Celebrities attending Tiger Woods TGL golf matches at SoFi Center
While most fans attending TGL golf matches since January are ordinary people, there has been no lack of big-named celebrities at SoFi Center.
It’s been 42 years, but the Palm Beach State men’s golf team is back.
The men’s golf program disbanded in 1983 when eventual PGA Tour player, Jesper Parnevik of Sweden, starred on its last squad.
If it wasn’t for the advent of the TGL indoor professional league on Palm Beach State’s second campus in Palm Beach Gardens, Panthers golf likely would still lie dormant.
When TGL, co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, arrived to play its matches at Sofi Center, it made sense to bring back the schools’ men’s and women’s golf teams.
Because of Title IX stipulations, the women had to restart first. Last season, the Panthers women finished sixth in the junior-college nationals held in Gateway, Kansas at Buffalo Dunes Golf Club.
“That was really the spark,’’ said new men’s coach Ron Philo.
TGL has contributed to the programs in various ways. The women’s coach is Philo’s wife, Susan.
“Golf would’ve been conspicuously absent if we were hosting a golf league on campus but didn’t offer golf as part of our athletics,’’ Ron Philo said. “‘it was a collaborative idea. We should have golf if we have an international golf league.‘’
That is especially true in the golf mecca that is Palm Beach County. A TGL spokesman wasn’t specific on TGL’s involvement, saying “TGL was not directly affiliated with the launching of the golf teams. However, we have utilized some of their players/coaches to help us with testing elements this offseason, and we are looking forward to supporting their efforts wherever possible going forward.’’
The men and women’s rosters have eight players apiece. The home course is North Palm CC but the teams have bounced around and are trying to find a stable practice course.
Since training camp opened in mid-August, Palm Beach State has practiced at Ballenisles CC, the Loxahatchee Club, The Club at Ibis, North Palm Beach CC and Atlantis, which is owned by alumnus, Julie Kintz.
The men’s season opener – first competition in 43 years – was hosted by Keiser University at PGA National on Sept. 6, at the Seahawks Shootout.
“We have a lot of work to do relative to facility, access and availability,’’ Philo said. “That’s the No. 1 thing. That’s because of the desire to live and play here. Our biggest challenge is getting the facilities to practice and train at.
“It’s tough – tough for the players, tough for the coaches, tough for everybody to have to be at a different place every day, dealing with the traffic, etcetera.’’
There is immense potential, however, since the silver lining is TGL’s indoor facility has high-tech practice devices such as launch monitors and simulators. The school is in talks with TGL to have the golf teams use the state-of-the-art training equipment. None of the players have met Tiger yet, but that probably is forthcoming.
“We’re hoping to evolve our relationship to use the training facilities and all the technology they have inside the TGL,’’ Philo said.
Obviously, those facilities would become a boon for recruiting.
“That would be really nice,’’ said freshman Talan Wilkes, who hails from Jupiter. “Air conditioning. C’mon. Can’t be bad.’’
Wilkes is the only local player on this year’s squad consisting of all freshmen. The men’s roster has a player from as far away as Malaysia – Nathan Wong.
Florida well represented on the men’s golf team
There’s also four other Floridians: Adin McMaster (Naples), Carl Tegel (North Miami), Carter Brooks (Coral Springs) and Gavin Duffy (Fort Lauderdale).
The lone women’s player from Palm Beach County is Angelina Guertin (Boynton Beach). The women’s team has a golfer from England (Grace Canning), Norway (Ida Hansen) and Germany (Lisa Hashem).
Wilkes, 18, is a 2025 Jupiter High graduate who played four seasons and was a member of its 2023 state title team.
“I was going to take a gap year,’’ Wilkes said. “I didn’t know Palm Beach State had a golf team. My dad was in contact with the head pro at North Palm Beach (Alan Bowman) and he knew the coach. He looked at my scores and offered a full ride so I didn’t take a gap year. I thought it’s a good thing for me because I live 20 minutes from the school, so I’m a local boy.’’
Wilkes said he didn’t hit his golf stride until junior year of high school, and it was too late to be on the radar of prestigious four-year golf programs. Wilkes plans on one season at Palm Beach State, with a transfer to Florida State a possibility. (Philo played at FSU).
“I didn’t get good until year and a half ago,’’ Wilkes said. “I didn’t put myself out there like I should’ve. I got more mature and put a lot more work in than I did.’’
Wilkes rooms with the Malaysian junior star, the 17-year-old Wong. There’s not any Malaysian stars on tour, though Katy Tan on the LPGA and Gavin Green (PGA) are competitive. An agent on the junior circuit hooked Wong up with Palm Beach State.
Wilkes’ specialty is putting while Wong rides a monstrous drive. “He really bombs it,’’ Wilkes said.
Soccer is Malaysia’s No. 1 sport with badminton next. But golf has a strong following, Wong said.
Wong is a long way from home but not missing it. “There is a lot of golf,’’ Wong said of his homeland. “But so far I love it here. The courses are beautiful. Every corner I turn there is a golf course, great courses, great greens. And the weather is similar to back home.’’
There is year-round warmth in Malaysia but the courses are covered in more cow grass than Bermuda grass. “I feel the courses are way nicer and kept in better condition than back home,’’ Wong said.
The only thing Wong misses is the spicy, rice-infused food of his native land. “I like American food but it’s starting to get boring,’’ he said.
The excitement will come with the men’s team’s potential success. The NJCAA championships are in mid-May at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas.
“Our expectations are to contend for the national championship.’’ Philo said.
Wong hopes to play on the PGA tour but first a junior-college national title would be nice.
“Even though we’re all freshman, I’ve seen the team,’’ Wong said. “There is no doubt we can place top two. Everyone has great potential.”
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