About the FFI

The Founding Fathers Invitational began in the spring of 2018 when Matt Hopkins and Jeff Shanahan — childhood friends since the 4th grade — and their respective groups of college and local friends, half rooted in the Philadelphia suburbs, half entrenched in Washington, DC, decided their annual golf outings needed stakes, structure, and eventually, a trophy. What followed was an arms race of escalating formality that no one asked for and no one has been able to stop. The inaugural edition — a two-course affair across Applebrook Golf Club and Aronimink Golf Club — ended in a 12–6 Team Philly victory. Team DC demanded a rematch within six months. They got one. Nine editions later, the FFI features professionally bound tournament programs complete with footnotes, corporate press releases announcing roster transactions, a pewter trophy whose authenticity has been tested by at least one MVP, a Director of Player Personnel who doubles as Co-Director of Apparel, and an expense collection process that has been described as both ruthless and inevitable.