THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is a proper golfing landmark one that golfers happily play with a camera in hand as well as a scorecard. As the long-time home of THE PLAYERS Championship, it's set up to make you think on every shot, with water, bunkering and sightlines that can feel a bit intimidating from the tee.
Of course, it's the par-3 17th with its island green being arguably the most recognisable hole in golf that grabs the headlines. It's short on the card but huge on nerves, especially if the wind gets up. But don't treat the rest as a warm-up, there are plenty of risk-reward moments where a sensible line beats a heroic one. You'll see Pete Dye's fingerprints everywhere, angles off the tee, greens that reward the right side of the fairway and hazards that look closer than they are.
TPC Sawgrass sits in Ponte Vedra Beach on Florida's north-east coast, roughly a two-hour drive from Orlando airport, so it's an easy add-on if you're building a wider Florida trip. It also works brilliantly as a dedicated stay, thanks to the on-site Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa and the option to play Dye's Valley as well as the Stadium Course for a bit of variety.
If you want the "where the pros play" experience without the faff, Sawgrass does it in style.
Who is this for?
Golf groups who want a headline course in Florida with a resort base, two quality layouts and the bragging rights of the 17th.
Who is it best for?
Confident mid-handicappers and better who enjoy plotting their way round, plus anyone happy to play sensibly and still have the time of their life.
