GOLF.AI • Today

War Zone Golf: Architect's TGL Escape

Golf course architect Agustín Pizá found himself in a terrifying and surreal situation, trapped inside his Puerto Vallarta apartment as cartel violence erupted in the city. Following a military operation that killed a major drug lord, retaliatory chaos ensued, placing the city on lockdown.

From his apartment window, Pizá witnessed a scene he described as looking "like a war zone." Just 600 feet away, columns of black smoke billowed into the sky as the conflict raged. With flights cancelled and movement restricted, Pizá found an unlikely escape from the brutal reality unfolding outside: he tuned in to watch TGL, the tech-focused golf league.

The juxtaposition was incredible. As real-world violence consumed the streets below, Pizá, an innovative designer known for unconventional courses like the "Butterfly Effect," watched the fantastical, virtual holes he himself had designed for the league. "If it wasn't for TGL, I'm not sure what I'd be doing," he later reflected on his unique distraction during the lockdown.

Despite the harrowing experience, Pizá offered a pragmatic perspective on safety in Mexico for tourists, stating that the city remains a safe destination for those not involved in criminal activity. In a poignant, direct assessment, he advised, "Are you going to be buying guns or drugs? If not, you'll be fine." His story is a powerful narrative that shows how the global reach of golf can intersect with geopolitics and human drama in the most unexpected ways.