OPINION – TGL: Is It Competition or Entertainment?

We’re two weeks into TGL. Tiger Woods has made his inaugural appearance in the virtual golf league, with Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy in the following weeks to come.

While Tiger’s appearance this week helped TGL draw just over 1 million viewers, here’s the single question I believe needs to be answered for the alternative league to improve and grow.

Is TGL a Competition or Entertainment?

That’s right, I believe that the single question that will have the largest influence on the success (or failure) of the TGL is whether it’s going to be a “serious” golf competition or, instead, an entertainment product. And if you ask me, I am confident that the latter course of action is what presents the greatest chance at success.

No matter how good the sim technology gets, an unfortunate truth is that indoor, launch monitor golf will never be able to replicate the outdoor, competitive environment. The natural elements (wind, rain, etc.) and inherent variables will always separate the two. And because of that, I think TGL needs to go all-in on accepting that it’s an entertainment product.

That does not, however, mean it needs to be converted into a “hit and giggle” event. There absolutely should be a competitive element to make this attract viewers. But I do think that TGL needs to start “gamifying” every aspect of play. Some flavors are already there (the Hammer), but we need more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Make the holes more extreme so they encourage players to hit shots that they’d never contemplate on the course. We all want more Tiger stingers, Rory mega-bombs and Morikawa landing approach shots on picnic blankets. Create “shortcuts” or alternative ways to play the hole that reward players who truly can exercise (and showcase) control over their ball flight. In sum, show me that the TGL pros can pull off shots that would put trick-shot guys like Good Good and Bryan Bros to shame.

Additionally, the fact that you’re playing virtual golf means that there are no constraints on what holes look like and the elements they feature. There’s no budget limitations or bureaucratic red tape that prevents you from building some of the most extreme golf holes. “The Spear”, “Temple” and “Quick Draw” should be just the beginning; create holes with tree canopies that force a tee shot down an alleyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Now this entertainment-focused approach may turn away some of the more serious golfers, but is that really a loss? Again, if this is an entertainment product, we need personalities. That’s what makes the hot mic aspect so appealing; show me what’s going through these guys’ heads when faced with a risk-averse chip out or the hero shot that requires a 50-yard slice into a green.

As of this moment, I have one more idea (that might need to be tabled until Season 2): make the TGL courses available to the masses. Like the NEXT Golf Tour, let anyone who has access to a Full Swing simulator film themselves with their “team” to compete for an opportunity to do a “Pros vs. Joes” episode.

With all that said, there are 13 more weeks of regular TGL play before the playoffs. Hopefully, TGL can continue to make improvements, in addition to the matches being a little more competitive than the two blowouts we’ve seen thus far.

Cover Image via USA Today