TGL's unlikely rising stars
Indoor simulator league is long on high-tech and star power, but the real attraction may be watching golf’s finest player navigate fantasy golf holes designed by high-profile course architects.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the obvious stars of the fledgling TGL, the made-for-TV series that features top players competing on a five-story simulator screen.
The real stars may turn out to be the fantasy golf holes seen by the fans who tune in every week. Some holes are classic-based, some are artistic and some border on outrageous even by video game standards.
Who is responsible for these newly born simulator golf holes? Nicklaus Design (yes, that Jack Nicklaus), Beau Welling (of Beau Welling Design) and Agustin Piza (founder and CEO of Piza Golf) combined to design 30 golf holes for TGL.
All of TGL’s holes have names.
The opening night lineup included The Plank, an uphill par 4 with diagonal bunkering; Serpent, a par 5 that wiggles snake-like from tee to green between hazards; Temple, a par 4 that looks like a leftover from the ancient Incan empire and has an hourglass-like green; and Flex, a 528-yard par 4 whose green is on the far side of a molten lava flow. The Sterling hole, shaped like a sword with a long bunker trench splitting the fairway into two narrow lengths, was ranked No. 2 among the top 30 TGL holes by GolfClubAtlas.com.
That particular quintet were the brainchild of Piza. He is a Mexican native and became the first Latin American to earn a master’s degree in golf course architecture from Edinburgh University. Piza, who goes by Augie, has been involved in 50 course designs on three continents but most American golf fans will be introduced to him via his TGL work.
Here’s a conversation with Piza as TGL finished its second week of competition:
The First Call: TGL kicked off last week and we’ve seen some imaginative, crazy holes. Are you responsible for the molten lava hole? It was pretty but I wouldn’t want to play that in real life.
Agustin Piza: Yes, I am 110 percent responsible for that lava on the hole called Flex. I dreamt of it after I got the call from TGL that I was on board. I always walk with my sketchbook and I have things that I think about and write down. I went back to some older sketchbooks and made (some of those ideas) come to life. Golf is one of the oldest ways to practice masochism.
TFC: By any chance did you play video games growing up?
AP: That’s a very interesting question. Yes, as a kid, I was the Atari 2600 generation.
TFC: Some of TGL’s holes felt a little like video games, which is going to appeal to a lot of TGL viewers. They were over-the-top dramatic in places.
AP: I did have to get in touch with my younger me a little bit. One of the first things I thought was, “How can we create something special, something completely out of the box that also respects the integrity of the game?” Because it’s easy to just say, “Well, let’s jump from this island to the other island to the other island to create a par 5.” The question is, maybe it’s over the top, it’s crazy, but would I love to play it more than once? That’s where I draw the line.
TFC: If I played Flex in real life and the golf cart got near the molten lava, I’d better be the guy driving the cart.
AP: We can make that number 18 so that would be your last hole.
TFC: I want to know if you had to have a conversation like this: “Um, Tiger, I’ve got a hole with molten lava on it I was just checking to see if that’s OK with you?”AP: Everything didn’t go directly through Tiger but it went through the TGL team. It wasn’t like, let’s come up with this and that crazy idea. There were objectives. We wanted to test some of the best golfers in the world and make sure it translates to this big screen. How will it look and feel? Here’s a quick example: If there was a hole that we wanted to drop 100 feet, that’s not going to happen. When you’re standing on the tee box, the only thing you would see is blue sky. You wouldn’t see the ball coming down (to the landing area). If you have a hole with more than a 6-percent uphill slope, all you’re going to see is a wall of green grass on the screen. That’s the maximum we could do, a 6-percent slope. There were a lot of factors like that in designing for TGL, which was very exciting.
TFC: You actually went to a proper university in Scotland to study architecture?AP: I am an architect by trade so I have a five-year degree in vertical architecture. During my studies, I wanted to mix architecture with sports. It could have been anything. It could have been stadiums. Then I was lucky enough to land in golf course architecture and that’s how I got to mix my two passions. I had the opportunity to work on beautiful courses designed by Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. I applied to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. It has the only master’s degree in the world in golf.
TFC: So, with your background, you could design a golf course and the clubhouse to go with it?
AP: Yes and I do consult on clubhouses and also master planning for a community with roads. All of that, yes.
TFC: Have you had a project where you did the course and they said, “Go ahead and do the clubhouse, too”?
AP: I’m still waiting for that crazy client.
TFC: Talk about Sterling, which resembles a sword from overhead.
AP: That is an ode to links of the Scottish Highlands and that had a little humor in it, as well. It looks like a sword and we have a bunker straight down the middle. I would be aiming at the bunker straight down the middle but these guys have to make a decision to either go right or left. I’m really looking forward to the reactions from the players when they play it.
TFC: You’ll know you did a good job if at some point during the TGL series, a player curses you out by name, like, “Damn you, Piza!”
AP: Yes, yes. It’s been fun and it’s been a beautiful team effort. There have been two or three very nice compliments from some of the superstars, so we’re very honored. We were very honored that they started the first week with the first two holes that we did, one of which is very strategic. We designed The Plank and then Pick Yer Plunder, which is a little bit outside the box. One team went right and one team went left, I loved that. I really enjoyed the first show. It’s different in person than on TV. Everybody should enjoy being there live at least once. It’s a very intimate space for 1,500 people with your favorite players maybe 60 or 90 feet away.
TFC: Have you actually been to the TGL arena and tried the five-story simulator screen?
AP: Yes. I haven’t hit the screen — not because they don’t let me try, but because I literally didn’t hit it. No, I’m just kidding. When you’re there, you’re 60 yards away from the screen. It’s not so easy.
TFC: These holes have to be spun off from TGL into a video game that the public can buy and play on their home computers or simulators. Is that in the plans?
AP: I can’t answer that one, but I would like to think so. If that happened, that would mean the TGL really took off and the ratings were very good. We need to address that this is made for TV and as much as we love the game, nobody is trying to substitute the smell of fresh-cut grass or wiping the dew off. We all love the game and this is a way to match more of it on a Monday and Tuesday. We’re living in a beautiful moment in golf. This is a fork in the road — there are alternatives to tournament golf now with TGL, Topgolf and PopStroke.
TFC: Are you happy with the finished product?
AP: Of course I’m biased because I bet on it a year and a half ago when I got that call. It was right up my alley, I've always been an out-of-the-box thinker. Part of my objective in life is to try to discover the best artistic expression for golf.
THUMBS UP, DOWN ON TGL
So far it has been disappointing. I was looking forward to it in no small part because I’ve been playing simulator golf on a regular basis for three years and I enjoy it. Especially during the Pittsburgh winters when, even if there isn’t snow cover, the frozen ground and matted-over grass means it isn’t like real golf anymore.
Never mind that the first two matches were blowouts, TGL has a way to go before it becomes must-see-TV. But I’m sure the smart minds behind this effort will fine-tune things as they play out.
👍🏻 Who doesn’t love the shot clock? Players have 40 seconds to pull the trigger and once the clock gets inside 15 seconds, a pulsing heart-beat sound increases in volume as zero approaches. It proved how easily players could adjust their routines to speed up play.
I recently wrote about The Shot Clock Masters, a 2017 European Tour event that cut about 35 minutes off the pace of play with a shot clock and drew rave reviews from players. I suggested a shot clock back in 2014. You can still find the headline at Golf.com. The shot clock isn’t a new idea and now it’s gaining acceptance. I’ll take only partial credit for this. (Not really.)
👎🏻 The drawn-out WWE-style intros for all three golfers, who make a long walk between the stands and then out to the middle of the arena. The shouted name intros follow a normal first-tee resume introduction, an awkward contradiction. Like any of these guys need an introduction? The crowd in the arena claps and hoots, sure, but by the time he gets to arena center, the place already sounds lifeless, like halftime at a junior high basketball game.
👍🏻 The lack of stakes. What are these two teams playing for? Well, the SoFi Trophy. What about money? Do they win any for winning the match? Nobody knows. They’re only playing for silver, or whatever that trophy is, and no mention is made of money or how much the players are paid to compete. I like that.
👎🏻 The lack of stakes. What are these two teams playing for? A SoFi Trophy? Golf has always had a purse and prize money. That is its historical drama. A guy misses a putt on the 72nd hole and it costs him $450,000 or something. If there’s no money difference for winning or losing, why are they here? I hate that.
👍🏻 Scott Van Pelt, the best talent ESPN’s Sports Center has, is involved in the pre-game and halftime commentary. But he’s not on site in Florida, he’s chiming in from afar because his late-night show is a winner. But any bit of SVP is a plus.
👎🏻 Marty Smith. He’s glib, he’s got personality and he’s put in a rough situation here. I kind of like Smith on most telecasts, but, here, anytime he is on camera doing his thing is time where we could be watching golf instead. Smith isn’t out of place, he just isn’t necessary.
👍🏻 The simulator screen. It is five stories tall and impressive as hell. What local simulator beer league wouldn’t like to use that thing for its weekly tournament?
👍🏻 At first, I hated the fantasy hole design concept. Somehow, I assumed we’d see the great golf holes of the world in five-story simulation — Pebble Beach’s seventh, eighth or 18th; the Road Hole at the Old Course; the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon; 17 at TPC Sawgrass; and so on. After Week 1, I realized that we’ve already seen these guys play those holes and we already know that every golf course is too short for tour players, who routinely blitz Augusta National if the weather is nice. Fantasy holes are a way to test the best players. Throw in a lot of water hazards, mountains, bunkers, molten lava and island greens and you’re pushing these players’ skills to the brink. How about the final hole in Week 2, a 727-yard par 5 that Sahith Theegala reached in two by smashing a bold drive across an abyss to take a shortcut. So cool.
👎🏻 Why is this team golf and how did these players get on their respective teams? A draft? A lottery? Just guys signing up their buddies? The New York Golf Club doesn’t mean anything to me. The LA Golf Club features Englishman Justin Rose. Singles play might have been more attractive to U.S. viewers but, then again, this is a subtle way to try to beat LIV Golf at its own game. Last time I checked, nobody cared about LIV Golf’s team results, either. And what was Kevin Kisner doing on Tiger Woods’ team, other than torpedo-iong it every time it was his turn, epitomized by a boned bunker shot that rifled out of the sand, caromed off the nearby flagstick and rocketed off camera. Woods and Co. were already getting crushed by 9-1 margin and had no hope of winning but Kiz’s whizzer brought Woods to tears because he laughed so hard. Kisner is only a part-time player who has one foot solidly in the announcing booth. Why is he playing? Were Brandel Chamblee and Johnson Wagner both unavailable? Along with anyone from the top 100 in the world?
👎🏻 While the screen gives the action a reasonably realistic feel, the putting green just doesn’t do it for me. It’s an incredible feature — the slopes can be changed and the green rotates around so short game shots can be made different. That’s an amazing feature. But the ball rolls like it’s on carpet, not blades of grass that lead to unpredictable results. It’s like putting on a pool table. On a real course outdoors, that would be a compliment. Indoors, it seems phony. Just like the chip shots and pitch shots from the slightly longer carpet.
👍🏻 The Hammer. One team controls a towel known as The Hammer. This is an old betting game put to good use. A team can drop The Hammer whenever, and if the other team accepts, the hole is played for two points instead of one. It’s a press bet, in other words. The other team doesn’t have to accept, however, and if The Hammer is accepted, the opposing team then gets control of it to use as it pleases. In two weeks, these guys haven’t figured out when to use it and when to not accept it. Woods thought he’d create some instant drama — using any remaining intimidation factor he might have (none) — by throwing The Hammer on the first tee before he hit. The hole was halved. Later, Tiger’s Jupiter team was in a bunker in three, LA was in a bunker in two and The Hammer was dropped. Jupiter predictably lost two points. Who was coaching this team … (fill in the name of your least favorite football coach)?
👍🏻 Guest hosts. Serena Williams, a part owner of LA Golf Club, joined host Matt Barrie in Week 2. She is delightful, full of personality, beautiful and very nice. But she doesn’t know much about golf. So, she was out of her element. Her personality was winning and she did the best she could but TGL needs more entertainment value than this. Is Nikki Glaser doing anything?
👎🏻 All the pre-event buildup was how the pace of play was going to be so fast. And it kind of is. Yet Week 2’s match went 19 minutes beyond the two-hour window and bumped the Duke-Miami basketball game to ESPN News. It was already an unwatchable blowout — Woods’ Jupiter squad was getting crushed so bad that even Max Homa probably would rather have watched the Duke game than play the last hole down by a kajillion. Late in the match, the cameras showed Williams texting on her phone and not watching the action. Can’t blame her.
👎🏻 The players are mic’d, which has almost zero entertainment factor. Have you people not watched every other Silly Season event or Skins Game in which golfers are mic’d? If Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson or Fred Funk isn’t one of the golfers, only 4 percent of the byplay is going to be even mildly interesting. They’re golfers, they’re focused on what they’re doing. Their idea of snappy patter is talking about the shot they just hit and how they got a bad bounce and “Hey, what do you think of me?” Not even Kisner’s self-deprecating humor rose to the occasion. Although Max Homa, a teammate on the horrific Jupiter squad, got off a good one late in the disaster: “My wife is going to be so embarrassed.”
👎🏻 Honestly, if TGL is so fast-paced, why does it seem like the show dragged both weeks? Because they were blowouts or because, as viewers, we don’t really have a dog in this fight? Do I care whether New York beats … well, there’s this — how many of the six teams can you name and how many of the league’s 18 players? If they weren’t mentioned in this article, probably not many. But it’s a new show. Given time, interest or rivalries may develop. And the format may get tweaked.
👍🏻 TGL is probably too big to fail. Millions have been invested. It has nowhere to go but up. If you’re watching network TV, what else is there on a Tuesday night? Oh, wait. Network TV is circling the drain and people are streaming. Dang, it’s a brave new entertainment world out there. In fact, that is precisely why TGL is here.
Give it time. You never know. (Unless Kisner is hitting. Then you know.)
MORE FROM GARY VAN SICKLE
> 2024: A banner year for golf books
> Hughes Norton still has plenty to say
> It’s about time … seriously
You were right about everything except your last comment - if Kisner is hitting, you have NO IDEA where it is going, and neither does he!!
The TGL game seems so awkward and golfers stiff, coerced! It would be a much improved format with new Hybrid MD golf ball designed for natural/synthetic turf play. Maybe better as average golfer competition call it the ”America’s Got Golf”.show!
We must remember we’re headed for artificial contained golf facilities with enhanced & controlled playing environments. T