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Sawgrass in golf refers to the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Sawgrass, a golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, southeast of Jacksonville. The course, which opened in 1980, is known for its challenging features, including the famous Island Green on the 17th hole, where the green is completely surrounded by water. TPC Sawgrass consists of two courses, the Stadium Course and the Valley Course, both designed by renowned golf course architect Pete Dye. The club also offers a tennis facility, known as the Racquet Club, which has been ranked among the 50 best tennis facilities in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida |
| Year opened | 1980 |
| Area | 415 acres |
| Golf courses | Two: Stadium Course and Valley Course |
| Holes | 27 |
| Signature hole | 17th hole, "Island Green" |
| Difficulty | One of the most difficult golf courses in the world |
| Capacity | 36,000 |
| Features | Narrow fairways, marshes, waste bunkers, pot bunkers, thick rough, palm trees, fast greens |
| Events | U.S. Amateur in 1994, Web.com Tour Championship from 2013 to 2015, PGA Tour's Tournament Players Championship from 1977 to 1981 |
| Notable incidents | Brad Fabel's tee shot in 1998 was picked up and dropped by a seagull |
| Recognition | Ranked among the top golf courses worldwide, featured in Tiger Woods PGA Tour video games |
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What You'll Learn
The Tournament Players Club (TPC) Sawgrass golf course
The Tournament Players Club (TPC) Sawgrass is a golf course located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, southeast of Jacksonville. It is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and hosts The Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour's signature events, now held in March. The course opened in the autumn of 1980 and was the first of several Tournament Players Clubs to be built.
TPC Sawgrass features two championship golf courses designed by world-renowned architect Pete Dye: the Stadium Course and the Valley Course. The Stadium Course is known as one of the most difficult golf courses in the world and features the famous Island Green on the 17th hole, which is considered one of the most recognisable and challenging holes on the PGA Tour. The Island Green design came about by accident when the course designer, Alice Dye, suggested creating a green completely surrounded by water after noticing that the soil surrounding the 17th hole consisted of sand, which is necessary for building a good golf course but rare on the otherwise swampy property.
The Valley Course, on the other hand, offers a perfectly balanced golf experience winding through North Florida's naturally compelling landscape. It is built on 415 acres of northeastern Florida swampland and features challenging elements such as narrow fairways lined with hazards, deep "pot bunkers," thick rough with craters and mounds, tall palm trees, and lightning-fast greens.
TPC Sawgrass has been the site of notable golf tournaments and events, including the U.S. Amateur in 1994, where Tiger Woods claimed his first of three consecutive victories. It has also been featured in the popular Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series. In addition to golf, TPC Sawgrass welcomes corporate outings, charity events, and social functions, offering a memorable experience for visitors.
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The Island Green hole
The Tournament Players Club Sawgrass (TPC Sawgrass) is a golf course in the southeastern United States, located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, southeast of Jacksonville. The course, which opened in 1980, was the first of several Tournament Players Clubs to be built. It is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and hosts The Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour's signature events.
TPC Sawgrass features two championship courses, the Stadium Course and the Valley Course, both designed by the legendary golf course architect Pete Dye. The Stadium Course is known as one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. The course contains many challenging features, including narrow fairways lined with hazards, deep "pot bunkers," thick rough with craters and mounds, tall palm trees, and lightning-fast greens.
The signature hole of the Stadium Course is the 17th hole, known as the "Island Green." This hole is one of the most recognisable and difficult holes in golf. It measures only 137 yards (125 metres) from tee to green but consists of a small 78-foot (24-metre) green with a tiny bunker in front of it. The green is completely surrounded by water, and the wind swirls over it due to its location amidst trees. The Island Green design came about by accident when Alice Dye, Pete's wife, suggested the concept, inspired by another course she had played.
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The Stadium Course
The signature hole of the Stadium Course is the par-3, 137-yard 17th hole, known as the "Island Green." This hole is surrounded by water, with a small path leading to the green, and is considered one of the most difficult and recognisable holes in golf. The Island Green design came about by accident when the soil surrounding the hole, which consisted of valuable sand, was dug up, leaving a large crater. Alice Dye suggested the Island Green concept, and despite Pete Dye's initial reluctance, the idea was implemented, creating a unique and iconic hole.
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The Valley Course
The Tournament Players Club Sawgrass (TPC Sawgrass) is a golf course located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, southeast of Jacksonville. It is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and hosts The Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour's signature events. The course first opened in the autumn of 1980 and has two individual courses, the Stadium Course and the Valley Course.
The course features challenging elements such as narrow fairways lined with natural hazards like marshes and "waste bunkers." There are also deep "pot bunkers" strategically placed to catch errant shots, thick rough with craters and mounds, tall palm trees obstructing shots, and fast greens. The par-5 first hole is considered one of the easier holes, offering players a chance to build momentum at the start of their round. However, the course includes a stretch of difficult holes, including the par-4 sixth, which was the fourth-toughest hole on the course in 2014.
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Sawgrass Country Club
The country club is renowned for its championship golf courses, which are built on natural swampy land and feature a significant amount of water, including ponds and a portion of the Guana River. This natural habitat attracts a diverse range of wildlife, including large alligators, gar, carp, crappie, tilapia, and bowfin. The golf courses offer a challenging and unique experience for players, with water hazards and natural obstacles.
In addition to golf, Sawgrass Country Club maintains a highly-ranked tennis facility, known as the Racquet Club. The club has hosted prestigious tennis tournaments, such as the MPS Group Championships, and offers a range of tennis courts and a full-service pro shop. The club also features a fully equipped fitness centre, heated swimming pools, gourmet dining options, and social events throughout the year.
The Sawgrass Country Club community spans over 1,250 acres and is known for its upscale lifestyle and exclusive gated neighbourhoods. It offers a variety of housing options, from luxurious estates to townhomes and condominiums, all within close proximity to the beach, dining, shopping, and other amenities. The community is golf-cart and pedestrian-friendly, with wide roads, sidewalks, and access to the Atlantic Ocean.
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Frequently asked questions
Sawgrass in golf refers to the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Sawgrass, a golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It is home to the PGA Tour's flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship, and is known for its challenging and iconic 17th hole, dubbed the "Island Green".
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, also known as the "Island Green", is famous for being one of the most recognisable and difficult holes in golf. It is a par-3 hole that measures only 137 yards (125 meters) from tee to green. However, what sets it apart is that it is completely surrounded by water, with a small bunker in front of the green. This unique design creates a nerve-racking shot for even the best golfers.
The Island Green at TPC Sawgrass has been the site of several notable incidents. One famous event involved Brad Fabel during the 1998 tournament. After his tee shot landed on the green, a seagull swooped in, picked up his ball, and dropped it over the water. Under golf rules, Fabel was allowed to replace his ball at the original spot. Another record-breaking incident occurred in the gusty opening round in May 2007, when 50 balls found the water at the 17th hole, surpassing the previous single-round tournament record of 45.
