New holes, bigger green, more cameras and team signature holes: ‘We’re playing a high-tech video game,’ says Billy Horschel.
It’s game time: The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) returns for its second season, kicking off at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The season opener is a rematch of last year’s final, where Atlanta Drive edged out New York on the final hole to claim the inaugural indoor title.
Tiger Woods mic’d up for TGL
The six teams remain unchanged, but Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas are sidelined due to back surgeries. However, Woods, a TGL co-owner, has promised to attend every Jupiter Links GC match starting January 13, mic’d up and ready to engage. While he won’t swing a club, fans can expect the 15-time major winner to provide commentary and energy from the sidelines.
Woods’ presence is vital for TGL’s media impact. The league is designed as an entertainment product with a strong focus on TV and social media reach. Season one viewership data showed a clear correlation between Woods’ appearances and audience interest.
Tech upgrades and signature holes
The TGL arena has undergone significant upgrades. The putting green has expanded by 150 square meters to nearly 500, now featuring 12 pin positions. Two larger bunkers remain after the smallest was removed. A total of 608 actuators now simulate slopes and breaks. ‘The green is easier to read now,’ says Wyndham Clark of The Bay. ‘It benefits the best putters among us.’
The artificial turf has also been reoriented so that all chips play with the grain, allowing for more creative shot-making. ‘It adds excitement for viewers,’ Clark adds.
Six new holes have been designed as team-specific signature holes by top architects like Gil Hanse, Nicklaus Design, and Pizá Golf. The Bay’s ‘Bay Breaker’ features redwoods and San Francisco fog, while New York’s ‘Big Apple’ is set against the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. Atlanta’s ‘Fore-O-Fore’ showcases the Georgia capital’s silhouette.
High-tech visuals and immersive viewing
Each match features the signature holes of the competing teams, giving home teams a strategic edge. Gil Hanse’s ‘Stone & Steeple’ hole includes a church and cemetery, with errant shots punished both figuratively and literally. ‘Shots too far left don’t live long,’ the TGL description warns.
Technological enhancements include 79 cameras and an improved Virtual-Eye system for better shot tracking. The award-winning SmartPin Cam returns, offering 360-degree views from the pin’s perspective. As Billy Horschel puts it, ‘We’ve got holes like on a real course, and others straight out of a video game. We’re playing a high-tech video game.’