You are currently viewing The Players Championship
TPC Sawgrass 18th hole and Clubhouse

The Players Championship

When The Players Championship first moved to Ponte Vedra in 1982, Pete Dye’s Stadium course wasn’t an instant hit with the players. When then asked if  TPC Sawgrass suited his playing style, Jack Nicklaus quipped,

“No, I’ve never been very good at stopping a 5-iron on the hood of a car.”

Dye returned to tweak the course, softening the rock hard and lightning fast greens and replacing several bunkers. After the changes, TPC Sawgrass became far more playable.

Every year, the best golfers in the world return to Ponte Vedra Beach for The Players Championship, now considered the unofficial 5th major by golf writers and players alike.

Memorable moments from The Players include Rickie Fowler’s three birdies on 17 for his first Players win in 2015, Hal Sutton’s “Be the right club today” 6 iron into the eighteenth for a 1 shot win over Tiger Woods in 2000 and Tiger Woods “Better than most” 60-foot putt on the island green at 17 for his first Players title in 2001.

If you’re hungry, stop by Nineteen in the clubhouse for lunch.  And don’t miss seeing the Champions clubs. Every year since the inaugural Players Championship in 1974, the TPC Champion has donated a  club from their winning bag to a collection on permanent display in the TPC clubhouse.

Where to Stay

If you want to watch the PGA Tour tee it up at The Players, stay where the pros do, at the updated Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa.  

Lobby of Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
Lobby of Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa

The lobby provides a beautiful and expansive golf course vista with indoor /outdoor bar seating. You can even see the 13th tee box of the TPC Stadium course from the hotel.

Mini 17th island green at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
Mini 17th island green at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa

Sawgrass Marriott has created a mini-replica of the 17th hole at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass for guests to test their game. While only 65 yards away, if you can land a ball on this postage size green, you belong on the PGA tour.

Open for both breakfast and dinner, the Marriott’s signature restaurant, Vernon’s specializes in innovative dishes with a local flair. The many breakfast buffet options include a custom omelette station.

There’s also an onsite spa and a private beach club to relax on Florida’s Northeast sandy coast. The restaurant 619 Ocean View at the beach club is a short shuttle away from the hotel. The hotel also offers guests a complimentary shuttle to the TPC Valley and Stadium course. If you like, you can have your clubs sent over from the hotel.

In 2019 THE PLAYERS Championship moved from the month of May back to March, its previous position on the calendar as part of the Florida Swing. The TOUR’s signature event at TPC Sawgrass had been held in March until 2007 when it moved to May.

If golfing TPC Sawgrass is on your bucket list, please note the course is closed for prep one month prior to the tournament.

THE PLAYERS Championship
MAR 7-12, 2023
TPC Sawgrass, 110 Championship Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The Players Clubhouse front room

TPC Sawgrass Champions framed watercolors

The Players locker room at TPC Sawgrass

Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino photos at TPC Sawgrass

The Champions Clubs at TPC Sawgrass

TPC Champion's clubs

The Player's Trophy

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. MM

    Love the story re the older course and the pix

  2. Monty

    Good story _love the photos too!

Leave a Reply