trio became close friends when Woods was in his prime.

Is golf the hardest sport to play? ›

Most professional athletes say that golf is the hardest sport there is. Football is more dangerous, soccer and basketball are more physically demanding, and chess is more mentally exhausting. However, golf combines all of those factors into one challenging sport.

Did Michael Jordan buy a golf course? ›

his own golf course. During 2019, Jordan opened up Grove 23 in Jupiter, Florida. He had been a member at the neighboring medalist, but realized the course. did play to his shot making abilities.

How much did the Grove xxiii cost? ›

Michael Jordan opened The Grove XXIII in Home Sound, Florida in 2019 as one of the most exclusive golf courses in the country. It cost $15 to $20 milion to build and has fewer than 100 invitation-only members.

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