TGL, the new tech-focused golf league situated within the purpose-built SoFi Center arena has made its much-hyped debut, with one of the key figures behind the venture, Tiger Woods, stating it will take the sport “into the next stratosphere”.
The Bay Golf Club, one of six TGL teams, opened proceedings yesterday (Tuesday) with an ultimately comfortable 9-2 victory over New York Golf Club. SoFi Center officially opened to broadly positive reviews, with TGL and TMRW Sports, the company behind the venture founded by Woods, Rory McIlroy and sports executive Mike McCarley, having endured substantial challenges in its delivery.
These challenges were headlined by a complete about-turn in the vision for the venue itself. TGL had been due to debut in January 2024, but TMRW Sports announced in November 2023 that its launch had been pushed back a year after the original SoFi Center was seriously damaged.
SoFi Center is located on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. On November 14, 2023, a failure of the temporary power system and backup systems used during construction caused its dome to deflate, resulting in damage to the air-supported dome section of the site.
Most of the technology was not impacted, but the decision was taken to postpone the inaugural season following discussions with key partners. This also resulted in a change to the design vision for the facility, with a steel-supported structure pursued.
The new launch date of January 7, 2025, was set in March last year, with yesterday’s debut being described as golf in a rock concert setting. Rickie Fowler, one of the players for New York Golf Club, called SoFi Center a “glorified man cave” owing to its tech-focus.
Woods, who is due to compete for Jupiter Links Golf Club, told TGL broadcaster ESPN: “This is golf, but it’s not traditional golf. It’s hard to believe this dream came to reality, and we’re going to take golf into the next stratosphere.”
SoFi Center is nearly 250,000 square feet in size, with a seating capacity of 1,500. Its headline features are a simulator screen measuring 64 by 53 feet, and a rotating green sitting on a turntable 41 yards wide.
Mixing simulator and traditional golf, players tee off from a platform into the giant screen. Thirty different hole layouts can be generated, with fairway, rough and sand surfaces to hit from depending on where a shot lands on the screen.
Once a player is 50 yards from the pin, the action transitions to the ‘Green Zone’, a 3,800-square-foot green that can be adjusted for each hole. This is delivered through around 600 actuators under the green that adjust the slope and layout of the green depending on the hole, as well as providing sand traps.
TMRW Sports completed a Series A investment round back in June and Woods, who could tee off in Jupiter Links’ opening game on January 14, said: “I’m part of the playing process, which I haven’t been for a while. This is showcasing golf… and we hope we can bring this to a lot of fans.”
