Tech-Infused TGL Golf League Features Panasonic Projectors

TGL (Tomorrow's Golf League) presented by SoFi, the new prime-time, tech-infused team golf league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports premiered on ESPN last week after more than eight years in the making. Housed in the SoFi Center, a purpose-built stadium in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, the competition features a blend of simulated and physical golf environments.

TGL matches are designed around a blend golf simulation, real grass and sand for tee boxes and fairways, and a synthetic putting green surface (the "Green Zone") that adapts and morphs to the contours of each of the 30 original holes within the custom-designed virtual courses on top of a 41-yard-wide turntable and nearly 600 actuators.

In the "Screen Zone," golfers tee off into a 64 x 53-foot screen powered by simulator manufacturer Full Swing graphics and nine Panasonic Connect PT-RQ50K commercial projectors that are suspended from a ceiling truss. Each projector handles a different part of the virtual golf course video, with the edges of each projector's image blended to form one continuous picture that is roughly 24 times the size of a standard simulator screen.

Although Panasonic Connect dubs the PT-RQ50KU "the world's smallest 50,000 [ANSI] lumen laser projector with native 4K [4096x 2160] resolution," each 287-pound projector (to quote Parks & Recreation) is "anything but lil."

Each 4-chip PT-RQ50KU DLP projector features dual solid-state lasers and backup video inputs. Hermetically sealed optics and a filterless design contribute to what Panasonic says will be 20,000 hours of maintenance-free projection, even in severe conditions. Panasonic Connect lists the PT-RQ50KU's contrast ratio at 20,000:1 (full on/full off, Dynamic contrast mode: 3) and that it can project onto screen sizes from 100 to 1,000 inches and at a 17:9 aspect ratio (depending on the lens).

On each side of TGL's massive Screen Zone are two nearly 1,250-square-foot LED video boards. These Samsung VMR Series (1,000 nit brightness, 2.9mm) indoor displays showcase match scoring, shot statistics, and hole overviews.

Additional video technology within the SoFi Center includes 900 linear feet of LED ribbon boards at the field level and upper levels surrounding the field of play. These Samsung ISC Series Indoor Display ribbon boards (2,000 nit brightness, 3.9mm) add to the unique visual experience of TGL's competition and provide sponsorship exposure.

Samsung VMR Series indoor displays (1,000 nit brightness, 2.6mm) are featured at each team bench, bringing these areas to life with team branding.

To capture the players' full shots during a TGL match, Full Swing employs 18 Full Swing Kit radar-based launch monitors positioned around the nearly 250,000-square-foot venue.

Like Formula 1 in auto racing, TGL is pushing the boundaries of golf tech. Many developments used in the super-sized Full Swing simulators for TGL may filter down to consumer products — making future home golf simulator even more advanced. Many of the same Full Swing technologies used in TGL are available in more compact, consumer-friendly simulators.

For more detailed specifications and connections, check out our Panasonic PT-RQ50KU projector page.

To buy this projector, use Where to Buy online, or get a price quote by email direct from Projector Central authorized dealers using our E-Z Quote tool.

The Panasonic PT-RQ50KU is also sold outside of the United States of America as the Panasonic PT-RQ50KE, Panasonic PT-RQ50KD and the Panasonic PT-RQ50KE. Some specifications may be slightly different. Check with Panasonic for complete specifications.