Motor City Golf Club will field a team of women to play in the WTGL indoor professional simulator golf league. // Image courtesy of TGL
Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), the indoor professional simulator golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is adding a women’s version, the WTGL, and Detroit will be represented by the Motor City Golf Club.
Led by principals Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp, and Kevin Kelleher, the Motor City Golf Club will be the WTGL’s fourth team and will bring the Detroit-based team to the new women’s team golf platform launching in partnership with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Adding to the ownership group are Ronin Capital Partners, led by Jay Farner, former CEO of Rocket Cos.; Rob Walton, owner of the Denver Broncos, and Jordan Rose Walton; Kit Hawkins and Vansa Chatikavanij of Present Ventures; technology and sports entrepreneur Kal Somani; RHC Group, led by Richard Hsiao and Lin Wang, an active sports investment firm and early supporter of TGL; and Eberg Capital, a sports investment platform led by Roger Ehrenberg.
This is the same ownership group behind Motor City Golf Club that will be the seventh team in the men’s TGL presented by SoFi, which will begin play in the upcoming season.
“Detroit is one of America’s greatest sports cities, and our fans have welcomed and shown early excitement for Motor City Golf Club as we build toward our TGL debut,” says Michael Hamp. “Our goal with Motor City Golf Club from the start was to be a club and team for everyone who loves our city and loves golf.”
Lin Wang of RHC Group says, “Women’s golf is growing rapidly, the talent on the LPGA Tour is exceptional, and WTGL will create a powerful new stage for the game’s best players. We believe WTGL presents a tremendous opportunity in the U.S., Asia and Europe, and Motor City Golf Club wanted to be part of it from the very beginning.”
Preparing for its inaugural season this fall, WTGL will feature match play at the purpose-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
“The addition of Motor City Golf Club reflects the strength of WTGL’s ownership model and the growing interest around women’s team golf,” says Mike McCarley, founder and CEO of TMRW Sports, which operates TGL. “This group brings strong market ties, deep experience investing in and growing professional sports franchises, and a shared belief in the opportunity ahead for women’s golf.”
Motor City Golf Club joins WTGL as the league’s fourth team, joining Atlanta Drive Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, and New York Golf Club, all of whom also are part of the ownership groups for TGL presented by SoFi.
WTGL’s current roster includes 14 committed players, including five of the current top 11 players in the world and represents a combined 95 LPGA Tour victories. The committed players feature a talented, diverse mix of major champions, Olympians, Solheim Cup players and top LPGA stars, including Celine Boutier, Brooke Henderson, Charley Hull, Danielle Kang, Megan Khang, Lydia Ko, Andrea Lee, Minjee Lee, Jeeno Thitikul, Lexi Thompson, Albane Valenzuela, Michelle Wie West, Lottie Woad, and Rose Zhang. More players are expected to be added as the inaugural WTGL season approaches.
Additional details on WTGL, including team ownership groups, rosters, media partners, and sponsors will be announced in the coming months. For more information about WTGL and Motor City Golf Club, visit WTGLGolf.com.