The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

The Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, the home of the Players Championship, and the unofficial 5th Major in golf. Yes, as we all know the PGA Tour only recognizes 4 Major Championships, we also know that The Players historically showcases the best field, and the course provides the backdrop for drama, excitement, and awe. Taking on the Stadium Course was nothing short of an amazing experience from start to finish!

For this episode of The Tiger Challenge, I stayed at the Marriot Sawgrass which is a mile walk or short shuttle ride down the road from TPC Sawgrass. I decided to take the trek on foot which afforded me the opportunity to walk the historic driveway and marvel at the clubhouse. As I made my way towards the bag drop, I was overwhelmed thinking about all the course history and reflecting on all the afternoons I spent watching Tiger (and more recently Scottie Scheffler) pull off incredible shots and memorable putts on the 17th.

After checking in, my clubs were immediately brought out and I was given practice balls to hit the range to warm up before taking on The Stadium. The price tag associated with this course was the highest to date, $745. In addition, the course requires you to take a forecaddie if you are riding and a caddie if walking, so be sure to check with the pro-shop staff about caddie fees. I was able to walk and was paired with a spectacular caddie who made the day so enjoyable and really made me feel like I was getting the true ‘tour experience’.

After warming up on the range you make your way to the first tee where there is a putting green that is a true representation of the green speed on the course. I have to remark on how spectacular the starter, John, was on the first tee. TPC is lucky to have John as a starter because he is personable, helpful, and a true steward of the game. Before sending me on my way Jon gave me a steel bag tag of the famed 17th to be engraved after the round, introduced me to my group (assuring me that I was paired with 2 fantastic playing partners), and snapped a photo of our group prior to teeing off as a memory with the clubhouse in the background.

Once again, I had the fortune of being paired with two outstanding playing partners, Steve and Dr. Jake. This was Steve’s 76th round on The Stadium Course and Dr. Jake’s first, therefore, both Jake and I relied heavily on Steve’s local knowledge and experiences on the course throughout the day. I loved hearing Steve’s stories about past Players Championships and shots by greats such as Greg Norman, Justin Thomas, Craig Perks, and of course Tiger.

I decided to stick with my group and play the white tees for the day, which totaled out to about 6100 yards. The opening hole is a par 4 with water on the right and some trees and pine straw on the left. Even though I started my day in the pine straw, I was enamored with how manicured the fairways looked with the diamond-cut pattern visible. I found the sand on the opening hole, which seemed to be a trend for me throughout the day, but the sand at TPC truly isn’t something to dread as it’s extremely clean, white, and playable. As I picked my ball up out of the cup on the first hole, I could already tell that the Stadium Course was a special course, and I was in store for a memorable experience. The first forced water carry came on the third hole, which is a short par 3 that plays about 135. The hole served as a reminder about the famed 17th Island Green that was in my future. This course truly reflects everything that is stereotypical of a Pete Dye design…lots of bunkers, water, and interesting hole designs. I can honestly say I was never bored on this course.

The front 9 boasts two holes that really stand out as challenging to me, #5 and #7. The 5th hole is a long par 4 dogleg right with water on both sides and bunkers on the right that are strategically placed to make you think long and hard before attempting to reach the green. The hole is ranked as the 3rd handicap hole on the course and the distance alone makes that rating ring true. The second hardest hole on the front, in my opinion, was number 7 (the number #1 handicap hole). The 7th hole really is a work of art and something to take in from the tee box. The water on the left really shouldn’t come into play, nor should the waste bunker flanking the left side of the fairway. A drive in the center of the fairway leaves you with a shot into the green but beware of the bunkers on the right side. I had the pleasure of experiencing the right-side bunker as I tried to cut down the approach angle and left myself short. The front nine is nicely rounded out by a long par three guarded by bunkers and a par 5 that requires precision placement in order to reach the tiny green that has bunkers and a large oak tree behind to penalize you for going long.

My front nine experience was nothing short of incredible and I couldn’t wait to take on the back nine. When you make the turn, you have the opportunity to use the restroom and grab something from the snack bar (which is important to note because restrooms are not readily accessible on the course). After a quick refresh, my group was back at it and ready to continue our round. The back nine once again is full of bunkers and opportunities to find water if you are not careful in your shot placement. The closing stretch of #16, #17, and #18 are probably the most notable holes in my opinion and deserve recognition.

The 16th hole is a par 5 that has water both in front of the tee box and along the right side of the green making shot placement critical. This hole is both magnificent to look at and down right fun to play because of the risk v. reward scenario that players are faced with from the fairway. Additionally, when on this hole be sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as bald eagles, osprey, alligators, and raccoons (I had the pleasure of seeing all of these animals throughout the day). The green on 16 is definitely tricky as it has both slope and undulatation making it important to stay below the hole when putting. 

Now, for the show stopper, #17. The famed 17th hole at The Stadium truly is something that every golfer should experience at least once in their life. Be aware in advance that you will have to wait a bit on the 17th as it becomes congested due to golfers taking multiple shots, pictures, and videos (but it is all worth it). My group decided to play the hole from the tournament distance, so we could have the full Stadium Course experience. The hole played about 139 yards with a swirling wind, so the hole is totally manageable. I played a 6 iron into the green, which was way too much club as I misjudged the wind, and hit the back right side of the green where the ball took two bounces and then quickly made its way into the water. My suggestion for this hole is to play the number and aim for the front center of the green, you have about 14 inches of rough outlining the green so anything long is going to be wet.

“Better than most”- Gary Koch In response to Tiger’s putt on #17 in 2001 to win his first Players

After finishing my round I made my way with my group to have our bag tags engraved to commemorate the day that we all played The Stadium. This particular trip provided me with not only with outstanding golf but also with people whom I look forward to sharing my journey with and keeping in touch!

I urge you, if you have the opportunity, to make a trip to TPC Sawgrass and play The Stadium. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed! Oh, and make sure to bring a few extra balls just in case your shot on #17 finds the water.

See you in the fairway!

Courtney