Agustin “Augie” Pizá, the founder and principal golf course architect at Pizá Golf, was selected to design a series of golf holes for the first season of the fast-paced, prime time, team golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy
SAN DIEGO, CA. – Pizá Golf, acclaimed worldwide for its leading-edge architecture and golf course designs, is excited to share that its founder, Agustin “Augie” Pizá, was selected to design a series of golf holes for TGL presented by SoFi. The innovative golf league, created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley of TMRW Sports, combines cutting-edge technology with teams of top PGA TOUR players for weekly two-hour prime time matches starting in January.
TGL presented by SoFi features six teams of top PGA TOUR players competing in a season-long, fast-paced competition that brings golf to prime time on Mondays and Tuesdays. Using a mix of technology throughout SoFi Center’s field of play, teams will face off in two-hour matches across 15 custom-designed holes in a hybrid of virtual and real-life action. Creating an electrifying “greenside” fan experience, SoFi Center wraps 1,500 fans around TGL’s field of play, which is about the size of a football field at nearly 100-yards long and 50-yards wide. TGL’s technology mix allows for every shot to be broadcast live; a shot clock – forcing teams to hit within 40-seconds; unprecedented audio access with all players mic’d; advanced shot data; a production plan featuring robotic and embedded cameras throughout the field of play; and a high-tech, in-venue lighting and video presentation.
Each match, the course will be comprised of 15 of TGL’s custom-designed holes by renowned golf course designers. The holes are inspired by authentic golf landscapes such as links, canyons, coastal, deserts, and tropical settings and created to uniquely challenge TGL’s teams of world-class golfers. As holes are announced, images, flyovers, and descriptions will be available on the TGL Media Hub.
Augie Pizá, acclaimed internationally and the recipient of numerous awards, has established a distinguished reputation for “Re-defining Golf Facilities” through his innovative design concepts such as Wellness Golf®, Multi-purpose Golf, and Butterfly Golf. His creative prowess has been acknowledged by Forbes Magazine, which has twice named him among the top one hundred inventive minds from Mexico.
“It’s exciting to be chosen to design a collection of holes for TGL. The opportunity to create thought-provoking and unique golf holes for this innovative league is truly an honor,” commented Pizá. “Starting with a blank canvas presented an exhilarating challenge, free from the constraints of surrounding landscapes or natural elements, which allowed pure creativity to drive the design process.”
TGL has recently released three of Pizá’s creative and innovative golf holes. They are as follows:
TEMPLE – Temple is a hole design inspired by ancient civilizations and based on simplicity, the art form of two triangles facing each other to create a unique risk vs. reward with its hourglass shape.
The choice off the tee is whether to carry the narrow intersection where the opposing triangles meet, or to lay up short and run the risk of a 240-yard or longer shot into the green.
From the tee box, the fairway reaches its narrowest point at 285 yards before it widens again. The entire hole is surrounded by penalty areas and wind will be a factor within the virtual setting, complicating the decision for teams.
“Temple is a par 4 playing over 500 yards that we found in the mountains of South America.”
“This is a very special design because it plays with simplicity. With just two forms – two triangles pinched in the center – it can give us so much excitement and strategy, and we have placed the green in a position to reward the most aggressive shots off the tee. We should be in for a treat with this one.”
THE PLANK – One of Augie Piza’s favorite holes. Teams will need to walk “The Plank” as they navigate this uphill hole with tricky diagonal bunkering. For this short 380-yard par 4, it could be tempting for teams to go for the driver, but 3 pot bunkers narrow the landing area adding risk to the aggressive play. If less than a driver is chosen off the tee, a well-placed tee shot still leaves a short approach and great chance at birdie.
THE SERPEANT – This par 5 snakes its way from tee to green, with penalty areas squeezing both sides the entire length of the hole. Getting home in two is in play but requires a gutsy blind shot into the green. With water protecting the front, the safer alternative is to play Serpent in three.
For more information on these Pizá Golf holes and more, please visit TGL Homepage | TGL. To download video and images of TGL holes, visit TGL’s media hub.
About TGL presented by SoFi
TGL presented by SoFi features six teams of top PGA TOUR players competing in a season-long, fast-paced competition that brings golf to prime time on Mondays and Tuesdays. TGL’s home is the custom-built SoFi Center, a tech-infused venue on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. TGL’s inaugural season begins Tuesday, Jan. 7 in prime time on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S. and with other prominent media partners around the globe. TGL’s six teams include Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club. To learn more about TGL, its teams, rosters, competitive format, and technology, visit TGL Explained.
About Pizá Golf Founder – Arch. Agustin Pizá, MSc:
Award-winning architect Agustin Pizá has earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from ITESM and a Master’s Degree in Golf Course Architecture from the Edinburgh University in Scotland. He is a proud member of both the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) and the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).
Pizá, recognized with many international accolades, has garnered a reputation for “Re-defining Golf Facilities” with his unique design concepts – Wellness Golf®, Multi-purpose Golf, and Butterfly Golf. He was recognized by Forbes Magazine twice as one of the top one hundred inventive minds from Mexico. Golf Inc. Magazine featured him in 2022 as one of the TOP nine innovators in the golf industry and recently, was included as one of the Top Five 2023 Visionaries of the Year. Sports Illustrated included Pizá in their top four golf course architects to watch. One of three privileged design firms to innovate with TGL Golf league. He is the Director of the First Tee in Mexico.
For 26 years, Pizá has worked on world class golf developments. His designs are known for delivering quality, aesthetic, and strategic golf courses. He and his design team have worked and have been involved in more than seventy projects on three continents.
Pizá Golf has design studios in San Diego, CA. and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
For more information on Pizá Golf, please visit the company website: www.pizagolf.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Marie Price
Read the Greens GOLF Media (714) 544-6515
readthegreens@aol.com or VanessaMarie@readthegreensgolfmedia.net
