By Brittany Wynne, World Golf Hall of Fame
Unreal.
Challenging.
Unforgiving.
These words have been used to describe the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, home of the flagship event on the PGA TOUR, THE PLAYERS Championship.
The concept of the Stadium Course was first created on the back of a placemat, where course architect and Hall of Fame Member Pete Dye drew up the layout of the course’s holes. From there, he and fellow Hall of Famer and former Commissioner of the PGA TOUR Deane Beman brought the sketch to life with the creation of the world’s first Stadium Course.
And while many have included this course on their bucket list, this dream course just got even better. Beginning the day after Jason Day’s 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship victory, construction crews jumped into a full-on course renovation that was completed just before the 2016 holiday season.
The most notable change to the course is the redesign of the 12th hole, which was shortened considerably to 302 yards to create a new, risk-reward drivable par 4 that is sure to generate excitement early on the back nine.
“There is no doubt No. 12 will create drama for THE PLAYERS, especially as the lead groups make the turn on Sunday,” said Pete Dye.
Greens were expanded on holes 1, 4, 9, 11 and 13 to allow for new hole locations, as well as the replacement of Mini Verde with TifEagle bermudagrass on all the greens. The latest renovations of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass also saw changes made to holes 6 – designated by Dye as “the most beautiful hole on the course” – and 7, which have been opened up to provide a front-nine destination for fans that is more connected to the action surrounding the clubhouse.
Players will likewise be pleased with the expanded, redesigned practice grounds, set to elevate the world-class experience that is THE PLAYERS Championship.
“You think about it, THE PLAYERS Championship was the very first tournament to have electronic scoreboards, LED boards and live video, all for the fans,” said Matt Rapp, senior vice president of Championship Management for the PGA TOUR. “It was the very first tournament to have the stadium ‘seating,’ if you will. This place was built as a Mecca for golf fans, and everything that we’re doing out there now just adds more polish to that diamond. It’s really spectacular, and visitors are going to be blown away.”
The countdown to THE PLAYERS is officially on. For more information on THE PLAYERS, and to purchase tickets, please visit THEPLAYERSChampionship.com. Don’t forget, all ticket holders to THE PLAYERS Championship also receive FREE admission to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum throughout the month of May (with proof of purchase).
