Swing Hard.⛳ Eat Burgers.🍔 Win Big.🏆

KNAPP OPEN

2025

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🚨 Don’t Miss Out – Sponsors Needed NOW!

Support the Knapp Open with sponsorships, prizes, or hole signs. Get your brand in front of some of the toughest (and hungriest) golfers around.

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The tournament will take place on May 10th, 8am shotgun start. Show up early & often. Located at Whispering Pines Golf course in Annandale Minnesota.

$50 green fees paid at course, $20 cash for buy in, and $7 juicy burgers available.

Tradition Unlike Any Other! 🏆

  • 🍔"Bulldog Burgers" powered by FEI

    THE BEST BURGERS IN GOLF – Back by popular demand, the clubhouse will be serving up $7 juicy burgers at the turn to keep you fueled (and maybe distract you from your triple bogey).

  • Whispering pines GC

    The Pines Are Whispering… Are You Listening? Where the trees are quiet… but your group definitely isn’t. 18 holes of Minnesota beauty, heartbreak, and just enough pine needles in your socks to remember it forever. Some courses test your swing — this one tests your soul.

  • Last Year's Tourney ⛳

    🚨 Last year’s championship went the distance — and then some. It took quadruple overtime to settle the score, because that’s what it takes to win here. In the end, Grant Ryynanen, Tyler Tolks, Jeff Johnson, and Dan Koivisto walked away as 2024 champions with a final score of -12. Think you’ve got what it takes to seal the deal? There’s only one way to find out.

  • 🏆 2025 Title Is Up for Grabs!

    A FIELD OF LEGENDS – Past winners, first-timers, and that one guy who always “forgets” to count his strokes. Dan Anderson is back, Cal Bakeberg is locked in, Grant Ryynanen is potentially in, and John Daav is coming for Long Drive.. Will you be the next Knapp Open champion?

  • History is Written in Clutch Shots

    Can You Be the Next Bobcat? 🏅
    Bruce "Bobcat" Johnson emerged as a legend in 2021—smooth swing, clutch under pressure, and a nickname that stuck. He didn’t just show up, he showed out. Now, as we roll into 2025, the question hangs in the air: who’s next? Who’s stepping into the spotlight to earn their place in Knapp history?

  • John Y - New Commissioner

    The new Commish is already making his mark on the tournament, starting with the all-new Chip-In Challenge. If your team manages to knock one in from off the green on tournament day, you’re in the running. One chip. One chance. One prize. It’s simple, it’s bold, and it might just be your moment.

  • 5 year Anniversary

    Five years of slicing drives, sinking putts, and chasing something bigger. It’s the 5th Knapp-versary — and we’re swinging for the fences. The tradition runs deeper, the field’s never been stronger, and the stories? They’re only getting started. This isn’t just another year. It’s a milestone. Year Five hits different. Let’s make it one to remember.💪🏌️‍♂️

  • Chett’s Back.

    Chett Hillstrom is making the trip from North Dakota. He managed to take some time off work — and more importantly, got the green light from his wife. When those two things line up, you know it’s serious. Expect clean iron play, quiet confidence, and maybe a little rust. Either way, Chet’s back… and the field just got deeper.

  • Who will beat Knapp?

    Who’s actually going to post a better score than Team Knapp this year? Led by the ever-steady Mike Ylitalo, they’ve got the name, the composure, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting. Beating them isn’t just about golf — it’s about pride, precision, and proving you belong at the top. The target is set. Let’s see who steps up.

  • Haataja - Locked in for Year 5!

    Grant Haataja is back for his fifth straight Knapp Open — one of the few who’s been there since the beginning. After finishing third in 2023, he’s taken the offseason seriously, putting in the work to sharpen every part of his game. Focused, dialed, and hungry for more, Grant’s looking to turn five years of experience into his first title. This could be the run.

History of the Knapp Open

⛳ From Cokato to the yooP – Who’s In?

2021 Knapp Open

Cokato Town and Country Club

Winners: (Overtime)
Bruce “Bobcat” Johnson, Eric Ylitalo, David Raisanen, Brad Niemi, Aaron Haataja

Score:
-11

Long Drive:
John Daav

Closest to Pin:
Isak Haataja

Knapp Outdoor Athlete of the Year:
Bruce “Bobcat” Johnson

Where the swings are questionable, but the vibes are chill.

2022 Knapp Open

Whispering Pines - Annandale, MN

Winners:
David Raisanen, Trent Raisanen, Darby Halonen, Blake Johnson

Score:
-12

Long Drive:
Lars Harmala

Closest to Pin:
Bryce Randell

Knapp Outdoor Athlete of the Year:
Trent Raisanen

Can You Handle the Pressure? Only the clutch survived. Will you rise or crumble? Who’s Topping Team Knapp?

2023 Knapp Open

Whispering Pines - Annandale, MN

Winners:
Karl Torola, Dylan Johnson, Todd Raisanen, Tyler Tolkkinen

Score:
-11

Long Drive:
John Daav

Closest to Pin:
Ryan Tormanen (*Record 8 inches)

Long Putt:
Lars Harmala

Knapp Outdoor Athlete of the Year:
John Daav

🍔 Golf, Glory & Juicy Burgers! A full day of competition, camaraderie, and $7 masterpieces on a bun.

“4 Overtimes? That’s just bonus golf.”

2024 Knapp Open

Whispering Pines - Annandale, MN

Winners: (Overtime)
Grant Ryynanen, Jeff Johnson, Dan Koivisto, Tyler Tolks,

Score:
-12

Long Drive:
Karl Torola

Long Putt:
Dustan Grangroth (*Record 44ft)

Closest to Pin (2):
Grant Ryynanen, Nathan Tulkki

Knapp Outdoor Athlete of the Year:
Nathan Tulkki

Last year’s champs walked off with brand-new golf bags and a pile of cash.
What’s waiting at the finish line this year?

Legends Are Made in May

The Tournament of the Year – Knapp Open’s 5th Anniversary! 🏌️‍♂️🎉" Join us for the 5th annual Knapp Open at Whispering Pines! 5 years of epic golf, juicy burgers 🍔, and unforgettable memories. You don’t want to miss this one!

  • “This year, we're going bigger and better than ever to celebrate our 5th anniversary”

    John Y — The Commissioner, Knapp Open

  • “Played Territory recently to restock my ball inventory for the big early season tournament”

    Greg H. — 2022 Knapp Open Long Putt Runner-Up

  • “This is the most excited I’ve been since discovering Crustables.”

    Kub B. — 2-Time Participant

  • “We’ve hosted a lot of tournaments over the years… but nothing moves burgers like the Knapp Open.”

    Mark — Whispering Pines Owner

event Challenges

  • Long Drive

    Think you've got the biggest bomb in the bag? Step up and let it fly! The Long Drive Challenge rewards the golfer who absolutely nukes one off the tee. We're talkin' max carry, zero roll excuses. Just fairway, flight, and firepower. Let it rip — and remember, it's gotta land in the fairway to count!

  • Chip-In Challenge

    Chip it. Dunk it. Shock the group. If anyone on your team chips in from off the green — whether it’s pure skill or a complete accident that bounces off a cart tire — your entire team gets entered into the Chip-In Drawing for a shot at the prize.
    But if multiple teams pull it off? It’s not settled by strokes. It’s settled by honor... and a     best-of-three Rock, Paper, Scissors series.

  • CLOSEST TO THE PIN

    It’s not about distance — it’s about precision. Dial in your irons and take dead aim in the Closest to the Pin Challenge. Whether you stick it a foot away or make it tap-in territory, whoever parks it closest to the flag takes the title. No pressure, just pin-seeking glory.

  • Longest Putt Challenge

    This one’s for the bold rollers.
    One hole. One putt. One chance. Every team gets a shot to log their longest make of the day —
    but it’s got to drop on the designated hole.

    Longest made putt takes the prize — and the bragging rights that come with it.

🍔 "Par, bogey, burger — in that order."

The back nine takes grit. The burger takes ketchup. Finish both like a champion.

2025 SIGNUP

CLOSED.