The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

Introduction

A course that needs no introduction – TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, one of the most renowned courses in the United States and the entire world, home of THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP and built by golf course architect legend Pete Dye – the Stadium Course has been ranked among the best 50 courses in the world and is on every golfer’s bucket list.

The clubhouse & amenities

The new clubhouse is a gigantic building featuring traditional wooden halls and golf relics displayed throughout, including the FedEx Cup Trophy.

A very friendly employee gave us a tour of the place. He even took us inside the players’ and champions’ locker rooms.

The clubhouse has a very nice terrace where we had a delicious breakfast and lunch with a splendid view of the facilities.

In the pro shop, you will find unique, high-quality merchandise to help you remember your experience at TPC Sawgrass.

The practice facilities are dreamy. I spent an hour before my tee time on them and then an extra hour after the round!

The course

This course was the first stadium-style golf course that was designed to offer spectators an incredible experience. Though it has several tee boxes, the layout is extremely challenging, with water hazards, waste bunkers and Scottish bunkers on almost every hole. As with every Pete Dye design, it will test your skills, creativity and strategy, especially during the finishing holes. 

Course conditions

Remember, The Players Championship is the unofficial fifth major so expect to find a course that honors that reputation. Conditions are mint. I played at the stadium course just three weeks after The Players and even then fairways, greens and roughs were perfectly maintained.

My golf round

My tee time was at 9:30 am. At the time, I was struggling with my driver and hitting horrible hooks that ended up in the hundreds of oaks and pines that line TPC Sawgrass. The forecaddie was very useful and provided good insights and recommendations. I birdied 9 and chipped in for birdie at 10 but made a silly double bogey at 16. My final score was 88, not at all what I expected, but at least I only hit one ball into the water.

My best shot of the day was my tee shot at 13, a par 3 with water on the left. The flag was at the back left of the green. I have seen on TV that there was an important slope in the middle of the green that I could use to take the water out of play. I flushed an 8 iron that did exactly what I had imagined. Unfortunately, I did not make the 10 feet putt for birdie, but I was content because my strategy worked as close to perfection as I could have hoped for.

Favorite hole at TPC Sawgrass

I really thought this through, trying to think outside the box and consider every hole. But in the end I must choose 17, the world’s most famous par 3. I hit a gap wedge from the back tee, the wind was slightly in favor and to the left. I aimed towards the green side bunker hoping it would turn. It did not. Hitting a tee shot to an island green is scary. Those 2 seconds the ball is in the air seem like an eternity. Your heart rate increases, adrenaline flows into your veins and your brain starts wondering things like: “Will it be enough? Will it be too much?”. Luckily, my ball ended in the bunker. I almost holed it from there but then two putted for bogey. At least the ball stayed dry! 

Rating

Aspect	Rating
Condition	Excellent
Value	Excellent
Friendliness	Very Good
Pace	Excellent
Amenities	Excellent
Overall rating	Excellent

Expenses

In the following table, I detail the expenses you might incur at TPC SAWGRASS STADIUM COURSE.

*$25 gratuity per player is recommended, but it is really based on the service provided.

Final tips

• If you are planning to play at Dye’s Valley as well, you should explore the possibility to stay at the resort and purchase the package for both green fees with an important discount.
• Do some research before you play to really enjoy the experience and even think how you should play every hole. I recommend this album from the TPC website and reading this article from Golf Digest.
• In order to play famous 17, first you must have enough balls to get there and hit the green. So, make sure you bring enough golf balls.
• Choose your tee box wisely. Some tee boxes require you to carry the ball more than 200 yards over water and bunkers just to get to the fairway or green.
• If you need to rent clubs, consider renting them in a golf shop outside the resort for lower fees.
• Chat with me if you need any further information

What’s in the Bag?

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Guido Sargiotto

Golf Enthusiast at Chasing Par Golf

Argentinean golf enthusiastic, member of the Board of Directors of Córdoba Golf Club, one of the most prestigious golf clubs in Argentina. Regularly competes in the local amateur tour and annually hosts the ‘Guido Sargiotto Invitational’, a charity golf tournament to help a localNPO (Nonprofit organization)

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