TPC Sawgrass: A Guide to the Stadium Course and Its 17th
A guide to TPC Sawgrass and its Stadium Course, from Pete and Alice Dye's swampland design to the island green 17th and what to expect when you play.
Few golf courses are as instantly recognizable as TPC Sawgrass. Even people who have never swung a club know the picture: a small green surrounded by water, a wooden bulkhead and a narrow walkway, and a gallery holding its breath. This guide to TPC Sawgrass covers how the Stadium Course came to be, what Pete and Alice Dye built, what it is actually like to play, and what to know if you are planning a visit to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course is the permanent home of The Players Championship and the PGA Tour's headquarters, but it is also a course that everyday golfers can experience, which is a big part of its appeal.
The history of TPC Sawgrass
The idea came from Deane Beman, then commissioner of the PGA Tour, who wanted a permanent home for the tour's flagship event and a course built for spectators as much as players. The Tour acquired 415 acres of swampland in Ponte Vedra Beach for a single dollar, and the original check is still displayed in the clubhouse.
Beman hired Pete Dye in the late 1970s. The site was flat, boggy and offered nothing in the way of natural mounding, so Dye dug lakes and used the fill to shape the course and build up banks where fans could watch from different elevations. The result, which opened in the autumn of 1980, is regarded as the first true stadium course.
The Players moved to the Stadium Course in 1982 after several years at the neighboring Sawgrass Country Club. The early reaction from players was rough. Ben Crenshaw famously called it "Star Wars golf, designed by Darth Vader." Dye softened some of the most severe greens and changed several bunkers, and the course went on to become one of the most respected tournament venues in the world. Tiger Woods won the 1994 U.S. Amateur there, and the course record of 62 is shared by Tom Hoge (2023) and Justin Thomas (2025).
Pete and Alice Dye's design
Pete Dye was known for treating plans as rough guidelines. People who worked with him describe him reworking holes right up until they were grassed, sometimes changing work that was already finished. His wife Alice, an accomplished golfer and designer in her own right, was a constant collaborator.
Dye's design goal for the Stadium Course was a layout that would not favor one type of player. Long hitters, short hitters, faders and drawers all have to adapt. Beman described Dye as a master at making a course look harder than it is, and that visual intimidation, with water, waste areas, railroad ties and awkward angles, is a big part of the experience.
How the island green happened
The famous 17th was not the original plan. Sand for the fairways and greens was dug from the area near the hole, and by the time the excavation was done there was a large lake where a peninsula green had been imagined. Alice Dye suggested making it an island. Pete wanted the hole to play around 165 yards, but Beman pushed for something shorter, closer to 130 to 135 yards, to avoid a revolt from the players.
Today the 17th plays 137 yards from the tournament tees to a green about 78 feet long, with a small pot bunker at the front and water everywhere except a narrow walkway. For a tour player it is often a wedge. For everyone else it is often a lot of pressure, and more than 100,000 balls are reportedly retrieved from the water each year.
What the Stadium Course is like to play
From the back tees the Stadium Course plays to par 72 at 7,245 yards, with a course rating of 76.4 and a slope of 155. Most visitors will play forward tees, but the character of the course stays the same: precision matters more than power.
- Water is everywhere. The lakes Dye dug to build the course come into play on many holes, so club selection and commitment matter on approach shots.
- Angles over distance. Dye loved to tilt fairways and set greens at angles to the line of play. Thinking about which side of the fairway sets up the best approach pays off.
- Bermuda grass. The greens are TifEagle Bermuda and the fairways Celebration Bermuda, so expect grain on and around the greens and a firm, Florida feel.
- A famous finish. The closing stretch is a 523-yard par 5, the island green and a 462-yard par 4. It is where so much of the tournament drama happens, and playing it yourself gives you a new appreciation for what the pros do on Sunday.
Signature holes to look forward to
The 17th gets the attention, but the 16th and 18th frame it beautifully, and the routing as a whole rewards anyone who has watched The Players on television: you will recognize tee shots and green sites throughout the round. Next door, the Dye's Valley Course, designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, offers a second round with a similar flavor and hosted the Web.com Tour Championship from 2013 to 2015.
Tips for visiting TPC Sawgrass
- Book through official channels. Tee times and stay-and-play packages are listed on the official TPC Sawgrass website. Check current policies and rates directly before you plan a trip.
- Pick the right tees. The course is demanding at any length. Playing a set of tees that suits your game will make the round far more enjoyable.
- Bring a few extra balls for 17. Even good players find the water. Accept it, take the photo and enjoy the moment.
- Look for the check. The one-dollar check for the land is displayed in the clubhouse and makes for a fun piece of history to see in person.
- Watch the tournament first. Catching The Players on television before your trip makes the round more meaningful, because you will know where the famous shots happened.
The TPC Sawgrass course map print
Our TPC Sawgrass print shows the Stadium Course in a mid-century style, with every hole drawn and numbered from real map data, so you can trace the routing from the first tee to the island green and the closing par 4. It comes in 12x16, 18x24 or 24x32 inch sizes, unframed on museum-quality matte paper or framed in black, white or green and ready to hang. It makes a strong reminder of a trip, or a gift for a fan of The Players. You can see related pieces in our TPC Sawgrass prints collection. Golf Print House is independent and not affiliated with TPC Sawgrass or the PGA Tour.
FAQ
Who designed TPC Sawgrass?
The Stadium Course was designed by Pete Dye with his wife Alice Dye, at the request of PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman. Alice Dye is credited with the idea of making the 17th an island green.
When did TPC Sawgrass open?
The Stadium Course opened in the autumn of 1980. The Players Championship moved there in 1982.
How long is the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass?
The island green 17th plays 137 yards from the tournament tees. The green is about 78 feet long and surrounded by water except for a narrow walkway.
Can the public play TPC Sawgrass?
The Stadium Course operates as a resort course with tee times and stay-and-play packages listed on its official website. Check the club directly for current booking policies and rates.