Travelers who visited Ponte Vedra for THE PLAYERS Championship last month may have had a chance to view the Sawgrass Marriott’s multimillion-dollar makeover.
In addition to refreshing 351 guest rooms and suites in the hotel’s main tower, the renovations included upgrading the pool area, spa, Cabana Beach Club and American Gator Club restaurant.
“This complex undertaking represented an opportunity to enliven the renowned property, which has long been a magnet for beach-goers and golf fans,” said Nathan Asay, Senior Project
Director with the John Hardy Group, which completed the upgrades. “We wanted to bring about the kind of change that would draw guests to its doors and to the larger Sawgrass Village, which is undergoing a concurrent revitalization.”
Renovations included a new façade featuring oversized sliding windows instead of Juliette balconies for a sleeker appearance. In addition, fresh landscaping was installed around the main entry and pool area, while lighting now highlights the trees on the grounds. The primary
resort pool has new surfacing and lighting as well. A special highlight of the pool area is a new surf pool open to both resort guests and local residents.
In March 2016, the American Gator Club restaurant, formerly the 100th Hole, opened, offering views of the 13th hole of the TPC® Sawgrass Stadium Course. The Sawgrass Spa, meanwhile, added several new features, as did the 24-hour fitness center, which introduced new equipment. By early fall, the guest rooms were completed. Each room now offers 30 additional square feet, along with new bedding, linens, carpet, lighting, and bathrooms. A Sawgrass Suite debuted, and a Premium Service Wing for VIP guests was also finished. The butler-serviced wing consists of 30 rooms and suites.
The resort’s oceanfront properties also received an upgrade. The Cabana Beach Club was updated with an improved entrance, landscaping, and roof, along with resurfaced walkways, pools, and adjacent patios. In addition, both of the club’s restaurants – which include 619 Ocean View and Sea Porch Bar & Grill – were similarly refreshed.
