New courses, bigger greens, more cameras and signature holes for teams: “We are playing a high-tech video game,” says Billy Horschel.It’s game day: The Tomorrow’s Golf League, commonly known as the TGL simulator event, kicks off its second season today. The season runs at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, through March 3, starting with a rematch of the inaugural final where Atlanta Drive edged out New York on the last hole to claim the first title of this indoor spectacle.
Tiger Woods Gets a Microphone
The six teams remain unchanged, but superstar and TGL co-owner Tiger Woods, along with Atlanta frontrunner Justin Thomas, will not compete initially as they recover from back surgeries. Woods has promised to be present with a microphone for every match of Jupiter Links GC starting January 13. The 15-time major champion is expected to at least verbally engage in the action, adding entertainment value for teammates and opponents alike, showcasing how well the GOAT performs as a host.
Bigger Greens and Enhanced Technology
Technically, several upgrades have been made. The green zone has been expanded by 150 square meters, now nearly 500 square meters, offering twelve pin positions compared to seven last season. The smallest of three bunkers was removed, while the other two were enlarged. TGL now utilizes 608 control elements to create slopes and breaks on the putting surfaces. According to Wyndham Clark from The Bay, “The green is now easier to read,” benefiting all players but favoring the truly excellent putters.
Signature Holes and Virtual Enhancements
New golf holes for the second TGL season—such as “Stinger”—were designed by established firms like Beau Welling Design, Pizá Golf, Nicklaus Design, and newcomer star architect Gil Hanse, creator of renowned courses including Castle Stuart in Scotland, Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic course, and Streamsong Black in Florida. Six new holes serve as signature holes for teams. For example, “Bay Breaker” for The Bay Golf Club features towering redwoods and mist, with Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline in the distance. New York’s signature hole, “Big Apple,” plays against the Manhattan backdrop with the Statue of Liberty, and Atlanta’s “Fore-O-Fore” displays a silhouette of the city skyline of Georgia’s metropolis.
Additional enhancements include reorientation of artificial turf fibers so chips align with the grain, increasing spectator excitement as players can manipulate the golf ball more freely. The SoFi Center now boasts 79 cameras for comprehensive coverage and optimized Virtual-Eye technology for improved shot comparisons and ball tracking. Notably, the award-winning SmartPin Cam returns, providing live 360-degree views from the pin flag’s perspective. As Billy Horschel describes, “We have holes like on a real golf course, but also courses you’d see in a video game—we are essentially playing a high-tech video game.” Let the games begin.