The Tech Golf Revolution: What to Expect from TGL Season 2’s Radical Evolution

The TGL, the innovative tech-infused indoor golf league, is preparing for its second season, kicking off with a highly anticipated rematch between the defending champions, Atlanta Drive GC, and New York Golf Club. While the core team structures remain consistent, the infrastructure supporting the competition has undergone a substantial, technology-driven overhaul, signaling the league’s rapid maturation from novel concept to optimized sporting entity.

If the inaugural season was the proof of concept, Season 2 is the iteration built on high-fidelity performance data and player feedback. The primary focus of the upgrades is enhancing play consistency, maximizing strategic variety, and deepening the immersion for viewers worldwide.

The Absence of Icons and the Competitive Imperative

The six-team league faces an immediate hurdle: two of its biggest stars, 15-time major champion Tiger Woods and two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, will be sidelined initially as they recover from back surgeries. This places an immediate spotlight on the supporting cast and the competitive depth of the rosters.

However, the league has incorporated Woods into the audience experience in a novel way. As a non-competing captain, Woods is expected to attend Jupiter Links GC matches, equipped with a microphone, allowing unprecedented access to his interactions with teammates and competitors. This transition from on-course participant to “mic’d-up strategic analyst” promises to deliver high-value entertainment, particularly for fans eager for candid insight.

For the teams that struggled last season, notably Jupiter Links GC and Boston Common Golf, the competitive pressure is mounting. Tom Kim, a member of Jupiter Links GC, captured the internal mandate succinctly:

“I think all of us are ready to not suck anymore. We`re ready to win, especially for a guy who’s not used to losing as much. And he’s on our butts to get into the playoffs.”

The GreenZone: A 38% Leap in Simulator Science

The most significant technical modification for Season 2 centers on the **GreenZone** putting surface, the dynamic area where critical short game action takes place. Recognizing the need for increased complexity and consistency, TGL has dramatically expanded and refined this key element:

• Size Increase: The GreenZone is now 38% larger, expanding from 3,800 square feet to 5,270 square feet. This provides architects and course designers with a vast, expanded canvas for pin locations.
• More Complexity: The number of available hole locations has nearly doubled, increasing from seven to twelve.
• Precision Engineering: The surface manipulation relies on 608 actuators, which morph the green`s topography in real-time, simulating subtle breaks and elevation changes found on natural courses.

Crucially, modifications have been made to the turf itself to address consistency issues noted by players in the inaugural season. The turf is now uniformly laid down grain toward the middle. This eliminates unpredictable “into-the-grain” shots that complicated short game decisions last year. As Wyndham Clark of The Bay Golf Club observed, this consistency will permit players to execute more aggressive and exciting shots, benefiting both the competitors and the viewership.

Signature Holes: Blending Reality with Video Game Thematics

TGL has introduced an array of new holes designed by esteemed architects, including Gil Hanse, Beau Welling Design, and Nicklaus Design. A major strategic addition is the introduction of **Signature Holes**—six unique designs, one tailored for each team. These specialized holes will be played every match, giving the home team a distinct advantage of familiarity.

For instance, The Bay Golf Club`s signature hole, the **”Bay Breaker,”** is a par-4 inspired by the dramatic vistas of Pebble Beach and TPC Harding Park, featuring towering redwoods and the San Francisco skyline in the distance. The concept is that the playing environment becomes an extension of the team’s identity.

Beyond the signature designs, the new layouts push the boundaries of golf course architecture into the realm of the theatrical:

• Stone & Steeple (Par-5): This design incorporates Sahara-style cross bunkers and a stone wall bordering a New England-style church and adjacent graveyard. The course description offers a wry warning: “Players must be accurate with their approaches — the church provides a grim reminder that any shots hit too far left are not long for this world.”
• The Stinger (Par-4): Named after Tiger Woods’ iconic low-trajectory power shot, this hole features a natural rock formation that encourages golfers to hit drives no higher than 50 feet. Success is rewarded with a significant boost of extra roll, creating a high-risk, high-reward strategic dynamic.

As Atlanta Drive GC member Billy Horschel noted, the environment embraces its simulated nature: “We can still have the traditional holes, but we can have some holes that you would see in a video game… this is a high-tech video game in a sense.”

Enhanced Broadcast and Viewer Data

TGL is investing heavily in capturing the action, utilizing 79 cameras within the SoFi Center—a major increase from last season. This includes the return of the proprietary SmartPin Cam, which provides a live, 360-degree perspective from the flagstick, and new perspectives, such as reverse shots from the fairway.

Crucially, the league is implementing new data-rich broadcast graphics. Using Virtual Eye technology, TGL will track and overlay shots, providing real-time comparison graphics. These augmented-reality visuals will illustrate shot quality at pivotal moments, benchmarking the shot against team averages and the best historical approaches on that specific hole. Live shot tracing will be utilized before the ball impacts the league`s massive simulator screen, ensuring that the viewing experience is as technically engaging as the play itself.

TGL Season 2: Team Rosters and Schedule

The competitive field is set, with six powerhouse teams vying for the SoFi Cup championship.

Team Rosters

2025-26 Season Schedule (Select Dates)

SoFi Cup Playoffs & Finals