Team Home Courses: LIV Golf’s stunning plan for the future

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has been vocal about his plans for the future of the league. Since its launch in 2021, LIV Golf has made significant strides, attracting some of the biggest names in the sport and challenging the established PGA Tour.

With 13 teams and a 14-event schedule, the league has been pushing the boundaries of traditional golf tournaments. The unique format and the involvement of high-profile golfers have added a fresh dimension to the sport.

But settling for what has been done is not in the plans of the LIV Golf Board, led by Norman. The league has other ambitious goals, such as those revealed after the controversial booking of the Bolingbrook course for the Team Championship, a story you can read here.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Greg Norman revealed that LIV Golf plans to draw parallels with major sports leagues such as the NFL and the Indian Premier League. Norman expressed his vision for the league to own its own network of golf courses. This model, similar to the Tournament Players Club (TPC) model used by the PGA Tour, could revolutionize the way golf tournaments are conducted.

“Man United owns their stadium.” Norman said. “Indian Premier League, they own their stadiums. NFL, they own their stadiums. Think about LIV owning all its own golf courses, each team having a home venue and hosting. And now you can build out around that.”

“It’s not just a golf course. You bring in education, hospitality, real estate, merchandise, management, and all these other different opportunities that the game of golf has to deliver to a community or to a region. We are going to be doing that.”

The idea of each team owning a golf course and hosting events could provide a unique identity to each team and create a sense of home advantage, much like in other sports. For instance, Rippers GC, an all-Australian squad led by Cameron Smith, could potentially buy The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, which has hosted LIV Golf’s two most successful events over the past two years.

Norman’s vision extends beyond just owning golf courses. He sees the potential for golf to contribute to the community and the region in various ways, including education, hospitality, real estate, and merchandise. This approach could redefine the role of golf in society and create a sustainable model for the sport.

Other plans for LIV Golf: Conquering the rest of the world

As LIV Golf continues to grow, Norman hopes to bring events to even more countries. He mentioned that the Philippines are very keen to host LIV Golf events, indicating the global appeal of the league.

“We are not just sports; we’re sports, entertainment, and culture,” Norman said “So no matter where we go in the world, we adjust what we need to deliver from an entertainment standpoint.”

Plans in this area are much more ambitious. According to recent reports, Norman has visited South Africa with the aim of negotiating an event in the near future, given the fan base that the all-South African team Stinger GC has there.

There has also been talk of the tremendous possibilities that Chile has as a potential venue for a Tour event, on the shoulders of Joaquin Niemann’s relevant performance during the current season.

Overall, Greg Norman‘s vision for the future of LIV Golf is one of expansion, diversification, and a focus on owning and controlling the league’s own assets, much like other major sports leagues around the world. As the breakaway circuit continues to make waves in the golf world, it will be fascinating to see how this plan unfolds and what impact it may have on the broader landscape of the sport.