On Monday, August 31, 2026, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt brought together an all-star group of musicians, entertainers, athletes, and friends for Golf Jam ’26 — a one-day charity golf tournament and live music experience benefiting the Chad Smith Foundation. And if the guest list is any indication, this was one of the coolest philanthropic mashups LA has seen all year. (Cover photo credit: Chad Smith Foundation/ENTER)
The day kicked off at the iconic, Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club — the same championship course that’s hosted Tiger Woods’ World Challenge, the Shark Shootout, and the PGA Tour’s 2020 ZOZO Championship — with 18 holes played as a foursome scramble, celebrity players scattered throughout the field. Between shots, guests sipped cocktails from Dos Hombres (founded by Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston), coffee from Jolene Coffee, and enjoyed extra hospitality courtesy of Atlas Card, with breakfast and lunch catered on the course by the country club.
Who Was There
The player and guest list read like a genuine who’s-who of music, sports, and Hollywood. Notable names included drummer Chad Smith himself (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Will Ferrell, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Connolly, Breckin Meyer, Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Andrew Watt, music artist Charlotte Lawrence, The Doors’ Robby Krieger, Alice in Chains’ Mike Inez, NBA legend Derek Fisher, actor and rapper Travis Bennett (aka Taco), golf personality Blake Webber, actor Darren Weiss, artist Jonas Wood, Tassilo von Fürstenberg, fashion designer Jon Buscemi, media personality Christopher Gialanella, sports host Madison Brodsky, and event producer Zev Norotsky, whose experiential agency ENTER produced the entire day. Chad Smith Foundation Executive Director Lewis Smith was on hand as well, overseeing an event built entirely around his and Chad’s shared mission.
Seeing Will Ferrell and Chad Smith in the same celebrity foursome lineup is exactly the kind of only-in-LA moment that makes an event like this so much fun to cover — rock royalty, comedy royalty, and pro athletes all teeing off for the same cause. And of course, the two go way back when it comes to being mixed up for one another: Will Ferrell and Chad Smith have been leaning into their uncanny resemblance for over a decade, from a viral drum-off on Jimmy Fallon to Smith crashing Ferrell’s own SNL monologue earlier this year, dressed and styled to look exactly like him. Fittingly, Ferrell has golf on the brain lately off the course too: he currently stars as Lonnie “the Hawk” Hawkins, a former number-one golfer chasing one last shot at glory, in Netflix’s new comedy series The Hawk — so this wasn’t exactly his first swing at golf-world comedy this year.
From the Course to the Stage
Once the tournament wrapped, the day transitioned from fairway to stage, with an intimate live jam featuring Chad Smith, Andrew Watt, Charlotte Lawrence, Josh Homme, Josh Klinghoffer, and Robby Krieger. If you know anything about this lineup, you know that’s not a typical charity-event cover band — that’s a legitimately stacked, once-in-a-lifetime jam session. The night closed out with dinner and a live auction featuring one-of-a-kind items and experiences, all in support of the Chad Smith Foundation.
The Cause Behind the Party
The Chad Smith Foundation (CSF) is dedicated to bridging the gap in music access and opportunity for underserved youth. Founded in August 2025 by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Chad Smith and co-founded with Executive Director Lewis Smith, the nonprofit champions music education, instruments, mentorship, and financial support for K-12 students who might otherwise never get the chance to discover their musical passion — regardless of economic background.
Funds raised through Golf Jam ’26 will go directly toward the Foundation’s music education programs, equipment donations, and scholarships for young musicians across the country.
Between the star-studded foursomes, a jam session most of us can only dream of witnessing, and a cause that’s actually moving the needle for the next generation of musicians, Golf Jam ’26 is easily one of the most meaningful (and most fun) philanthropic events LA has thrown this year. Here’s hoping this one becomes an annual tradition.
For more information on Chad Smith Foundation and Golf Jam ’26, visit https://golfjam.chadsmithfoundation.org/
