Skip to main content

Golf Evolving

In this episode, TGL–Golf Evolving . . .

Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, I want to share what Lori discovered on ESPN about professional golf: the NEW TGL league.

You see, golf has evolved over the centuries. The game has always adapted from Scotland's windswept links to Augusta's manicured courses. But what if I told you that the most significant change in golf history isn't happening on a sprawling 18-hole masterpiece but inside a building?

Inspired by Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story," we’re about to tee off!

Good morning, Americans! Today, we're talking about golf—a sport as old as time yet as new as tomorrow. Who hasn’t heard of Tiger Woods, the golfing phenom? Also, if you’re a golf fan, you've probably heard of Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish star. But have you heard of their brainchild? It's called TGL–turning the golf world on its ear.

TGL stands for TMRW Golf League. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports in partnership with the PGA Tour, which created the TGL. So, the league's name is directly tied to its parent company.

Imagine this: a gigantic video screen, bigger than your house, showcasing the most stunning and challenging golf courses ever encountered. But you're not outside. You're indoors–in a cutting-edge arena! And I mean cutting-edge. This isn't just any ordinary building, folks. This is the NEW SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida—an impressive tribute to innovation spanning nearly 250,000 square feet, built from the ground up specifically for TGL and completed in December 2024. This venue accommodates up to 1,500 fans.

But this is where it becomes truly fascinating. Imagine driving or chipping onto a green that can change its shape. One moment, it's flat; the next, it has slopes and curves that would make a mountain goat dizzy. This isn't science fiction, folks. This is the GreenZone, a technological marvel where the putting surfaces adapt for each hole. Hundreds of tiny actuators and miniature robots work beneath the turf, presenting a new challenge with every hole.

And the game itself? It's fast-paced and team-oriented, with a shot clock that keeps everything moving. Think of it as golf meets–well, something we’ve never quite experienced before. There's even a concept called "The Hammer," a challenge that lets a team double the points on a hole. It's about strategy, it's about skill, and it's–well, it's a brand new golf game!

So, what's the rest of the story? TGL isn't just about entertainment. It's about innovation. It's about pushing the limits of what's possible. It's about bringing a classic sport into the 21st century. It's a risk, sure. But sometimes, the biggest risks lead to the biggest rewards. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, this might be the future of golf.

Interested in learning more? Tune in to ESPN; the next scheduled game is on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 9:00 pm EST. You can also download the TGL app from the app store on your tablet or smartphone.

And that, my friends, is the rest of the story–Good Day!

I’m Patrick Ball, reminding you to stay curious and ask questions. See you in the next episode!

Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hope they get one built on the West Coast soon- sounds Fun!
February 1, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Paris – the End of Silence

✈️  In this special episode: Paris – the End of Silence Sometimes, connection arrives in the most unexpected form—not through grand gestures, but through a quiet voice carried by technology. In a Paris apartment, I finally understood my family’s words . . . and felt my mother’s presence in every sentence. Since I was a little boy, France has been both a beautiful and frustrating paradox in my life. Every six to nine years, my mother, Mauricette, would take my brothers and me back to La Rochelle to visit our French family. The moment we arrived, the air would fill with a sound I loved but couldn’t share in—the rapid-fire, musical rhythm of French. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would warmly sweep me into hugs and kisses, their words flowing like a lovely melody I couldn’t quite catch. I’d smile brightly, trying to communicate with my eyes and hands. But as soon as we stepped off the plane, my mother and her sister-in-law, Joséan, started talking animatedly. They were gone, chatting h...
2 comments
Read more

Pushing the Pause Button

In this episode, Pushing the Pause Button: Stepping Off the Treadmill Hello, friends — If you're reading this, I'm already off the grid. Today begins a much-needed vacation, and for the next few weeks, On the Fly is taking a break right along with me. For a long time, my inner voice has said, 'Keep every commitment, no matter what.' That's meant early mornings, long days, and a calendar packed with posts, podcasts, and projects I couldn't seem to say no to. I've been trying to be the tireless workhorse—but that kind of grind doesn't end well. Lately, I've noticed I'm not quite myself—shorter fuse, louder sighs, and a few too many grumbles (Lori deserves a medal). That's when you know it's time to hit pause before the spark burns out. So, I'm stepping back to rest, recharge, and remember what it feels like to not live by the next deadline: no tech, no to-do lists, just some space to breathe. Thank you, truly, for all your support and ...
2 comments
Read more

Noirmoutier: An Ocean Between Us, Gone in a Moment

In this episode, Noirmoutier: An Ocean Between Us, Gone in a Moment. Sometimes love waits half a century for its moment — and when it finally arrives, time doesn’t stand still; it disappears. The moment I stepped off the train in Nantes, it felt like time froze. There she was — my cousin Michèle — waiting on the platform, arms waving desperately. When we finally embraced, the fifty years that had passed between us disappeared in an instant. The melody in her voice was the same, but softer than I remembered. We both shed tears of joy that only come from love long overdue. “I’m so happy you are here,” she whispered, her voice trembling.   Thank goodness for the translation app on my phone, because the conversation began immediately — fast, fluid, and unstoppable. The Frenzy of Catching Up As we drove for about an hour to the tiny town of L’Épine on the Island of Noirmoutier, the words kept tumbling out. Michèle and her husband, Alain, are the most gracious hosts — but my new challe...
1 comment
Read more

The Friday Morning Pause

In this episode,  The Friday Morning Pause: When My Brother’s Bookshelf Called Me to Stillness We live in a world allergic to stillness. Our mornings begin mid-sprint—thumbs scrolling before our eyes even open. The impulse to jump into the digital chaos is immediate. But sometimes, stillness finds you . It was early Friday morning. We’d arrived late the night before, stepping into the cool air before the day turned hot. Half-awake, I reached for my phone—emails, headlines, social feeds waiting like a morning buffet of distraction. We were in Cuba. No Wi-Fi. No 5G. No password. Just stillness, disguised as inconvenience. Instead, I caught sight of something unexpected: a small stack of books on my brother’s TV shelf. My brother and his wife are powered by perpetual motion. They are the definition of overscheduled and overstimulated. Yet there it was: Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday, quietly mocking my scrolling habit. The irony was perfect. I put my phone down—a small, delibe...
Post a Comment
Read more