TGL presented by SoFi officially announced its three hole design groups – Beau Welling Design, Nicklaus Design and Pizá Golf – who in collaboration with TGL and its technology partner, Full Swing, created the dynamic custom holes in a never-before-seen mix of virtual and real-world golf design. Each hole will come to life at the custom-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., during TGL’s inaugural season beginning January 7 in prime time on ESPN.

The three design groups each brought their own blend of creativity, tradition, and innovation to create a total of 30 holes to be played throughout TGL’s season of weekly matches.

The design process:

• Each hole was designed specifically to challenge TGL’s six teams made up of top PGA TOUR players without the constraints of traditional golf course design, which needs to serve golfers with a wide spectrum of ability.
• The holes are a mix of par 3s, par 4s and par 5s and will feature a variety of authentic settings, including links, canyons, coastal, desert, and tropical landscapes.
• The design groups were tasked to create holes that were realistic, but also feature elements that are only possible in the digital environment of TGL.

“The holes for TGL presented by SoFi’s inaugural season capture the nature of this league as we push the boundaries of what is possible when fusing technology and live action, while remaining authentic and fun,” said Scott Armstrong, Vice President of Competitions and Technology, TGL presented by SoFi. “The design groups brought an astounding level of creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and a true passion for creating holes that will bring a new form of entertainment to golf and sports fans. Full Swing’s virtual technology allowed the designers to expand the course footprint and introduce new elements that would be impossible on traditional courses.”

How it works within the competition:

• Each TGL match will be comprised of 15 of the 30 holes designed and will be chosen by the TGL competition committee.
• The holes begin as teams play their tee shots into TGL’s massive 64-foot by 53-foot screen.
• Once players’ shots land within approximately 50 yards from the hole in the virtual setting, teams move to the custom-built GreenZone that transforms to match the hole’s design.
• TGL’s GreenZone complex features a rotating surface and advanced topography-altering technology. The 22,475-square-foot short-game area includes a 41-yard-wide turntable that rotates the green 360 degrees to change approach angles. Additionally, the surface can morph its topography using nearly 600 actuators via Full Swing’s Virtual Green product, ensuring that every hole presents a fresh and dynamic challenge.
• The rotation of the turntable in the GreenZone, combined with the ability to change the topography of the green and the options of seven different hole locations creates thousands of hole-to-hole variations.

The three design groups:

• Beau Welling Design – A full-service, golf design and planning firm, Beau Welling Design is based in Greenville, S.C. Utilizing a holistic approach, BWD's design team seeks to create strategic, yet playable courses for players at every level that focus upon creative shot making and optionality from tee to green. BWD's client-focused team has more than 60 years of experience, assisting in the creation and development of over 120 award-winning golf courses around the world.
• Nicklaus Design – Located in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Nicklaus Design is recognized for its unparalleled body of work and sustained excellence, having created 439 courses worldwide, in 47 countries and 40 U.S states. The firm’s talented team of architects create renowned designs that are known for their strategic layouts and meticulous attention to detail, offering a rich tradition of challenging golf courses that can be enjoyed by all levels of golfer. Since 1968, Nicklaus courses have hosted over 300 PGA TOUR sanctioned events.
• Pizá Golf – With design studios in San Diego and Puerta Vallarta, Pizá Golf is renowned for its innovative golf course design concepts. Awarded by top magazines like Forbes for its vision and creativity, this design firm's creations for TGL stand out as truly unique, blending artistic flair with architectural innovation, while also presenting fresh challenges to the players.

For an in-depth look at the hole designers and a first look at the holes for the inaugural season of TGL presented by SoFi read more here.