THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

THE COURSE

What makes Stadium special

Built in 1980 for THE PLAYERS Championship, the course was designed with stadium-style spectator viewing and a balanced mix of short, medium and long holes. Pete Dye’s routing changes direction constantly and tests every part of your game.

SIGNATURE HOLES

The famous 17th—and the finish

The par-3 17th plays to an island green, but the closing stretch is broader than one famous hole: the 16th, 17th and 18th demand disciplined targets, distance control and emotional reset.

• 16th: choose a conservative target and avoid forcing the approach
• 17th: favor the center of the green over a heroic pin attack
• 18th: plan the tee shot first; the approach can become awkward from the wrong side

HOW TO PLAY IT

A smart game plan

Play one tee shorter than your ego suggests if that keeps approach shots comfortable. Prioritize the correct side of fairways, use the middle of greens on Dye’s tricky targets and accept that bogey avoidance is often more valuable than chasing birdies.

• Warm up your wedges and putting before the round
• Use conservative targets on holes with water and deep collection areas
• Commit fully to every shot; indecision is especially costly here
• Treat the 17th as a number-and-wind problem, not a highlight-reel challenge

BOOKING & COST

Ways to get on

Current published public rates start at $775 per player from September through May and $550 from June through August, including green fee, cart, forecaddie and a warm-up bag of practice balls. Stay-and-play packages offer earlier booking access and may bundle lodging, breakfast and multiple rounds.

• Non-resort booking: contact TPC Sawgrass up to 14 days ahead
• Resort booking: up to 12 months ahead through TPC Vacations
• Walking requires upgrading to a caddie
• Rental clubs are available; reserve details directly with the resort

WHERE TO STAY

Best base: Sawgrass Marriott

The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa is the simplest base because it is paired directly with TPC Sawgrass vacation packages. Packages can include Stadium, Dye’s Valley, breakfast, instruction and other on-property experiences.

• Dye’s Signature: one night, Stadium and Dye’s Valley
• Sawgrass Experience: three nights, Stadium and Dye’s Valley
• Championship 36: two Stadium rounds over two nights
• Performance Center: Stadium golf plus instruction

SAMPLE ITINERARY

A relaxed 3-night golf trip

Build the trip around one preparation round, one Stadium round and enough time to enjoy Ponte Vedra Beach rather than rushing between tee times.

• Day 1: arrive in Jacksonville, check in, practice and have dinner on property
• Day 2: play Dye’s Valley; use it to learn the turf, wind and green speeds
• Day 3: play THE PLAYERS Stadium Course; schedule a relaxed dinner afterward
• Day 4: beach morning, optional instruction or another local round, then depart

PRACTICAL PLANNING

Timing and logistics

TPC Sawgrass is in Ponte Vedra Beach, about 12 miles from Jacksonville and 20 miles north of St. Augustine. Avoid scheduled maintenance closures and consider visiting outside THE PLAYERS Championship week if playing the course is the priority.

• Best value window: June through August, subject to heat and storms
• Premium season: September through May
• 2026 Stadium closures include June 1–28, August 10–14, and October 19–November 8
• THE PLAYERS Championship week is March 10–16, 2026

OFF-COURSE

Add Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine

Keep one half-day free for Ponte Vedra Beach and one optional excursion to historic St. Augustine. The area works well when golf is the centerpiece but not the only activity.

• Beach time near Ponte Vedra
• Clubhouse dining and golf-shop browsing
• St. Augustine historic district excursion
• Optional instruction at the TOUR Performance Center