How Trout -- with help from Tiger Woods -- built his golf course

During the pandemic, Mike Trout became obsessed with golf.

He played 36 holes most days and constantly practiced to improve his game. And one day while soaking in a hot tub, the Millville, N.J., native saw in an Instagram post that a local developer was looking into building a small three-hole course on his company’s property.

Trout enlisted his brother, Tyler, to look into it, and they eventually met with John Ruga of Northeast Precast, and things started to come together quickly on a partnership. At first, it was going to be nine holes and then possibly an 18-hole three-par course before it became a full-fledged private course. And then golf legend Tiger Woods got involved with his company, TGR Design, and the dream became a reality.

Trout National -- The Reserve officially opened on April 15 in his birthplace of Vineland, N.J., just a 10-minute drive from where he grew up and where he still lives in the offseason with his wife, Jessica, and sons, Beckham, 6, and Jordy, 2. His parents, siblings, in-laws and longtime friends are also in the area, which makes it even more special.

“It's great,” Trout said. “Just building that legacy. I know when my kids get a little older, they're going to appreciate it. It's cool for my dad; he's a big-time golfer, and my family, my friends and just people that bring that noise and that spark to Southern New Jersey. Get people talking about it.”

Trout was heavily involved in designing the course, along with Woods’ team. It’s located on roughly 280 acres of land that formerly served as a silica sand mine and adjacent farmland.

Trout said he contacted Woods in the early part of the process, and the 15-time major winner didn’t need much convincing to partner with the three-time AL MVP and 12-time All-Star.

“He accepted right away and told me, ‘I want to build something special for you,’” Trout said. “It’s been a great relationship with him.”

There are plenty of personal touches that involve both Trout’s legacy as a baseball player and his family, including baseball-shaped tee markers that greet the golfers at each hole.

There’s an area called "The Dugout" near the 14th hole that is styled after an MLB dugout and serves as a refreshment station, and there’s a short flexible par-3 course with lights called "The Bullpen." Membership is also capped at 227 in homage to Trout's No. 27 jersey number.

He also paid tribute to his late brother-in-law Aaron Cox, who played in the Angels’ Minor League system before he died by suicide in 2018 at age 24. There’s Aaron’s -- which is the main refreshment area and is located in the middle of the property -- as well as Aaron’s Loop, which encompasses holes six through 11 and provides a way to always remember Aaron and his legacy.

Trout has become a mental health advocate since Cox’s passing, including being an MLB Wellness Ambassador, and he is active in raising suicide awareness through various channels.

On the course, Trout, 35, calls himself a pretty good golfer, but he obviously can’t play much during the regular season, especially at his own course. But Trout and his teammates and several coaches did have a memorable round together at Trout National on Aug. 3, which coincided with the Trade Deadline.

Trout set it up early in the season before he realized the Deadline didn’t fall on July 31 like usual this year, but they kept the date because it came on an off-day before the Angels' series in Baltimore. It led to some hijinks, as several players were traded during the round, such as Brent Suter, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn.

Trout said everyone took it in stride and it led to a day he won’t forget, as trade candidates were constantly monitoring their phones and reacting to news.

“I didn’t really expect or have it on my radar that it was going to be on the Trade Deadline,” Trout said. “So it was different. A lot of guys knew they were going to be traded, but it was just a matter of when. It was crazy.”

Trout said he’ll start playing again in earnest once the regular season ends, and the course will be open for roughly a month and a half before it’s closed for winter. He also knows he’ll have plenty of time to play once he’s finished with his playing career. He remains under contract through 2030 after he signed a 12-year deal worth $426.5 million before the 2019 season and will get to enjoy the course plenty in retirement.

“My game comes and goes,” Trout said. “Like anything, you play a lot, you get better at it. It’s fun. It’s a good reset and allows you to get your mind off baseball a little bit.”