Lions Ownership Group Leading Motor City Golf Club in Tech-Enhanced League

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s tech-infused golf league is heading to the Motor City. TGL Golf announced Tuesday that Detroit will become the seventh franchise in the innovative indoor golf competition, with Motor City Golf Club set to begin play in the 2027 season.

The franchise will be co-owned by Steve Hamp and Sheila Ford Hamp, who serves as principal owner and chairwoman of the Detroit Lions. The ownership group also includes Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp, Kevin Kelleher, Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton, and attorney Jordan Rose.

“This is a great moment for Detroit sports and a proud moment for me personally,” said Michael Hamp, co-owner of Middle West Partners and the team’s governor. “My grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr., was an avid golfer, and I believe bringing a new format of the game he loved would make him really proud.”

Building on Detroit’s Sports Legacy

The announcement highlights Detroit’s passionate sports culture and the ownership group’s deep ties to the community. The Ford family’s involvement brings NFL ownership experience to the venture, building on their successful stewardship of the Lions franchise.

“Detroit’s fans are the most loyal in sports, and we’re excited to represent our city in TGL and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud to support,” Hamp added.

TGL CEO Mike McCarley praised the choice of Detroit as an expansion market: “Detroit is a fantastic sports town. The city has a championship legacy and Detroit fans are passionate about their teams and they’ll let you know it. The ownership group will utilize their deep ties to the community and extensive expertise as NFL team owners to forge a TGL team that embodies Detroit’s culture.”

League Growth and Future Plans

TGL’s inaugural season featured six teams representing Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco/Oakland, and Jupiter, Florida. Each team consists of four golfers with three competing in each match at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

While the second season is scheduled to begin in January 2026, it remains unclear whether TGL will add additional franchises before Detroit joins in 2027. Reports from April indicated that a Dallas-based group was exploring a franchise bid with a price tag of $77 million.

The league, fronted by Woods and McIlroy, is also exploring opportunities to incorporate LPGA stars into future competition formats.

The Detroit expansion represents another significant step in TGL’s growth as it looks to bring innovative golf entertainment to passionate sports markets across the country.