Beginning in late March at the conclusion of this year's PLAYERS Championship, TPC Sawgrass will undergo a massive renovation that is sure to continue making the tournament, course and facility world class when work is completed in early 2007.

In 1980, former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman and course architect Pete Dye invented a new way to present tournament golf with the creation of the Stadium Course. After more than 25 years of play and tournament preparation, the course will be closed for a few months beginning this spring in order to tweak the fairways and greens. Because of hospitality demands, the current clubhouse will be torn down and a new clubhouse will be built that can handle the demands of visitors to the resort during the year and create suitable space for various functions during PLAYERS week.

The tournament's date change, from its current late March slot to May 7-13 in 2007 and early May in years to follow, will allow for drier, warmer conditions and more daylight. An additional result will be more extensive coverage from The Golf Channel and NBC. NBC's weekend coverage in 2007 will have limited commercial interruptions, later air times (2-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday) and broadcasts in high definition.

The course work is necessary in order to present premium conditions year-round. The course was built on marshland that causes the playing characteristics to change dramatically after rainfall. During a week of wet conditions, the winning score has averaged 13.6-under par, while weeks with little or no rain, the winner's total has averaged 8.5-under. The course will not be lengthened from its current 7,093 yards but made it play to its original "firm and fast" conditions.

The fairways renovation includes removing the current topsoil, adding extensive irrigation and fresh sand, totaling 24,000 tons of organic material removed, which equates to filling of seven miles of dump trucks. Already, five fairways (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 9) have been reworked. Every green will have a subsurface mechanical drainage system installed to hydrate in dry weather and vacuum water in wet weather.

Amenities will be developed that place the fans and the tournament's Proud Partners, UBS and PricewaterhouseCoopers, closer than ever to the game. Fans will be able to walk the 16th, 17th and 18th holes on a continuous elevated level. A new entryway from the main parking lots, complete with a Walk of Fame, interactive exhibits and merchandise, will be added.

The dramatic new clubhouse, to be constructed in less than a year, will accommodate at least twice as many special events and fits the architectural flavor of Northeast Florida. A temporary facility, to the right of the first fairway, will be in place during construction to handle resort guests and those playing the Valley Course, which will not close during this project. The new clubhouse will offer premium views of the ninth and 18th holes and will be fronted by a lawn where spectators can gather. It will also be constructed closer to ground level.

Visitors coming to play will also notice additional improvements. A short-game area and TPC Golf Academy with indoor hitting bays will be added to the current practice facility. A caddie program began earlier this year, with the caddies also serving as "storytellers" for each player.