Tiger Woods isn’t playing next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been working hard since we last saw him competing at the Genesis.
While the Honda Classic has been under way this week near Woods’ home in Jupiter, the 15-time major champion has been putting the finishing touches on a new Popstroke course, the first putting course for his TGR Design business. It’s a relatively new business venture for Woods, who announced last October the two companies would be collaborating.
For those who aren’t familiar with Popstroke, it’s a golf entertainment venture that combines a putting course with food and cocktails. The original location is in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, and the second will be built in Fort Myers. It’s the first one Woods’ company is involved in designing and is expected to open in September.
Woods’ longtime friend, Bryon Bell of TGR Design, has headed up designing the course. “This is our first venture into this type of golf course,” he recently told the Naples Daily News. “Tiger started this business to help grow the game and bring people together, and I think this is a perfect fit for us.
“We’re treating it very much like we do our big golf courses, trying to create some strategy, and also a look with bunkers and fairway and rough.”
In announcing the Popstroke deal last falls, Woods said, “Some of my happiest memories are spending time with my pops (Earl) on the golf course having putting contests,” Woods said. “I’m looking forward to others enjoying time with their kids at PopStroke. This is a new way for individuals to experience the game of golf. It’s about bringing people together.”
