In 1980, under the direction of PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, Pete Dye turned a flat, swamp-like forest into a first-of-its-kind stadium golf course. TPC Sawgrass opened to sharp criticism from players and has undergone many revisions since, but it remains one of the most impressive and important statements in the history of golf architecture.
(With The Players Championship right around the corner, we’ve decided to make this Course Profile of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass – normally reserved for our Club TFE members – public to all Fried Egg Golf readers. If you want more content like this, you can join Club TFE here.)
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Take Note…
Gathering points. Look around while you play. The trees make TPC Sawgrass feel sprawling, but it’s actually quite intimate. There are a number of hubs of activity where greens and tee boxes are situated near each other. This style of routing, which enhances the spectator experience, was part of Deane Beman’s vision for the course from the beginning.
The center of the universe. When you are on the 15th tee, take a moment to reflect and realize you are a mere 250 yards from the moat-guarded Global Home of Golf.
We miss the isthmus. Between the 16th and 17th holes, there used to be a spectator peninsula. They should bring it back.
