The first-ever Crisp Golf Tournament delivered exactly what we hoped: a high-energy, relationship-first day that brought together some of the most committed law firm owners in the country for a memorable round of golf.
On Saturday, June 27th, Crisp Coach members met at the Boulders Resort & Spa in the desert near Scottsdale, AZ, to compete, connect, and build camaraderie on a world-class course.
If you were one of the law firm owners who teed off with us, prepare for a look back at a day full of laughs, friendly competition, and the kind of connections that only happen when you spend five hours on a course with people who get it.
If you were unable to join us, start getting your golf game up to par for our event in 2027!
Here’s how the event unfolded for anyone who couldn’t make it to Scottsdale.
The Bigger Picture: Crisp Week in Scottsdale
While it was our inaugural golf tournament, our time on the links wasn’t a standalone event. It was the perfect closing chapter to a packed few days of programming for many Crisp Coach members.
The week kicked off with the exclusive SELECT Retreat on June 25th and 26th. The SELECT Retreat is designed to help law firm owners step away from daily distractions, gain clarity, and strengthen their ability to make better high-stakes leadership decisions.
On June 26th, ELITE and PREMIER members convened in a combined workshop to sharpen their strategies and connect with their peers. Here, we challenged Crisp Coach members to rethink their marketing approach in an AI-driven world and provided the frameworks, tools, and insights needed to make smarter decisions and drive sustainable growth.
Friday evening, the Crisp Coach community came together for a happy hour at Boulders. By the time the sun rose on Saturday morning, the energy was electric.
About the Venue
The 2026 Crisp Golf Tournament was hosted at the iconic Boulders Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona. The Boulders Resort & Spa features two world-class, 18-hole golf courses designed by Jay Morrish, set among 12-million-year-old boulder formations and panoramic Sonoran Desert views.
The surrounding terrain and plant life have been left virtually untouched, allowing indigenous flora and fauna to thrive. With elevated tee boxes set into the massive prehistoric rocks and exotic critters sharing the fairways, it was difficult not to fall in love with this sun-splashed terrain.
It was the perfect setting for a day of creating connections, resetting, and building community.
The Tournament Format
The day kicked off bright and early with check-in, the range opening, and a continental breakfast on the patio. After a brief welcome and rules overview, we sent attendees off with a rousing 6:50 AM start.
The tournament followed a four-person team scramble format, with teams strategically selected based on individual handicap and Crisp Coach cohort. We intentionally created these groups with a goal to maximize networking and create new connections across the entire Crisp community. Whether you were a low handicapper or picking up your clubs for the first time ever, every team had the talent and the camaraderie to compete.
“During most Crisp events, our interactions naturally revolve around presentations, breakout sessions, and conversations between classes. Those opportunities are valuable, but spending four hours on a golf course with people creates a completely different experience,” said Angela Frazier, Founder of Elliott Frazier Family Law.
During several hours of play, attendees navigated the course’s elevated tee boxes, dodged the occasional desert critter, and competed in a handful of law firm-inspired contests scattered throughout the 18 holes. Instead of mulligans, each team was allowed a chance for a mulligan, but they had to file a motion with the judge; a simple toss of a tee determined if the judge sustained the motion and the mulligan was allowed, or it was overturned, and the mulligan was lost. There were prizes and random drawings throughout the round, and plenty of moments worth remembering.
By the time the final group walked off the 18th green, the foursomes had completed the round, and the stage was set for the awards ceremony.
The Awards Ceremony
Following the round, attendees gathered for lunch and the official awards ceremony, where Crisp recognized the top-performing teams and individual contest winners.
Here’s a look at who took home the hardware at the first-ever Crisp Golf Tournament:
Tournament Champions: 1st Place
The 2026 Crisp Golf Tournament Champions were Howard Kanner, Joel Kirkpatrick, Marc Shapiro, and Danielle de Smeth.
2nd Place
Taking home second place honors was the team of Craig Greening, Katie Alzate Estlund, Steven Ledbetter, and Daniel Grimm.
Team Culture Award
When it comes to spirit, one foursome rose above the rest. The team of Angela Frazier, Russell Frazier, Arron and Jordan Kenyon brought home the Team Culture Award.
“I… would have assumed we had very little in common professionally because my practice is family law and personal injury,” Angela said. “I couldn’t have been more wrong. Within the first few holes, we were talking about the challenges every law firm owner faces regardless of practice area—finding the right people, creating compensation structures that reward excellence, building incentives, protecting culture, and leading a growing business.”
Longest Drive: Hole 11
The Longest Drive award on hole 11 went to Danielle de Smeth from Bamieh & De Smeth, who also helped lead her team to the overall tournament championship.
Closest to the Pin: Hole 7
The Closest to the Pin award on hole 7 went to Doug Blecki of Silverman Theologou for a clutch approach shot.
Closest to the Pin: Hole 15
The Closest to the Pin award on hole 15 went to Marc Shapiro, founder of The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, capping off a strong day that also saw him take home the tournament championship with his team.
The Real Win: Community
While trophies are great for bragging rights, the real win wasn’t measured in strokes. The real reward: the firm owner connections, the laughs shared between competitors who would have never crossed paths otherwise, and the relationships that started on the first tee and will continue long after the final putt dropped.
“Sports have a unique way of bringing people together,” said Angela. “They allow us to interact differently than we do in a conference room or classroom. We compete, encourage one another, laugh at ourselves, celebrate successes, and experience the kind of camaraderie that simply cannot be manufactured in a structured setting.”
That’s what made this day different from any other golf outing. Everyone in the field shared something rare: a commitment to building something bigger than themselves, both inside their firms and outside of them.
What’s Next?
The first-ever Crisp Golf Tournament set the bar high, and we’re already planning the next one.
If you’re a current Crisp Coach member, expect more opportunities like this throughout the year. Events that bring our community together, build genuine relationships, and remind you that you’re not on this journey alone.
If you’re not yet in Crisp Coach but you recognize the value of being part of a community like this, now’s the time to apply. The Game Changers Summit, focused workshops, exclusive retreats, and events like the Crisp Golf Tournament are just a few of the experiences that come with being part of the most committed law firm growth program in the industry.
To everyone who made the first-ever Crisp Golf Tournament unforgettable: Thank you. We’ll see you at the next one.
