2025 is going to be an exciting year for the golf world. Apart from the regular leagues commencing yet another season, the sport will also witness the advancement of technology. After several delays and setbacks, the brainchild of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will finally launch, with January 7 being the first date of its inaugural tournament. The PGA Tour players have already begun promoting their teams ahead of the launch, and they are excited to play a completely new format.

But what makes the league so different? Well, the TGL matches will be played at the SoFi Center in Florida, and will completely be based on technology. From the putting to the witnessing. The SoFi Center is a cutting-edge, 250,000-square-foot venue located on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Florida. In TGL’s format, three players from each four-man team compete in 15-hole matches that seamlessly blend virtual and real-world golf. For longer shots, players will hit a massive 3,400-square-foot screen, approximately 24 times the size of a standard golf simulator.

Each hole features a dynamic green, with its shape changing for every shot. A 41-yard-wide rotating turntable moves the green and three strategically placed bunkers, altering approach angles for each hole. Now, this surely is different from the matches played on the greens and will require different equipment. For example, having a longer shaft can increase swing speed, which in turn can generate more distance, and having drivers that can knuckle can help the ball roll out further once it hits the ground, increasing overall distance. With this, the players are changing their gears accordingly. Taking to this, Jonathan Wall reported, “With TGL on the horizon, I’m hearing a few pros have been testing different driver builds to maximize distance for screen golf. Most common are longer shafts and drivers designed to knuckle a bit more for extra rollout.”

While the new format is seemingly exciting for the players, and they are all set to experience the tech-based league, there have been several concerns among the golf community. With the league approaching, fans have raised questions about whether it will appeal to both regular viewers and golf aficionados and, at the same time, stay true to golf ethics. Well, looks like their questions too have been answered. 

Fore Play Golf does a detailed analysis of TGL

Taking to the concerns of the critics and the fans, the famous YouTube channel Fore Play Golf did an in-depth video on the league and called it ‘Playing at the TGL Stadium’. The main issue addressed was the fear of losing ties with the traditional norms of golf due to the simulator and the form of the venue. Sam Riggs Bozoian, one of the hosts of the podcast, shared compliments for the venue and its perfect integration of virtual fairways. “It feels like when I watch those crazy video game tournaments that have sold-out stadium and lights and it’s this mix of what you want in a real live event but with all kinds of technology,” he said. The three hosts also highlight the course, featuring real grass and sand, while discussing the unique indoor environment of TGL. 

“How are you guys getting this grass?” Trent asks, startlingly. “We have our own little Turf Nursery in here in the corner,” the TGL administrators respond. “Tanner, our head greens keeper, is rocking. He’s got to keep track of the land in a divot as this is the only place in the game where you drop the ball so you got to do your knee-high drop and then we got real sand trying to take all the stuff.” To make things clearer, they also played in the ‘outrageously different’ arena. “I mean, we play a lot of golf; it’s our life, to be able to do something this different and this outrageous,” he said. The pros will have to adjust to a hybrid setup and that was a point of concern for them. They addressed that too, and said, “I have no idea what we’re doing at the moment, but it also makes you want to keep hitting these shots, which is awesome, dude. We’ve seen everything we love in our game.” And now if TGL will be a hit or not, only the conclusion of the first match will say that. Are you excited for the league to finally kick-start? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!