FedExCup Winner's Share: 600 •
Yards: 7,220

Inside the course: TPC Sawgrass, Stadium Course

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The 17th green at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is the signature hole of Pete Dye's famous course.

May. 3, 2010

The TOUR heads to PGA TOUR headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Learn more about this week's host, THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.

Fast facts

Course Superintendent	Thomas R. Vlach
Original architect	Pete Dye (1979)
Redesign	Pete Dye (2006)
Par value	72
Number of TOUR events as host venue*	37 (including 2010)
Course ranking	Ranked 12 (out of 51) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2009
Yardage history	7,215 (2007-present)
	7,098 (2006)
	7,093 (1999-2005)
	6,950 (1998)
	6,896 (1996-'97)
	6,857 (1982-'95)
	7,174 (1977-'81)
	7,127 (1976)
	7,160 (1975)
	6,883 (1974)
Grass	419 bermudagrass (tees, fairways); Bermudagrass (rough); Mini-Verde bermudagrass(greens)
Tournament Stimpmeter	12 ft
Sand bunkers	93
Water hazards	24
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Fred Couples
Greg Norman

Year
1992
1994

Round
3rd
1st

Finish
T13
Won

Holes-in-one

There have been 23 aces recorded at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course

Player	Hole	Year
Robert Garrigus	13	2008
Justin Leonard	13	2006
Jesper Parnevik	13	2006
Henrik Stenson	13	2006
Fred Couples	13	2006
Jose Maria Olazabal	13	2004
Miguel A. Jimenez	17	2002
CraigStadler	13	2002
Chris DiMarco	3	2001
Paul Azinger	17	2000
Joe Ozaki	8	2000
Ted Tryba	8	2000
Joey Sindelar	17	1999
Bob Friend	8	1999
Mark Brooks	8	1997
Fred Couples	17	1997
Jay Don Blake	13	1996
Phil Mickelson	13	1995
Gary Hallberg	8	1994
Russ Cochran	3	1994
Chip Beck	13	1992
Brian Claar	17	1991
Brad Fabel	17	1986
Jim Gallagher Jr.	3	1986

2009 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	Traditionally, this hole has been one of the toughest to play. The narrow two-tiered driving area is paralleled down the left side by a narrow fairway bunker and a lateral water hazard. The right side is overshadowed by large, deep grass bunkers located within a very large mound. Between the driving area and the green is a vast bunker. The green is very large with severe undulations and long slopes. A maintained bunker protects the front left side of the green and a few other maintained bunkers hide among very large grass bunkers to the right and the rear of the green. A driver from the tee and a long to middle iron are the club selections on this treacherous hole. 2009: 0 eagles, 25 birdies, 257 pars, 131 bogeys, 21 double bogeys, 2 others.
Easiest Hole
	This short par 5 will give many players an opportunity to reach the green in two shots. A fairway wood or long iron will be required for the second shot, which must carry a large, lateral, water hazard, a maintained bunker and a bulkhead. All of these obstacles are to the right of the hole and start 160 yards from the green. To the left, a cluster of oak trees blocks a clear path to the green. Players who do not choose to attempt the green in two shots must direct their second shot to the narrow area protected by a grass bunker, a water hazard and the cluster of oak trees. The green has two tiers, sloping left to right toward the water that wraps around the rear of the green. There is a new spectator mound behind the green. 2009: 15 eagles, 189 birdies, 181 pars, 48 bogeys, 3 double bogeys and 0 others.

PLAYERS Stadium Course			2009 rankings		Last 26 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
1	4	423	4.14	7	4.131	10
2	5	532	4.748	17	4.734	17
3	3	177	3.071	10	3.114	11
4	4	384	4.028	11	4.053	13
5	4	471	4.172	5	4.185	4
6	4	393	4.08	9	4.055	12
7	4	442	4.135	8	4.168	8
8	3	237	3.229	3	3.183	5
9	5	583	4.796	15	4.965	14
10	4	424	4.147	6	4.177	7
11	5	558	4.759	16	4.777	16
12	4	358	3.927	14	3.918	15
13	3	181	3.2	4	3.142	9
14*	4	481	4.353	1	4.273	2
15	4	449	4.023	13	4.181	6
16	5	523	4.622	18	4.600	18
17	3	137	3.025	12	3.188	3
18	4	462	4.236	2	4.361	1

Course origins

The PGA TOUR moved THE PLAYERS Championship from its usual March date to its present location in the schedule of May, Beginning in 2007 in order to space out the majors and prevent Vlach and staff at TPC Sawgrass from needing to overseed. The Schedule change coincided with the completion of a massive renovation project at TPC Sawgrass that brought Sub-Air Systems to each green, which were re-grassed with Mini-Verde bermudagrass, new drainage and irrigation system throughout the entire layout, and a new, gigantic clubhouse.

From the initial idea by former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane R. Beman, the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass was conceived with both the players and fans in mind. With its signature island 17th hole being one of the most recognized in golf, this magnificent Pete Dye creation has captured the imagination of golf fans the world over. Jerry Pate won the inaugural event in 1982.

David Pillsbury, president of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, oversees the 28-facility network, which hosted 10 PGA TOUR events in 2008, as well as three Champions Tour and one Nationwide Tour events. Pillsbury serves on the advisory council and board of trustees as immediate past chairman for The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization for GCSAA. --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America

Tournament course history

Course	Location	Years
TPC Sawgrass-Stadium Course	Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.	1982-present
Sawgrass Country Club	Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.	1977-1981
Inverrary Golf and Country Club	Lauderhill, Fla.	1976
Colonial Country Club	Fort Worth, Texas	1975
Atlanta Country Club	Marietta, Ga.	1974