The world of golf has always had its traditions, with quiet spectators, dress codes, and the soothing sound of a well-hit ball sailing through the air. But in recent years, the sport has seen a wave of innovation. Enter TGL presented by SoFi, the tech-forward team golf league that blends the best of golf’s tradition with a futuristic edge. Using cutting-edge technology, a new format, and unique rules, TGL offers fans an electrifying viewing experience.

This guide will walk you through the key rules that define TGL. Whether you're a seasoned golf enthusiast or a newcomer trying to understand the appeal of team-based golf, by the end of this article, you'll be well-versed in what makes TGL matches so thrilling.

LEARN MORE: Official Rules of TGL

Basics of a TGL Match

TGL matches are not your typical 18-hole affairs. In fact, each match consists of 15 holes played inside a tech-enabled arena, SoFi Center, which adds a layer of innovation to every game.

Matches are divided into two sessions:

• Triples (3-on-3 alternate shot, holes 1–9)
• Singles (1-on-1 matchups, holes 10–15)

Each hole is worth one point. If a team wins the hole, they earn one point, and in the event of a tie, no points are awarded for that hole. The team with the most points at the end of 15 holes wins the match. However, if the score is tied at the end of the 15 holes, the match moves into Overtime.

How Teams Choose Lineups

In TGL, lineup strategy is crucial. Teams submit their lineups ahead of time for both the Triples and Singles segments. This provides an interesting mix of strategy and anticipation, as teams must decide in advance how to pair up their players for maximum advantage.

Before finalizing their lineup, teams have the opportunity to preview the course, allowing them to strategize based on the holes that will be played and the strengths of each player. The official lineups are announced every Friday before match week, giving fans and players alike a chance to analyze potential matchups.

What is "Honor"?

In TGL, Honor is a significant advantage. The team starting with Honor has the privilege of selecting the first player during the lineup order selection process. Teams are required to start with Honor at least twice during the regular season.

To better understand how Honor works, consider the following example:

• NY: Fitzpatrick, Fowler, Schauffele
• BAY: Clark, Lowry, Åberg

Here’s how lineup selection unfolds:

1. Honor team (BAY) picks their first player: Lowry.
2. Non-Honor team (NY) picks their first matchup: Lowry vs. Fowler.
3. The non-Honor team (NY) then selects players 2 & 3: Fitzpatrick and Schauffele.
4. The Honor team (BAY) finishes selecting their lineup.

It’s a game of strategy, as teams must predict how their opponents will choose to match up, adding an element of intrigue before the first shot is even hit.

Who Enforces the Rules?

When it comes to enforcing the rules, Derrick Stafford is the field of play referee and Mark Russell is the league’s rules official. Both have long careers in professional sports, bringing a wealth of experience to TGL’s competitive environment.

• Derrick Stafford was an NBA referee for 30 years with a reputation for fairness and precision.
• Mark Russell, a longtime PGA Tour official, brings unparalleled expertise in the technical aspects of the game.

Together, they ensure that TGL’s matches run smoothly. The referee will be on the field of play and is responsible for promoting pace of play, including enforcing the shot clock. They also will assist with any rules violations and/or rules questions. The booth official will be present in the scoring booth and will be responsible for starting and stopping the shot clock. The booth official will have final say for any Rules of Golf or TGL-rules violations, including through access to video replay.

Triples Rules

The Triples format involves three players per team competing in alternate-shot play. The rotation for each team’s players is predetermined, but it’s strategically chosen based on player strengths.

For the first nine holes, each player takes turns teeing off on different holes:

• Player 1 tees off on holes 1, 4, and 7.
• Player 2 tees off on holes 2, 5, and 8.
• Player 3 tees off on holes 3, 6, and 9.

Importantly, no player can repeat a shot in the same hole. Communication and coordination are key, as each team member has to be on the same page to ensure they’re playing to their strengths.

Singles Rules

After the first nine holes of Triples, the format switches to Singles for the final six holes. Here, it’s a true head-to-head matchup: one player from each team competes on alternating holes.

• Player 1 plays holes 10 and 13.
• Player 2 plays holes 11 and 14.
• Player 3 plays holes 12 and 15.

The Singles format is where individual performances really shine. Each hole still counts as one point, but now the focus is on personal skill and head-to-head match ups.

RELATED: Understanding Triples vs. Singles

Overtime Rules

If the match is tied after 15 holes, it goes to Overtime. This high-pressure showdown is where the drama really unfolds, as the teams compete in a best-of-three closest-to-the-pin contest in the GreenZone.

The team that started the match with Honor will go first in Overtime. The key here is that for a shot to count, the ball must come to rest on the putting green. The team that gets their ball closest to the pin wins the matchup, and the team to win two out of three matchups claims the victory..

The overtime winning team will earn 2 points towards their SoFi Cup Standings and the losing overtime team will earn 1 point towards their SoFi Cup Standings.

The overtime winning team also earns 1 point toward the overall match score (i.e., if match was tied 5-5, then the final match score would be 6-5).

Shot Clock

Another unique element to the TGL format is the introduction of the shot clock. The “shot clock” refers to the timing device that displays the countdown of time in which each player must record a shot. The shot clock will be 40 seconds for every shot. A violation occurs when the ball has not been struck, and the shot clock reaches zero. After each shot clock violation, a team will incur a one-shot penalty, and the same player would be up to play if they had not struck the ball. If a player strikes the ball after the shot clock expires, the stroke counts, and the ball is next played where it finished. The team is assessed a one-shot penalty.

RELATED: TGL Shot Clock Explained

Timeouts

Each team has the option of calling two timeouts per session. These timeouts last for 20 seconds and can be used to discuss strategy, calm nerves, or reset the team’s focus. In the heat of a match, these moments of pause can be pivotal in turning the tide.

Key timeout rules include:

• Timeouts can be called when a player is hitting, and the opposing team has until the player addresses the ball with the intent to make a stroke to call a timeout and avoid interference.
• Players must wait until the 20-second timeout has expired before they can resume play.
• Back-to-back timeouts are not allowed for the same shot.

RELATED: TGL Timeouts Explained

Hammer Rules

The Hammer rule is one of the most exciting aspects of TGL’s gameplay. Each team is granted three Hammers per match, which serve as a high-risk, high-reward strategy tool.

• If a Hammer is thrown before a hole starts, it must be accepted by the opposing team.
• If thrown after the hole begins, the opposing team can either accept or decline the Hammer.
• If a Hammer is declined the team that declines it gives up the points being played for on that hole.

The Hammer increases the value of the hole by one point, adding an element of strategy as teams can choose to double-down on key holes.

Conceded Holes and Shots

In TGL, conceding holes or shots is similar to traditional match play. If a team believes they can't win a hole, they may concede the hole, awarding their opponent the win. Players can also concede individual shots, giving their opponents a “gimme”. But to ensure fairness, the referee must acknowledge every concession to avoid misunderstandings.

TGL Playoffs

At the end of the regular season, the top four teams advance to the playoffs. The teams are seeded based on regular season points, and seeding determines the order of matchups.

RELATED: Breaking Down the TGL Format from Regular Season to Playoffs

In the event of two teams finishing with the same regular season point total, tiebreaker criteria will be as follows:

• Total holes won in regular season
• Singles holes won during regular season
• Fewest holes lost in regular season
• Head-to-Head result vs other team
• Strength of victory result (start at top of the standings and compare head-to-head results)
• Coin flip

The playoffs feature single-elimination semifinals followed by a best-of-three Finals Series.

The playoff rules for determining who starts with Honor follow a similar structure to the regular season, but with higher stakes. The higher-seeded team in both Semifinal matchups will pick their player first during lineup selection.

In the Finals Series, the team that won the most holes in their semifinal match will be declared the higher seed and will start with Honor for matches two and three, while the lower seed will start with Honor for match one. If both teams won the same number of holes in their semifinal match, the team that won the most holes in Singles in their semifinal match will be declared the higher seed. If both teams won the same number of Singles holes, the final tiebreaker is the head-to-head result of their regular season match.

Teams losing in the Semifinals will be awarded 3rd and 4th place by which team won the most holes during their semifinal match. If both teams won the same number of holes, the team that won the most holes in Singles in the semifinal match will be declared the 3rd place team. If both teams won the same number of Singles holes, the final tiebreaker is the head-to-head result of their regular season match.

LEARN MORE: TGL Explained

The Final Ruling

TGL offers a thrilling twist on traditional golf, combining modern technology, strategic depth, and high-stakes competition. From its unique team formats to game-changing elements like the Hammer and Overtime, TGL is revolutionizing the way golf is played and enjoyed.