The Technical Evolution of TGL: How Technology, Turf, and Tiger’s Intensity Define Season Two

The second season of TGL, the revolutionary tech-infused indoor golf league, is set to commence, kicking off with a strategic rematch between the inaugural champion, Atlanta Drive GC, and New York Golf Club. While the six core rosters remain structurally unchanged, the competitive landscape itself has been fundamentally altered by a series of significant technological and course design upgrades.

Anticipation for the season is tinged with curiosity, as two of the league’s most prominent figures—15-time major winner Tiger Woods and two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas—will be relegated to the sidelines initially, recovering from respective back procedures. Despite this absence, the presence of Woods remains acutely felt, particularly by his Jupiter Links GC team.

Jupiter Links GC and Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf combined to secure only a single victory last season, a performance anomaly that does not sit well with the hyper-competitive Woods. Tom Kim of Jupiter Links GC succinctly captured the sentiment: “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 league’s response to last season’s technical and competitive feedback is extensive, focusing on refining the highly sophisticated interplay between simulator play and real-world turf dynamics.

The GreenZone Revolution: Expansion and Actuator Complexity

The most immediate and critical technical alteration for Season 2 centers on the GreenZone putting surface. The area dedicated to the short game has been expanded by a substantial 38%, growing from 3,800 square feet to 5,270 square feet. This expansion is not merely spatial; it increases the viable playing area and the number of available hole locations from seven to twelve.

The complexity of topography manipulation is also heightened. The system now utilizes 608 actuators beneath the surface to dynamically morph the green’s slope and contours. While the upper tier retains some fixed topography, even that has been subtly redesigned. Andrew Macaulay, CTO at TMRW Sports, noted that a central knoll was reduced by about 1.5 feet, specifically to improve spectator sightlines—a detail underscoring the priority placed on the in-arena viewing experience.

Furthermore, two larger virtual greens utilized for full-swing shots under the turf have expanded to 1,250 square feet. This increase is marginal but designed to ensure highly accurate landing and reaction data during the full-swing portion of play.

A Technical Tweak with Major Implications: Down Grain Turf

Perhaps the most fascinating, and potentially game-changing, technical adjustment relates to the turf itself. Last season, players sometimes struggled with challenging into-the-grain chip shots. For Season 2, the turf has been universally laid “down grain” toward the center of the GreenZone. This standardization eliminates the unpredictable interaction of ball and surface caused by varying grain directions.

The resulting effect is a deliberate engineering choice: shots are now expected to be more consistent and aggressive. As Wyndham Clark of The Bay Golf Club noted, this change will allow players to be far more creative and assertive around the green, resulting in potentially more dramatic chip-in attempts and closer outcomes. It is a refinement that rewards precision and technical skill over managing simulation randomness.

Architectural Identity: Signature Holes and Video Game Logic

Season 2 introduces a conceptual shift in course design through the integration of signature holes for each of the six teams. Developed by esteemed architects including Gil Hanse and Nicklaus Design, these holes are explicitly tailored to reflect the identity and, crucially, provide a technical advantage to the home team.

For example, The Bay Golf Club’s `Bay Breaker` features towering redwoods and a fog effect, inspired by classic Northern California courses like Pebble Beach and TPC Harding Park. Teams will play their signature hole in every match, providing a consistent competitive edge rooted in familiarity.

Beyond the signature concepts, new architecturally adventurous holes have been added:

• ‘Stone & Steeple’ (Par-5): Features Sahara-style cross bunkers and a stone wall bordering a fictional New England graveyard. The technical threat here is not just the hazard, but the grim reminder that “any shots hit too far left are not long for this world.”
• ‘Stinger’ (Par-4): An homage to Woods` renowned low, driving shot. This hole uses a natural rock formation to encourage golfers to hit the ball no higher than 50 feet off the tee. Success rewards the player with significant roll; failure leaves a significantly more challenging approach.

As Billy Horschel of Atlanta Drive GC philosophically concluded, these unique designs blur the line between traditional golf and highly specialized simulation:

“We can still have the traditional holes, but we can have some holes that you would see in a video game. Because in some sort [of way], this is a video game that we’re playing. We’re playing a high-tech video game in a sense.”

Enhanced Visibility and Data Tracking

To fully capture the technical complexities of the enhanced course, TGL has significantly upgraded its broadcasting capabilities. The SoFi Center is now equipped with 79 cameras, ensuring comprehensive coverage of every angle. This includes the lauded return of the SmartPin Cam, which offers a 360-degree perspective from the flagstick itself.

New shot comparison graphics will leverage Virtual Eye technology to track ball flight and landing data. These data-rich, augmented-reality overlays will illustrate shot quality in real time, comparing the current attempt against both team averages and historical best approaches on that specific hole.

The commitment to live shot tracing—tracking the ball in flight before it impacts TGL’s massive screen—is intended to provide viewers with an unprecedented level of visual and data-driven understanding of player performance under high-pressure, technical scrutiny.

Team Rosters for TGL Season 2

Despite the initial absences of key personnel, the six-team structure provides a high degree of competitive stability heading into the new year. All rosters remain fixed from the inaugural season.

2025-26 TGL Regular Season Schedule

SoFi Cup Playoffs & Finals Series

The intense final stretch begins mid-March.