John Daly Is Starting His Own 'Grip It and Eat It' Pizza Chain

Ah, pizza and golf—together at last.

Of the many combinations the sporting world has begged for, the marriage between John Daly and hot, cheesy meat-bread is perhaps the most natural.

Indeed, Daly—the smoking maverick of the links—has founded his own pizza "system." According to Stephen Hennessey of Golf Digest (h/t Mike Cardillo of The Big Lead), "John Daly Pizza is trying to market itself to golf courses, by providing the ingredients and materials to produce pizzas at the facility. On top of a pizza box provided, there's a John Daly ball marker that comes attached."

Daly isn't fussing about with his new enterprise. The 47-year-old Californian has invested fully in the franchise, launching the website JohnDalyPizza.com, which provides a breakdown of the pizza, marketing process and other aspects potential investors need to know about slinging dough.

This is pizza by the golfer for the golfer, which is a line I never thought I’d ever write. 

Another line I never could’ve foreseen writing is Daly’s motto for the enterprise: "Grip It and Eat It!"

Don’t think too much into that one—just grip the stuffed crust and eat the stuffed crust. Yes, John Daly Pizza offers cheesy meat-bread with extra cheese in the bread—and it looks delicious. 

Screenshot via JohnDalyPizza.com

Personal bacon, egg and cheese pizzas are also available. It’s a product aimed at the golfer who wants nothing more than a hot slice and a bucket of range balls in the morning.

Screenshot via GolfDigest.com

The question remains, however: Does the man make a good pie?

Daly’s business partner Jimmy Howell stands by their product. Howell, longtime owner of Perky’s Pizza in Tampa, Fla., says he and Daly started tossing around the idea of chain pizza several years ago and are just now making it a reality. 

Why sell pizzas at the golf course? Because it’s different, and plus—who doesn’t like pizza?

"Instead of a hot dog or a burger that every golf course has, this is a fun idea that gives people something different," Howell told Hennessey. "And everybody loves pizza."

Indeed, if a man like George Foreman can successfully hawk fat-cutting grills to the masses, who’s to say we shouldn’t trust Daly’s taste in pizza?

I know one thing: Once golfers start seeing John Daly Pizza on the menu at their local clubhouse, this stuff is going to sell like...pizza. 

"My pizza is a 371-yard drive down the middle!" - John Daly