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) kicks off its second season today at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The season runs through March 3 and opens with 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 Jupiter Links
The six teams remain unchanged, but superstar and TGL co-owner Tiger Woods, along with Atlanta’s Justin Thomas, will sit out for now as they recover from back surgeries. Woods, however, has promised to be present at every Jupiter Links GC match, starting January 13, equipped with a microphone. Expect the 15-time major winner to chime in with commentary—how entertaining his insights will be remains to be seen.
Tech upgrades and signature holes
Season two brings several technical enhancements. The putting green has expanded by 150 square meters—now nearly 500 square meters—with 12 pin positions instead of seven. The smallest of three bunkers was removed, while the others were enlarged. TGL now uses 608 actuators to simulate slopes and breaks. ‘The green is easier to read,’ says Wyndham Clark of The Bay, ‘which benefits the strong putters among us.’
Artificial turf fibers have also been reoriented toward the center, making every chip ‘with the grain’ for more shot creativity. ‘We can do anything we want with the ball,’ Clark adds.
Immersive visuals and entertainment focus
Six new holes have been designed as team-specific signature holes by top architects including Gil Hanse. The Bay’s ‘Bay Breaker’ features redwoods and San Francisco’s skyline, while New York’s ‘Big Apple’ showcases Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Atlanta’s ‘Fore-O-Fore’ displays the city’s silhouette. Gil Hanse’s ‘Stone & Steeple’ includes a church and cemetery, reminding players that errant shots ‘have a short lifespan.’
With 79 cameras and enhanced Virtual-Eye tech, fans can expect better shot tracking and comparisons. The award-winning SmartPin Cam returns, offering 360-degree views from the flagstick. As Billy Horschel puts it, ‘We have holes like on a real course, and ones you’d see in a video game. We’re playing a high-tech video game.’