Pete Dye's stadium course at Ponte Vedra Beach — home of THE PLAYERS and the most famous par 3 in golf. The course, how the public plays it, when to go, and getting there.
TPC Sawgrass is home to the most famous single shot in golf — the par-3 17th to its island green — and, unlike most courses of its stature, anyone can go and play it. Pete Dye's THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at Ponte Vedra Beach, near Jacksonville, opened in 1980 as the game's original 'stadium' design, built with grass amphitheatres for spectators, and it's the permanent home of THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA TOUR's headquarters.
It's a premium public/resort round tied to the Sawgrass Marriott. Here's the course and its fearsome finish, how to play it, when to go, and getting there.
Where
Ponte Vedra Beach, near Jacksonville, north-east Florida
Courses
THE PLAYERS Stadium Course (par 72) + Dye's Valley Course
Nearest airport
Jacksonville (JAX) ~30–40 min; ~2 hrs from Orlando
Best time
Peak Oct–Apr (pleasant, drier); hot, stormy summers; PLAYERS is March
Access
Public / resort — anyone can book a (premium) tee time; Marriott stay-and-play
Pete Dye (with Alice Dye) · 1980 · 18 holes · Stadium · par 72
Home of THE PLAYERS Championship; the island-green 17th
Pete Dye's 1980 design — the original stadium course, built for spectators at the PGA TOUR's own championship — is a demanding, water-strewn test where precision beats power. Its fame rests on the par-3 17th, a ~137-yard shot to a green completely surrounded by water (Alice Dye's idea when construction ran short of sand), which drowns hundreds of thousands of balls a year and decides THE PLAYERS most Marches.
The 17th gets the headlines, but the par-4 18th — long, with water all down the left — is one of the toughest closers in golf. Play from sensible tees and it's a thrilling bucket-list round; play from the tips and it will humble you.
How to play TPC Sawgrass
This is the rare major-championship venue that's genuinely public — anyone can book a tee time on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at a premium green fee through the official TPC site, and it's tied to the neighbouring Sawgrass Marriott for stay-and-play packages. Forecaddies are part of the experience. The Dye's Valley Course, the club's second 18 (a Korn Ferry Tour venue), is a more affordable and forgiving round if you want a second day. Confirm current fees and caddie policy when you book.
North-east Florida is at its best from October to April — pleasant, drier and comfortable — which is peak season and peak pricing. Summers are hot, humid and storm-prone. THE PLAYERS is held in March, so the course is in immaculate tournament trim around then (and busy); the autumn and early spring shoulders are the sweet spot for a visit.
Getting there
TPC Sawgrass is at Ponte Vedra Beach, about 30–40 minutes from Jacksonville International (JAX) and roughly two hours from Orlando. It's an easy add-on to a wider Florida trip, with the beaches of the First Coast right nearby.
How to play it
Pair TPC Sawgrass with the beaches around Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville, or fold it into a broader Florida golf trip — the state is stacked with resort and public golf, from the sand-country courses at Streamsong down to the theme-park hubs. Our Florida golf trip guide maps out the wider options.
What to pack
The kit this trip demands
Sawgrass is hot, humid Florida golf with water everywhere — pack for sun and heat, and bring more balls than usual for the 17th:
Yes — it's one of the few major-championship venues that's genuinely public. Anyone can book a tee time on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at a premium green fee via the official TPC site, and it's tied to the Sawgrass Marriott for stay-and-play packages.
How long is the 17th at TPC Sawgrass?
The famous par-3 17th plays around 137 yards to a green completely surrounded by water. Alice Dye suggested the island green when construction ran short of sand; it's the most famous par 3 in golf and drowns huge numbers of balls each year.
Who designed TPC Sawgrass?
Pete Dye, with input from Alice Dye and then-Commissioner Deane Beman, designed the Stadium Course, which opened in 1980 as golf's original spectator 'stadium' course. It's the permanent home of THE PLAYERS Championship.
When is the best time to play TPC Sawgrass?
October to April is peak — pleasant and drier in north-east Florida. Summers are hot, humid and storm-prone. THE PLAYERS is in March, when the course is in tournament trim (and busy).
How do you get to TPC Sawgrass?
It's at Ponte Vedra Beach, about 30–40 minutes from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and roughly two hours from Orlando — an easy add-on to a wider Florida trip.
