The Golf Channel cameras were rolling at Goat Hill, but this time the questions weren’t about swing tips or social media controversies. Something had fundamentally shifted in the golf media landscape, and it was happening in real-time.
Paige Spiranac was experiencing what she called a “full circle moment” during the Grass League 2025 event. However, this time she wasn’t fielding questions about her latest Instagram post. Instead, she was asking them. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Spiranac told interviewer Todd Dobson on the Golf Channel when asked about her new broadcasting role. “This is a really special event for me for a bunch of different reasons.”
The reasons run deeper than most realize. First, she returned to familiar territory at San Diego State University, where her golf journey began in 2012. Moreover, she reconnected with her former golf coach and college friends who witnessed her transformation from a promising college golfer to a social media pioneer.
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Her collegiate career at SDSU proved pivotal to this moment. She earned All-Mountain West Conference honors and led the Aztecs to their first Mountain West Conference Championship in 2015. Initially, she planned to become an assistant golf coach at SDSU after graduation. However, viral social media success completely altered her trajectory during the summer of 2016.
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“It just kind of was this full circle moment for me,” she explained about returning to her alma mater’s area. Additionally, her advocacy work finally found its perfect venue at Goat Hill Park. “My entire career I’ve been advocating for making golf more welcoming and more approachable and they’re doing just that,” Spiranac noted.
The competitive level also impressed her during the event. “The level of competition yesterday, I had an awesome group with the Swamp Dogs and the SD Munis and both teams played really really well,” she observed. The Tampa Bay Swamp Dawgs won the 2024 championship, while the San Diego Munis, owned by Wyndham Clark, currently lead franchise standings.
Most significantly, her role had completely reversed from her early career days. “You’re typically interviewing Rory McIlroy or like some famous person, and here’s a lot of no-name guys and girls,” she pointed out. Nevertheless, these players delivered exceptional golf that deserved professional coverage.
Paige Spiranac and the Evolution of Golf Media
Spiranac’s transformation reflects a broader industry shift that’s reshaping how golf stories get told. Traditional golf media once relied exclusively on former tour professionals and journalism graduates. Now, however, social media personalities are claiming legitimate broadcasting roles.
The statistics support this trend. Over 60% of young golfers discover tips through Instagram and YouTube rather than traditional sources. Furthermore, influencer-generated content receives 60% more engagement than brand-created material.
Golf Channel has embraced this evolution strategically. The network’s Creator Classic achieved over 2 million total views and became YouTube’s #2 trending show. Additionally, it delivered 118,000 concurrent viewers at peak. Spiranac joined this movement through her role in the Grass League’s front office in May 2025. Her responsibilities encompass content strategy development, brand growth, and business development. Moreover, she serves as an on-course reporter during matches.
Her broadcasting comfort has grown naturally through consistent practice and innate talent. Recently, she captured this evolution perfectly: “I was born to do this tbh lol.”
Other influencers are following similar paths. Pat Perez joined LIV Golf’s broadcast team after his playing career ended. Similarly, Colt Knost transitioned from tour professional to prominent media personality.
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The transformation represents more than career changes. It signals golf media’s democratization, where authentic personalities often outperform traditional credentials. Networks now prioritize engagement metrics over journalism degrees.
Spiranac’s journey from SDSU golfer to social media star to legitimate broadcaster demonstrates how modern golf careers evolve. Her return to her collegiate roots while pioneering golf’s media future exemplifies this industry shift perfectly.