New Indoor Golf League Revolutionizes the Sport

By Paul Raskin ‘27
Golf superstars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have recently partnered to create the TGL Indoor Golf League in SoFi Center, Palm Beach Gardens. The league offers an alternative and fun way to play golf with teams competing in a more recreational environment. 

Junior Henry Sacks said, “The TGL league has been exhilarating to watch. The level of technology involved is fascinating and the playstyle makes it a fun yet different type of golf to watch. Every Tuesday night I look forward to watching some of the world's best golfers compete in a more friendly match.”
The premise of the league is to offer an entertaining and exciting experience for the 1,500 seats in the stadium and fans at home, watching on ESPN. The league shows the less competitive side of golf where players, often seen playing seriously on the Tour, can play golf for the sake of having fun regardless of their performance.  
“I think that TGL offers pro golfers more relaxed and less stressful rounds of golf while still keeping the competitiveness of the sport which allows them to entertain the crowd while also having fun,” said Sophomore Jackson Meirzon.  
The highlight of the league is their leverage of technology to achieve a stadium-like atmosphere. The stadium includes many famous holes through the use of advanced technology. This includes a massive screen, 24 times the size of a normal simulator screen, where players take shots from 35 yards away. 
Different lies are simulated through real grass, sand and other surfaces to instill an authenticity that other simulations can not replicate. 
Another unique aspect of this league is the rules: a shot clock, referee, timeout and a hammer, not typical for normal golf. 
The shot clock like in basketball puts pressure on the golfer to shoot in the given timeframe, potentially ruining their timing and shot. Furthermore, the hammer, a new rule in any sport, makes the hole more valuable by adding a point to the hole value.  
The stadium also features a short game area with large custom-built green and bunker placements which completely change for each hole. The technology can accurately transfer shots taken from the screen to the short game area, where players can finish like a real hole.
This offers a more immersive experience by getting rid of the massive playing field needed for a normal golf match.  
The league contains 15 regular season matches which culminate in a playoffs and then a finals game. Six teams from six cities, made up of the top and most notable players on the PGA Tour play in two-hour matches. The teams include: Jupiter Links GC (Golf Club), Boston Common Golf, New York GC, The Bay GC, Los Angeles GC and Atlanta Drive Golf Club. 
The match is structured with two sessions which include a nine-hole 3v3 where each team member alternates taking shots, while the second session consists of a singles match. This has six holes where chosen players go head-to-head. 
The opening match in this series featured the New York GC against The Bay GC. With the help of Ludvig Aberg draining long putts, The Bay GC was up early with a 5-0 lead. A funny moment at the end of the match was when Rickie Fowler blocked Shane Lowry’s putt with the flagstick.
After the match, Wyndham Clark said, “It’s the most fun we’ve had playing golf.”