Renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse is joining the returning design groups to create the full catalog of holes for Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi.

Hanse Golf Course Design, founded in 1993 by Gil Hanse and joined by partner Jim Wagner in 1995, has a portfolio that spans original designs and high-profile restorations at prominent clubs in the U.S. and abroad.

Recent projects include originals such as the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Golf Course for golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016, Streamsong Black and Ohoopee Match Club, and restorations/master plans at venues including Winged Foot G.C., The Los Angeles C.C., Baltusrol G.C. (Lower), Oakmont C.C. and Yale.

His first hole design for TGL is Stone & Steeple, a par 5 set in a New England landscape that tips out at 590 yards. More new hole designs from Hanse will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Adding Gil Hanse, widely regarded as a standard-bearer in modern golf architecture, will bring fresh ideas to our collection of hole designs,” said Scott Armstrong, Vice President, Competition Technology and Operations for TGL presented by SoFi.

“Based on feedback from our players and analysis of hole data, our Season 2 catalog will again challenge teams to be strategic, force shot-making and bring more of the memorable match-changing moments that highlight TGL."

Hanse added: “Starting with a relatively blank slate for TGL has been liberating. Designing holes for TGL has given us an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and step into other aspects of golf course design in the virtual world.

“On a few of our TGL holes, we decided to honor the concepts, thoughts, and styles of some of the greatest designers from golf history like A.W. Tillinghast, Alister MacKenzie, Donald Ross. It will be gratifying to see virtual representations of those concepts and theories broadcast, not only on television, but on this huge screen as our designs challenge the best players in the world.”

All hole designs are purpose-built for TGL’s fast-paced, team match play format and are designed specifically to force risk-reward decisions, heighten scoring volatility, challenge TGL’s six teams and amplify in-venue and broadcast energy for fans.

More on Stone & Steeple

• Par 5 that tips out at 590 yards.

• Tee shots will navigate Sahara-type fairway bunkers similar to those Hanse used in his restoration of Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course.

• Approach shots must carry large fairway bunkers to a green fully guarded on the left by a rock wall, which is marked as a penalty area.

• This New England-based design features a church steeple and graveyard left of a rock wall — reminding players that anything too far left is ‘dead.’

Season 2 to Include New & Updated Designs

• Hanse joins Beau Welling Design, Pizá Golf and Nicklaus Design as TGL’s design groups.

• Season 2’s Catalog will include brand new hole designs as well as returning holes like Quick Draw, Temple, Pick Yer Plunder, The Spear, Alpine, The Plank and Flex, many of which have been updated and renovated based on analytics and player feedback to continue to bring excitement and drama.

• Holes will continue to mix authentic links, canyon, desert and coastal environments, while also introducing new and less common backdrops and locations — free from the constraints of green grass golf course construction.

• More new holes will be unveiled both before and during Season 2.

What Else is New?

• Team Holes - New for Season 2, six returning holes have been updated to serve as official Team Holes for each of the six teams. These holes will have a new look with localized backdrops and terrain. Stay tuned, they will be revealed soon.

• Upgraded Graphics - TGL and Full Swing also upgraded the game engine software to Unity 6, which leverages the engine’s High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) to deliver more realistic and immersive virtual golf environments.

Season 2 tees off with TGL’s broadcast network debut on Sunday, Dec. 28 on ABC with a Finals rematch between defending champion Atlanta Drive GC and New York Golf Club.

Additional early-season matchups include Boston Common Golf vs. Los Angeles Golf Club on Friday, Jan. 2 (ESPN2) and Jupiter Links GC vs. New York on Tuesday, Jan. 13 (ESPN).

TGL’s full schedule and ticket information is available here.