TPC AT SAWGRASS
🇺🇸 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA
Designed by Pete Dye
Home to perhaps the most anxiety-inducing par 3 in professional golf, The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach is defined by its drama. Pete Dye’s polarizing design, emblematic of the modern era, sprawls across former swampland, utilizing strategically placed water hazards and undulating fairways to test even the most seasoned players. Errant drives are often punished, and the course subtly favors players who can shape the ball both ways, negotiating doglegs and forced carries with creativity and precision.
Dye, with significant input from his wife Alice, crafted a layout known as much for its spectacle as its strategy. While opinions on the course's fairness remain divided among professionals, its impact is undeniable. It has served as the permanent host for The Players Championship since 1982, offering an annual proving ground where legends are made and dreams are dashed, often with a splash at the infamous 17th.
Beyond the tournament spotlight, TPC Sawgrass offers a uniquely Floridian golfing experience. The club is recognized for its relaxed atmosphere, offering a welcome contrast to some of golf’s more buttoned-up establishments. Members and guests relish in the "Valley of Sin" after tackling the 18th, where cold beverages and boisterous recounting of the day's triumphs (or more likely, near-misses) are the norm. The club's unofficial dish, the hearty "Sawgrass Slammer" sandwich, is another beloved tradition.
Reviews
Great all around
One of my favorite rounds I’ve ever played. 4 birdies & a par on 17. Awesome time with friends. Be prepared for a 5-6hr round tho.
Really enjoyed the players course. Was not expecting to but there is definitely a lift from the famous holes and stories from the group. Very much a risk/reward course where driver isn’t always the play. 17 doesn’t disappoint. 18 tee I always think of Tigers stinger drive so the history makes it more special.
Hit or miss with the time of the year. Way overpriced.
Memorial Day Round - Great experience with the USA flags on
One could certainly argue it’s overpriced but it’s certainly not overrated. The current version of the course is very fun, very difficult, and visually striking. There is so much layered difficulty to getting around Sawgrass. Pete Dye knew how to challenge the best golfers in the world at the time, and in my opinion it still holds up incredibly well. A plus index would beat a scratch by 10+ strokes here and a scratch would beat a 5 index by about the same. Cart path only being mandatory is not fun but glad to have played it and experienced it for sure.
Thought it would be gimmicky but I actually think this course is underrated. Gets even better each time you play it.
Played it in Jan 2017. Course wasn’t in the greatest shape but so much fun
Played this course with very low expectations as I generally don’t favor target golf courses compared to courses that give you multiple ways to play a hole. Boy was I wrong. Several holes in I realized the genius of Pete Dye on this layout. It’s unrelenting, completely fair, extremely penal, and requires every shot and club in your bag. The closing is iconic and probably a contender for best 3 hole stretch of golf. As a championship course this is a brilliant test.
The Stadium is a really fun course all around that was in great shape despite it being hot in June. A real test for any skill level. Probably not worth the astronomical price but it’s still a great day all around.
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Players Stadium at TPC at Sawgrass has a Course Vaults score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 172 explicit golfer ratings.
The Players Stadium was designed by Pete Dye.
Yes. The Players Stadium at TPC at Sawgrass is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at The Players Stadium is 72.
The Players Stadium plays 7,215 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at The Players Stadium is 155.
