Trevor Ng
TGL, or the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy golf league, is an indoor golf league that combines advanced technology with teams of top players from the PGA Tour. It is played on a new strain of real grass developed specifically for the league, with a 3,800-square-foot putting surface and three sand bunkers sitting on a 41-yard-wide turntable that rotates 360 degrees. The TGL green is very similar in size to the drivable par-4 10th green at Riviera Country Club (3,500 square feet) and the par-3 seventh at Pebble Beach (3,512 square feet). TGL has partnered with Full Swing to create the world's biggest golf simulator, with 18 launch monitors positioned around the SoFi Center to capture the player's full shots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Indoor golf league |
| Organizers | Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Number of players | 24 |
| Technology partner | Full Swing |
| Putting surface area | 3,800 square feet |
| Green size compared to other greens | Similar to the drivable par-4 10th green at Riviera Country Club (3,500 square feet) and larger than Pebble Beach's greens (average size of 3,500 square feet) |
| Green features | 3 sand bunkers, nearly 600 actuators to change slope, 41-yard turntable that rotates 360 degrees |
| Grass type | Genetically modified turf called Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass |
| Green lighting | Overhead stadium lights that make it harder to read putts |
| Screen | 64' by 53' screen in SoFi Center |
| Launch monitors | 18 radar-based launch monitors by Full Swing |
| Software | Created by Full Swing |
| Digital caddie | Separate screen where players can plan their next shot |
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What You'll Learn
TGL's Full Swing launch monitor system
The Full Swing launch monitor system captures data from each player's swings and shots, which are then displayed on the SoFi Center's massive 64' by 53' screen. To achieve this, Full Swing utilises 18 radar-based launch monitors positioned around the SoFi Center. The system captures initial launch conditions such as spin rate and club speed, and also incorporates Toptracer ball flight characterisation.
Additionally, the Full Swing launch monitor system offers a unique feature called the "digital caddie," a separate screen where players can view their next shot and plan their strategy using a digital yardage book. This feature enhances the overall experience by providing players with slope overlays similar to those found in regular golf video games.
The Full Swing launch monitor system also accommodates the GreenZone, an advanced indoor short game area. This area sits on a 41-yard turntable that rotates based on the holes designed for TGL, allowing for hole-to-hole variations and fresh challenges. The GreenZone presents a unique putting experience due to its artificial surface, which lacks the imperfections typically found on traditional grass. This surface, combined with the stadium lighting, makes reading putts more challenging for golfers.
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The world's biggest golf simulator
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's new TGL golf league features the world's biggest golf simulator, developed in partnership with Full Swing. The simulator utilises groundbreaking innovations to facilitate a first-of-its-kind virtual golf competition.
The TGL simulator incorporates a 3,800 square foot putting green, with Full Swing's launch monitors capturing data from each player's swings and shots. This data is then displayed on the SoFi Center's massive 64' by 53' screen, providing a fully immersive experience. The simulator also features a separate "digital caddie" screen, allowing players to plan their next shot using a digital yardage book and view slope overlays.
The TGL simulator offers a unique playing experience, with the entire short game area sitting on a 41-yard turntable that rotates based on the holes. This innovative design allows for endless possibilities in course design, providing a fresh and exciting challenge for golfers.
To enhance the realism of the simulator, TGL uses real grass developed specifically for indoor play. This grass is grown on plastic, allowing for mature plants to be transported and ensuring optimal playability and aesthetics. The TGL simulator also features a carefully selected bunker sand, providing a realistic playing surface that meets USGA specifications.
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TGL's use of real grass
TGL, the new golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, features a unique blend of real and artificial grass surfaces. The league's inaugural season, which kicked off in January, showcases a new strain of real grass developed specifically for indoor golf competitions.
The use of real grass in TGL is made possible by Scott Armstrong, TGL's vice president of competition technology and operations. Armstrong consulted with Dr. Trey Rogers, a professor of turfgrass management at Michigan State University, who had previously overseen the growth of indoor grass for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. With Rogers' expertise, Armstrong sourced a genetically modified turf called Tahoma from Chad Price at Carolina Green. This turf, which is grown on plastic, allows for mature grass to be transported and used, resulting in a well-established adult grass that recovers fast, looks good, and plays well.
The fairway grass in the GreenZone provides a realistic playing experience, offering both playable areas and challenging spots, just like natural grass. The putting surface reacts authentically to pitches, and the green's character adds an extra layer of fun to the game. The use of real grass also presents a unique challenge for putting. Unlike traditional greens, the TGL green's artificial surface lacks imperfections, making it harder for golfers to line up their putts under the stadium lights.
The TGL league combines advanced technology with a semi-virtual course, allowing for endless possibilities in course design. The short game area sits on a 41-yard turntable that rotates based on the holes, with a spotlight indicating the player's next shot location. This innovative setup, powered by Full Swing's launch monitors, provides a one-of-a-kind virtual golf experience for both players and viewers.
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The GreenZone
The fairway grass in the GreenZone is carefully designed to offer a realistic playing experience. It provides a playable surface but also presents a challenge, especially when playing into the grain. The surface reacts authentically to pitches, and the green's character adds an element of fun and strategy to the game. The GreenZone also incorporates bunker sand, with a specific type chosen to meet the requirements of a synthetic putting surface while adhering to USGA specifications.
The lighting in the GreenZone also adds to the complexity. The stadium lights shining down on golfers can make reading putts more difficult, as the light flattens the appearance of the green. This, coupled with the lack of imperfections on the artificial surface, provides a unique and demanding golfing experience, even for the world's top players.
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TGL's scoring format
TGL, or Tiger Woods' new virtual golf league, features a unique scoring format that combines advanced technology with traditional golf skills. Here's how it works:
The Basics
TGL features six teams representing six different cities, with 24 of the top PGA Tour players divided into these teams. The competition consists of two-hour weekly primetime matches held at the SoFi Center, a venue built specifically for TGL.
The Technology
TGL has partnered with Full Swing to create the world's biggest golf simulator. The league utilizes a 3,800-square-foot putting surface that sits on a 41-yard-wide turntable, allowing for a rotating playing surface. The green features actuators that can change the slope, creating hole-to-hole variations. Additionally, a spotlight pinpoints where the player's next shot will be taken.
Scoring
While specific details of the scoring format are not readily available, it is designed by consultants at CapTech. The scoring system integrates digital measurements and real-world actions into a single stats platform. Players have a 40-second shot clock, adding a layer of challenge to the game.
Greenzone
Once players are within 50 yards of the hole, they enter the Greenzone, an advanced indoor short game area. The putting surface is artificial and features a unique challenge due to its lack of imperfections. Players must adapt to the lighting, which affects how they read putts.
Screenzone
The ScreenZone is another feature of the SoFi Center, where shots into the screen are captured by the Full Swing launch monitor system. This system utilizes radar-based launch monitors positioned around the venue to capture data on each player's swings and shots. This data is then displayed on the massive 64' by 53' screen.
The combination of technology, innovative scoring, and traditional golf skills creates a unique and exciting competition that brings a new dimension to the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
TGL is a new golf league that combines advanced technology with teams of top players from the PGA Tour for two-hour weekly competitions in prime time.
TGL partnered with Full Swing to create the world's biggest golf simulator. The Full Swing launch monitor system captures the player’s full shots during a TGL match, using 18 radar-based launch monitors positioned around the SoFi Center.
The GreenZone is the area where teams finish each hole. The fairway grass in the GreenZone is very playable but will give golfers some challenges when playing into the grain, just like green grass.
TGL uses a new strain of real grass called Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, which was designed specifically for golf and football turf.
TGL is located in a new arena in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on the campus of Palm Beach State College.
