The boys and I have been busy. We are fine-tuning our swings for the upcoming spring season. Lycoming College plays golf year-round, and my Warriors have the bug. They continue to call me. Times have changed. We no longer go outside to brave the elements. My guys stay indoors. They were their shorts. Technology helps. A few of my wealthy friends have some pretty cool setups, but we tend to frequent the one downtown. My chums don’t trust me after hours. But golf simulators are everywhere. They allow us to practice and play whenever it snows. Much love to the staff at the Liberty Arena. They are providing a new winter home. Thanks again, Tom.
Most of my guys simply use the range. They take full swings in a small cage. The ball hits the giant screen, and these fancy gadgets measure how far it goes. You can also determine your speed and spin. A lot of fuzzy math, but they all help. You can even play several exotic courses. But my guys prefer to practice. I, too, am on the fence about an actual round. It’s only fun for the first two holes. Automatic two putts? Come on.
We aren’t the only ones. Perhaps you have seen or heard of the new buzz. Two of the biggest names (Tiger and Rory) have created a new variation. They call it the TGL. Tomorrow’s Golf League. It was founded in 2022. This high-tech-infused golf league features some of the world’s top pros. These weekly matches are played at the state-of-the-art facility in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Incredible venue. Insane. They play on a fancy simulator in front of a large crowd. The television ratings are impressive. Pure entertainment. All golfers wear microphones, and their friendly banter only adds to the overall experience. The PGA has some characters.
The course itself covers a vast area. It has many more features than your usual golf simulator. It is about the size of a football field with every type of condition. Players hit from real grass, depending on the situation. Tee boxes, fairways, rough, sand, and even Kikuya. Yes. All of these areas are separated within the arena. The golfers hit into a gigantic screen that is 20 times the size of the one at the Liberty Arena. The tech-infused surfaces also have jacks that can change the slope or lie to create the ultimate. Seriously. No more gimmicks or ribbons. The TGL is as real as it gets.
Many other tweaks make this so dang entertaining. There are two sessions per TGL match. The first includes triples, a nine-hole, 3 on 3 alternate shot. The second is singles. Players go head-to-head. Mono vs mono. The matches last two hours. Lots of sponsors. Each hole is worth one point. There is even a shot clock, overtime, sudden deaths, and time-outs. Yes. Rory and Tiger are captains of their respective squads. But there is an impressive list of combatants that will compete for the cup. Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Marikawa, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludwig Aberg, Xander Schauffele and many others. I encourage you to check it out. Cheers.
