First off the obvious – why on a travel blog are you blogging about this? A good question. First up, I am an avid golfer and have for many, many years blogged about using the now-defunct SPG points to go to a number of major events in style. Plus, I have blogged about travel to amazing golf locations and sometimes using points to pay for part or all of the trip.

Granted this post is not really about travel to a golf location and if you are not interested in golf at all then this is the point you should stop reading and come back tomorrow to our regularly scheduled programing.

The next warning is if you have not seen any of the first 3 weeks of the TGL you will be very confused about this post but I will give you a quick overview and maybe you can, this coming Monday evening on ESPN, take a look at this new “golf” -ish event. I say “ish” because while the owners all call this golf it really is not – even with Tiger playing again.

The basics is an indoor arena with a massive golf simulator plus on the other side of the arena a faux green and bunkers that rotates after each hole. The players hit, before getting close to the faux green, off real grass as well as real rough and real sand. Now on to all the things that need to be fixed and how to fix them – at least in my option. 😉

Change the intro. Golfers coming in one at a time takes forever week after week after week. Just have all 3 players per team come in as a team and get play going. There is simply no need for so much time to give each player glory like a Roman gladiator about to fight.

The golf holes. Next up the biggest problem that could so easily be fixed. This whole thing is a golf simulator and they have made lots of fantasy golf holes. This is beyond dumb. Rather than silly strange CGI holes – again since this is a sim – pick a bunch of the best holes on the planet to play like the par 3 12th from Augusta at Amen corner and the 17th at the TPC Sawgrass. Same goes for the rest of the holes pick stunners from Pebble Beach and St. Andrews and on and on. Pick holes we all know and love and the players know and know well.

Third is the silly green. While amazing that it spins and can have the slopes changed – the mega slopes are just put-put wrong. When you have pros chipping on the green you have a problem. Just make it more like a normal golf green slopes. While we are at it, move the holes more often like every single hole.

Fourth is “the hammer”. This lets teams challenge for 2x points on a hole. They are trying to pretend this is “real” golf and this hammer is as far from real golf as you can get. Dump the hammer. While we are talking fake stuff why 15 holes. You have 9 holes on the front nine why not 9 on the back as well. Real golf has 18 right?

Lastly stop trying to be LIV golf. They are playing music and having crowds get involved but it is to the point of being silly. Find a better balance. Also with the shot clock – fix it. Have it tick down to 10 seconds then go quiet – add to the drama and only yell if they get to zero.

This league had potential but they seem to have launched it the worst way possible. It is fixable (see above) but I don’t think they will follow my advice to make it fun and enjoyable to watch. The event, even with Tiger pushing it, will last this year and be gone. That is kinda sad because it did have potential. Agree? – René