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!

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hope they get one built on the West Coast soon- sounds Fun!

Most Popular of All Time

Beyond Facts-The Deep Dive

✨ In this episode, Beyond Facts: Reimagining School–in the Age of AI . . .   This week's podcast is a bit different; it's another example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer tools to creatively enhance your analytical presentation of information. We took this week's blog and copied it into Gemini with the question, “If a story is to work, it must, on some level, create an illusion of escape and also achieve a goal simultaneously. Does this apply to my blog post that follows?” What's created is not just an analysis of the writing, but an AI-generated discussion produced “On the Fly” - Enjoy! Did you know that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word scholÄ“ , which originally meant "leisure"? Not a rigid schedule or droning lectures filled with "facts," but free time for thinking and conversation. To the Greeks, learning happened best when life slowed down—when you had room to reflect, to ask questions, and to wrestle ...

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

The Summer Surprise

In this special episode, The Summer Surprise . . .   Well, howdy there! It's me, Huck Finn, and lemme tell ya, somethin' special happened just the other day. We called it "The Summer Surprise.” Phew-wee! That ol' post box, it coughed up somethin' good! Wasn't no bills, nor them pesky ads, and thankfully, no regular ol' rocks neither. Nope, this here was a letter, folded up neat as a pin, looked a bit like one o' them school lockers, just sittin' there waitin' to be opened. It was from young Sierra, a mighty fine friend, and she'd gone and made some pure, honest-to-goodness artwork with her own two hands. My fingers they was all thumbs, just itching to see what kind of wild wonder she'd whipped up this time. I unfolded that paper, careful-like, you know, and bless my bare feet, there it was! A picture of a whole gymnasium and a mini-soccer field, all done up in colors that just popped. She'd used crayons and pencils, and you could tel...

A Pirate's Ponderings

In this episode, A Pirate's Ponderings: Turning 69 with a Classic . . . When was the last time you were so compelled by a quest that you had your bags packed and your boots on before the first rooster crowed? For me, this summer has been exactly that, a journey where the world outside faded away and the one inside my head roared to life. I felt like that young cabin boy in training, with the vast ocean of a great story stretching out before me. My hand was on the wheel, navigating every swell, riding the waves, and eager to see what lay just beyond the horizon. This wasn't a journey across lands, but a flight of imagination that has been an exciting ride. My adventure took off on the deck of the Hispaniola as I became lost on Treasure Island . My imagination soared, and I could almost taste the salt spray and feel the ship's timbers groan as we sailed toward our destiny. Below deck, in the narrow, shadowy depths, I could smell the hearty meals Long John Silver and Jim Haw...