TGL Presented by SOFI Announces Roster of Course Designers Creating Custom Holes to Challenge Teams of PGA Tour Stars
Published:
Beau Welling Design, Pizá Golf, Nicklaus Design Collaborated with Full Swing and TGL to Create Unique Golf Holes Blending the Skill of PGA TOUR Golf with TGL’s Cutting-Edge Format and Venue
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – TGL presented by SoFi officially announced the hole designer groups – Beau Welling Design, Pizá Golf, and Nicklaus Design – who collaborated with TGL’s technology partner, Full Swing, to create the dynamic custom holes that will be played during the league’s inaugural season which begins January 7 in prime time on ESPN. The process was created to uniquely challenge TGL’s six teams of PGA TOUR stars in a never-seen-before mix of virtual and real-world competition at the custom-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.
The three design groups each brought their own unique blend of creativity, tradition, and innovation to create 30 holes which will be played throughout TGL’s inaugural season of weekly matches. Each TGL match will utilize a selection of 15 of the 30 hole designs which will be chosen and placed in a unique order. These never-played-before holes will be a mix of par 3s, par 4s and par 5s, and each team of PGA TOUR players will play holes featuring numerous authentic landscapes such as links, canyons, coastal, desert, and tropical locations.
How it works – The holes begin as teams play their long shots into TGL’s massive 64-foot by 53-foot screen. When a team’s shot finishes approximately 50 yards away from the hole in the virtual setting, players and teams then move to a physical, custom-built GreenZone that will transform to mirror each hole’s design. The revolutionary TGL GreenZone complex features a rotating surface and advanced topography-altering technology. The 22,475-square-foot short-game area includes a 41-yard-wide turntable that rotates the green 360 degrees to change approach angles, and the surface can morph its topography using nearly 600 actuators, ensuring that every hole presents a fresh and dynamic challenge.
The rotation of the GreenZone, combined with the ability to change the topography of the green and seven separate hole locations allows each hole to have a unique configuration of the green within the overall design of the holes. The result is 30 holes that have been custom designed to challenge teams of PGA TOUR stars while entertaining fans.
Learn more about the process of how the course comes together between the screen and the green here.
• Beau Welling Design – is a full-service, golf design and planning firm based in Greenville, S.C. Utilizing a holistic approach, BWD’s design team seeks to create strategic, yet playable courses for players at every level that focus upon creative shot making and optionality from tee to green. BWD’s client-focused team has more than 60 years of experience, assisting in the creation and development of over 120 award-winning golf courses around the world.
• Pizá Golf – With design studios in San Diego and Puerta Vallarta, this firm is renowned for its innovative golf course design concepts. Awarded by top magazines like Forbes for its vision and creativity, this design firm’s creations for TGL stand out as truly unique, blending artistic flair with architectural innovation, while also presenting fresh challenges to the players.
• Nicklaus Design – Located in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.,, Nicklaus Design is recognized for its unparalleled body of work and sustained excellence, having created 439 courses worldwide, in 47 countries and 40 U.S states. The firm’s talented team of architects create renowned designs that are known for their strategic layouts and meticulous attention to detail, offering a rich tradition of challenging golf courses that can be enjoyed by all levels of golfer.
“The holes for TGL presented by SoFi’s inaugural season capture the unique nature of this league as we push the boundaries of what is possible when fusing technology and live action while remaining authentic and fun,” said Scott Armstrong, Vice President of Competitions and Technology at TGL. “The design groups brought an astounding level of creativity, meticulous attention to detail and a true passion for creating holes that will bring a new form of entertainment to golf and sports fans. Full Swing’s virtual technology allowed the designers to expand the course footprint and introduce new elements that would be impossible on traditional courses.”
TGL presented by SoFi: TGL presented by SoFi features six teams of the world’s top PGA TOUR talent competing in season-long, fast-paced competition that brings golf to a prime time stage. TGL’s home will be the custom-built SoFi Center, a 250,000 square foot, tech-infused venue on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. TGL’s inaugural season begins Tuesday, Jan. 7 in prime time on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S. and other prominent media partners around the globe. To learn more about TGL, its teams, rosters, competitive format, and technology, visit TGL’s Explainer Page.