New holes, bigger green, more cameras and team signature holes: ‘We’re playing a high-tech video game,’ says Billy Horschel.
Game on: The Tomorrow 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 the inaugural final, where Atlanta Drive edged out New York on the final hole to claim the first-ever indoor golf title.
Tiger Woods mic’d up for Jupiter Links GC
The six-team lineup remains unchanged, but Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas will sit out early matches due to back surgery recovery. However, Woods—TGL co-owner and Jupiter Links GC figurehead—will be present at every match starting January 13, equipped with a microphone. Fans can expect the 15-time major champion to chime in with commentary, adding entertainment value and insight to the broadcast.
Woods’ presence is crucial for ratings and social media buzz, as TGL is designed as a media-centric entertainment product. Viewership data from Season One showed a direct correlation between Woods’ appearances and audience interest.
Tech upgrades and signature holes
Season Two introduces several technical enhancements. The putting green has expanded by 38 percent to nearly 500 square meters, now featuring 12 pin positions. Two of the three bunkers have been enlarged, and 608 actuators simulate realistic slopes and breaks. ‘The green is easier to read now,’ says Wyndham Clark of The Bay. ‘It benefits good putters.’
Artificial turf fibers now point inward, making every chip ‘with the grain’—a change Clark believes will enhance viewer excitement. The SoFi Center now boasts 79 cameras and a revamped Virtual-Eye system for better shot tracking. The award-winning SmartPin Cam also returns, offering 360-degree views from the flagstick.
Fantasy meets reality: Team-themed holes
Six new signature holes have been designed by top architects including Gil Hanse and Nicklaus Design. Each team has its own hole, played during head-to-head matchups. Highlights include ‘Bay Breaker’ for The Bay GC, featuring redwood trees and San Francisco fog, and ‘Big Apple’ for New York, set against the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. Atlanta’s ‘Fore-O-Fore’ showcases the city’s silhouette, while Hanse’s ‘Stone & Steeple’ includes a church and graveyard, reminding players that errant shots ‘have a short lifespan.’
As Billy Horschel, playing today for Atlanta, puts it: ‘We’ve got holes like on a real course, but also ones you’d see in a video game. We’re playing a high-tech video game.’