Palm Beach Gardens, FL. - February 10, 2026 - Jack Nicklaus™ Apparel Ambassador Neal Shipley made history Monday night by recording the first hole-in-one inTGL competition - a milestone moment that unfolded on a Nicklaus Design-crafted hole.
Shipley’s ace came on the 5th hole of the match, named 'Set in Stone', the shortest par 3 ever played in TGL at 110 yards. Hitting his 54-degree wedge, Shipley found the cup on one of five Nicklaus Design holes featured in last night's match, making the league’s first hole-in-one especially meaningful for the design team behind it.
“I hit that shot in practice a bunch and I think I missed the green five or six times in a row, so I think the boys were a little nervous about it - and I was, too,” said Shipley. “We aimed a little right of the pin, and I tugged it a hair but right on top of it, and it went in. It was pandemonium after that. It just went crazy.”
No one was more excited than Nicklaus Design Senior Designer and member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), Chad Goetz, who has designed a total of 11 holes that are on the roster for TGL Season 2, including 'Set in Stone', and was seated in the audience when the shot dropped.
“You honestly couldn’t script it any better,” said Goetz. “To see the first hole-in-one in TGL happen on a hole you designed - and to be there in person for it - was incredibly special. The place absolutely erupted.”
Shipley joined as a Global Ambassador in 2024, representing the Golden Bear™ and Jack Nicklaus™ Blue and Jack Nicklaus™ Black apparel brands in his professional golf events, and aligning with its commitment to excellence in design, performance, and the future of the game.
The milestone moment comes as Nicklaus Companies launched its Spring 2026 Jack Nicklaus™ Black Label apparel collection - with Shipley wearing the Aqua Draft Solid Polo and the Microchip Active Flex pant during the historic hole-in-one. These items and the new Spring 2026 collection are available now at: shop.nicklaus.com.
Shipley’s historic moment helped propel The Bay Golf Club to an 11–5 victory over Los Angeles Golf Club at SoFi Center, marking the team’s first win of the season and reversing a four-match losing streak. The match also marked TGL debuts for Shipley and Luke Clanton, alongside TGL regular Min Woo Lee.
Notes to Editors
- Neal Shipley signed as a Golden Bear™ and Jack Nicklaus™ apparel brands Ambassador in 2024.
- 'Set in Stone' is one of eleven TGL holes on the roster for Season 2, designed by Nicklaus Design Senior Designer Chad Goetz. Five of these holes featured in last night's match.
- TGL is a technology-forward golf league blending live competition with virtual course design. www.tglgolf.com
- The Golden Bear™ and Jack Nicklaus™ apparel brands that Shipley wears on the PGA TOUR and last night at TGL are available direct to consumers at select retailers and at golf courses around the world, including those created by Nicklaus Design™.
- The Jack Nicklaus™ Black Label collection features on Nicklaus Companies' e-commerce site shop.nicklaus.com, and the Perry Ellis’s Jack Nicklaus™ Blue Label collection is available at golfapparelshop.com
About Nicklaus Companies
For 50 years, the mission of Nicklaus Companies has been to enhance the golf experience and to deliver quality branded products and services on a global basis.
The Nicklaus Companies businesses include golf-course design, advisory services, development of golf and real estate communities, and the marketing and licensing of lifestyle products worldwide under the iconic Jack Nicklaus™ and Golden Bear™brands.
Nicklaus Design, recognized as the world leader in golf course design, has created over 440 courses worldwide, open for play in 47 countries and 40 U.S states.
Nicklaus Companies focuses on leveraging its winning heritage to achieve excellence, foster growth and champion social good. www.nicklaus.com
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