No. 17 on the PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
Like the Masters, The Players Championship is played on the same course each year. Golf fans pretty much know every hole, every pitfall on both courses — Augusta National Golf Club, and THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
One of the biggest differences between the venues, however, is pretty much anyone can play the Stadium Course. The Masters’ Augusta National? Good luck getting on that one.
And yes, it can be a bit expensive to play the famed course at TPC Sawgrass, but it’s arguably a bucket-list experience. And there are times when the price goes down a bit. And, of course, you can book golf packages that include accommodations at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa. But more on that in a bit.
First, here’s what makes the TPC Sawgrass so special:
The Players wasn’t always at TPC Sawgrass
Most golf enthusiasts aren’t old enough to remember this, but the very first Players Championship — known then as the Tournament Players Championship — was first played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Ga., in 1974 (won by Jack Nicklaus). The next year it was at Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas, followed by Inverrary C.C. in South Florida. Then, for the next five years it was staged at Sawgrass Country Club in St. Augustine, Fla.
It was during those years at Sawgrass CC that then PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman proposed the idea for a permanent host for the PGA Tour’s premier event, often referred to as the fifth major. The rest has been history. They employed Pete Dye to design and build arguably his most famous course on what was then basically swampland.
The first Players at the new TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course was conducted in 1982 with Jerry Pate, playing an orange ball on his way to victory. But the big splash that year would come after his win when Pate pushed Beman and Dye into the lake at 18, then dived in himself, cementing this championship among golf’s greatest events on one of its most memorable venues.
Credit Alice for the 17th
Of course the most famous hole on the Stadium Course is the shortish par-3 17th, a Dye-abolical hole indeed that plays to an island green, marked with a yellow line, meaning any shot that doesn’t hold the green results in a re-tee or a trip to the not-so-easy drop zone. There have been so many great moments on this hole, like when Tiger Woods, on his way to victory in 2001 (he won again in 2013), holed his “better than most” long putt from the fringe on the 17th. Or how about Fred Couples, who not only aced the 17th on his way to winning in 1997, but then came back in 1999 for one of the most memorable pars ever on that hole. That latter came after his tee shot found the water. He re-teed, then slam dunked a 9-iron in the hole. He wouldn’t win The Players in either one of those years, but is a two-time champion (1984, 1996).
As for the concept of this revolutionary hole, you can credit Pete Dye’s partner, Alice Dye, with this one. She suggested to Pete that they create an island green in the big hole left by removing dirt to create the spectator mounds throughout the course. Since then, the concept of an island green par-3 hole has been commonplace in many designs. It’s arguably the most famous par-3 in the world, rivaling Augusta’s 12th and Pebble Beach’s 7th for that title. And when you and your buddies play it, you’ll never forget how you did. Whether the outcome is good or bad, you’ll have a story for the rest of your life, especially the first time you play it.
The difficulty of TPC Sawgrass
It’s no secret how difficult the THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is. After all, it’s designed to test the very best players in the world each March. The good news is that visitors don’t have to play it from the tips at nearly 7,300 yards, as there are six sets of tees, starting at around 5,000 yards. If you shoot a good score from any of those sets, it’s an accomplishment.
While the 17th is the most famous hole, the No. 1 handicap hole is actually the seventh, a 451-yard par-4, dogleg right that has an incredibly long bunker as well as water that runs down most of the left side. Water, of course, is everywhere on this course, including the famous finishing stretch.
Before you get to the 17th, the 16th for many good players is one of the greatest risk-reward par-5s in golf. Hit a long accurate tee shot, and you have a chance to reach this green in two, but the lake that also surrounds the 17th green looms down the entire right side. Because of a large bunker with a tree in the middle of it protecting the green front and left, even the layup on this hole needs to be precise. So there’s opportunity for a birdie or better, but it’s not that difficult to make bogey or worse either.
Finally, there’s the 18th, a dogleg left with water down the entire left side. At 445 yards from the tips, most players will try to hit their tee shots as far as possible, but that might mean bringing the water into play since anything too far right finds tree trouble. It’s a great finishing hole.
The clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass
The clubhouse is incredible
The overall experience here, though, is so much more than the golf course. The practice facilities, even the ones that only visitors can use, are as good as it gets. Full grass driving range, short-game areas with a variety of greens, and a great golf academy can all be part of your day there.
Then there’s the 77,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style clubhouse, which opened in 2007 to replace the original. It’s part museum, restaurant, bar, locker room facilities and an incredible patio that overlooks everything. Inside there are countless artifacts, artwork, and memorabilia. And you can take a guided tour though all of it, which is highly recommended.
Also recommended is Nineteen, the clubhouse restaurant and bar. Terrific cuisine and atmosphere, this is the perfect place to hang out after your round or anytime, for that matter. The outdoor verandah provides a bird’s eye view of the 18th, which is great entertainment as you sip on a glass or wine or a cocktail.
And because this is owned and operated by the PGA Tour, no matter when you come here, you’re likely to see Tour players (all of whom are members) on the course or at the practice facilities. And you will be treated like a tour player yourself. Take a caddie for the full experience, and relish the day.
It’s also worth noting that there is another course at the TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley Course. Designed by Dye, Bobby Weed and Jerry Pate, it’s no slouch either, having been renovated in recent years. It’s played host to several professional events as well, and is a great complement to The Players Stadium Course. So for anyone booking a package, we highly recommend playing Dye’s Valley Course.
Dye’s Valley Course
Staying at Sawgrass
To book a round on The Players Stadium Course, you don’t have to stay at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, but your ability to reserve a tee time is somewhat limited if you don’t. Golfers who don’t stay can only book a tee time 14 days in advance, while stay-and-play guests at the Sawgrass Marriott can reserve their spots a year in advance.
That’s a big deal if you’re planning a trip. Plus the resort is top notch, having come out of renovations a few years ago better than ever.
With nearly 500 guest rooms, eight restaurants, lagoons and a Cabana Beach Club, you’ll never be bored during your time away from the golf courses. The accommodations also include luxury suites as well as two-bedroom villas, perfect for families or foursomes.
Dining options include Vernon’s First Coast Kitchen & Bar, a farm-to-table restaurant offering sweeping resort views, Sunday brunch, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and craft cocktails. Alice and Pete’s is the perfect spot to watch sports and enjoy appetizers, entrees, desserts and libations. And Sharkey’s Cafe, located at the Cabana Beach Club, is where you can take in the ocean views while enjoying burgers, sandwiches, and drinks.