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, widely known as TGL, launches 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 the inaugural final, where Atlanta Drive edged out New York at the last hole to claim the first indoor title.
Tiger Woods joins TGL as mic’d-up team leader
The six teams remain unchanged, but superstars Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas are sidelined due to back surgery recovery. Woods, a TGL co-owner, has promised to attend every Jupiter Links GC match starting January 13, equipped with a microphone. While he won’t swing a club just yet, fans can expect the 15-time major champion to add commentary and energy as a vocal team leader.
Woods’ presence is crucial for ratings and engagement, especially since TGL is designed as a high-impact entertainment format for TV and social media. Season one data showed viewer interest spiked with Woods’ involvement, making his role as a mic’d-up host a strategic move.
Tech upgrades and signature holes define Season Two
Technically, TGL has made major upgrades. The Green Zone has expanded by 38% to nearly 500 square meters, now offering 12 pin positions instead of seven. Two larger bunkers remain, and 608 actuators simulate slopes and breaks. ‘The green is easier to read now,’ says Wyndham Clark of The Bay. ‘That benefits all of us, but especially the great putters.’
Artificial turf has also been adjusted so that all chips play with the grain, allowing for more creative shot-making. ‘Now we can do anything with the ball,’ Clark adds.
Six new holes have been designed as team-specific Signature Holes by Beau Welling Design, Pizá Golf, Nicklaus Design, and new addition Gil Hanse. The Bay’s ‘Bay Breaker’ features redwoods and San Francisco fog, while New York’s ‘Big Apple’ plays against the Manhattan skyline and Lady Liberty. Atlanta’s ‘Fore-O-Fore’ showcases the city’s silhouette.
Virtual Eye and SmartPin Cam enhance viewer experience
Technological enhancements include improved Virtual Eye tracking for better shot comparisons and ball roll visualization. The SoFi Center now boasts 79 cameras, including the award-winning SmartPin Cam offering 360-degree views from the flagstick’s perspective.
Gil Hanse’s first TGL hole, ‘Stone & Steeple,’ is a par 5 with a Sahara-style cross bunker and a stone wall separating the fairway from a churchyard cemetery. ‘Shots too far left won’t live long,’ reads the TGL description.
As Billy Horschel, who plays today for Atlanta, puts it: ‘We’ve got holes like on a real course, but also ones straight out of a video game. Because in the end, we’re playing a high-tech video game.’