Visitors returning to the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course will find some new views and other course improvements as a result of the extensive renovations to the course completed since the 2016 tournament.
Since then, THE PLAYERS has rebuilt all bunkers and greens, which have been resurfaced with TifEagle bermudagrass and redesigned No. 12 into a risk/reward drivable par 4, while a new fan bleacher has also been added on No. 12. Expanded greens on holes 1, 4, 9, 11 and 13 allow for new hole locations, and a new lake has been created between holes 6 and 7, which features a repositioned tee.
Newly redesigned practice grounds, meanwhile, have improved the visual elements for what the PGA Tour is calling a world-class practice area.
The renovations build upon the Stadium Course’s history as a course designed specifically with the spectator in mind.
Here’s what new and returning visitors can expect to find on the new Stadium Course.
Hole 1 –
Views:
The large grandstands to the left of No. 1 tee are popular to watch players hit their tee shots with mounds to the left and right of the green for optimal viewing.
Limited foliage lets you see a player’s approach and putt.
This less-crowded location provides a great opportunity to get close to players as they walk from No. 1 green to No. 2 tee.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand at 1 tee and 2 green
Renovation:
Reduced width of left rough
Removed turf strip separating approach and greenside bunkers
Expanded green front right and back right
Hole 2 –
Views:
Elevated mounding behind the green provides a great place to watch players decide whether or not to go for the par 5 in two or lay-up, and then you can keep an eye on them as they head to No. 3 tee to take a shot at the par-3 green.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand at 1 tee and 2 green
Renovation:
Removed turf strip on right fairway bunker
Modified approach mowing pattern
Hole 3 –
Views:
Left of the tee box is a great place to view golf, as you are just on the other side of the practice tee, which means you can move back and forth to watch the 3rd hole as well as see players warm-up. This elevated area provides a great line of sight.
Extended mounding to the left of the green allows for great views of balls approaching the green and players putting.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand at 1 tee and 2 green
Renovation:
Recaptured original green size in the front of the green
Hole 4 –
Views:
Sit on the bulkhead around the water surrounding the green and dangle your feet (hold on to those flip-flops!).
Lowered mounding for improved viewing on 4 tee.
Expanded fan walkway.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand at 4 green
Renovation:
Modified fairway long left by water hazard for additional spectator viewing mound
Reshaped right rough/left edge of fairway bunker
Added bulkhead on water edge along approach
Expanded green front to the right
Expanded green back left
Added closely mown area back right of green
Hole 5 –
Views:
Find great views of this tough par 4 from the elevated left side of the fairway, where you can also catch a glimpse of players practicing on the back tee of the upgraded driving range.
Elevated mounding behind the green provides superior viewing angles.
Food & Beverage:
Wine & Dine on 9
Restaurant Medure
The Wine Lounge Presented by William Hill Estate
High-end varietals from William Hill Estate Winery
Permanent restroom located on 9 fairway
Renovation:
Modified approach bunker on right side of fairway
Hole 6 –
Views:
This green isn’t very crowded and offers a great place to catch the action up close.
It’s the perfect spot to be near players as they walk from the green to the No. 7 tee.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand at 6 green and 7 tee
Permanent restroom located on 9 fairway
Renovation:
Added spectator mound behind back tee
Removed mound and created lake left of hole
Removed turf strip in left fairway bunker
Reduced width of right rough
Recaptured original green size in the front
Added spectator mound left of the green
Hole 7 –
Views:
The elevated mounding behind the green allows you to see all the way back to the tee box.
Food & Beverage:
Wine & Dine on 9 located on 9 fairway
Restaurant Medure
The Wine Lounge Presented by William Hill Estate
High-end varietals from William Hill Estate Winery
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at 9 Fairway
Refreshment stand at 1 tee and 2 green
Refreshment stand left of 8 green and 9 tee
Permanent restroom located on 9 fairway
Renovation:
Added spectator mound left of tee
Repositioned tee box slightly right and shifted cart path to front of the back tee
Removed mound and created lake left of hole
Expanded right approach bunker towards landing area
Eliminated turf strip between right greenside bunker and right approach bunker
Reduced size of left fairway bunker past landing area
Hole 8 –
Views:
Always a fan favorite, you can get close to the action when players hit their tee shots thanks to elevated mounding behind the green (and in the shade of nearby trees).
This area also allows fans to see shots land and players putt on this undulating green.
The fan bleacher on 8 green, featuring the Wine Lounge presented by William Hill Estate, offers fantastic views of the 8th hole.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand near 8 green and 9 tee
Wine & Dine on 9 located on 9 fairway
Restaurant Medure
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at 9 Fairway
The Oasis (21+)
The Blue Room VIP Lounge presented by Michelob ULTRA (upgraded ticket available at theplayersblueroom.com) located behind 17 tee
Ovinté
Bistro Aix
IL DESCO
The Wine Lounge Presented by William Hill Estate
High-end varietals from William Hill Estate Winery
Permanent restroom located on 9 fairway
Renovation:
Reduced size of fairway bunker
Combined two left greenside bunkers into one bunker
Lowered left side of green
Hole 9 –
Views:
A great par 5 to watch players hit their tee shots and decide whether or not to go for the green in two.
Significant amounts of foliage to the left of the green have been removed, and bleachers were added.
New mounding on 9 green was added so you now have a better view of players’ approach shots and putts.
Food & Beverage:
Refreshment stand near 8 green and 9 tee
Wine & Dine on 9 located on 9 fairway
Restaurant Medure
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at 9 Fairway
The Oasis (21+)
The Wine Lounge Presented by William Hill Estate
High-end varietals from William Hill Estate Winery
Concession Stand located at 18 tee
Concession Stand located at Four Points
Permanent restroom located on 9 fairway
Renovation:
Expanded approach short left of green
Expanded green front right and back right
Converted bunker behind the green into closely mown area
Hole 10 –
Views:
The elevated mounding behind the tee provides great views of players’ tee shots, and you’re just steps away from a permanent restroom.
Enjoy views of 10 tee and 16 tee from the new MD Anderson covered bleacher and deck.
Food & Beverage:
Stadium Village
The Patio
Fan Bleacher presented by MD Anderson Cancer Center
Trucks on 10
Cely's Filipino Food
Chick-Fil-A
BUBBA Burger
Mama’s Food
Pele’s Wood Fire
Up In Smoke BBQ
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at Trucks on 10
Permanent restroom located at The Patio
Renovation:
Eliminated turf strip between right greenside bunker and approach bunker
Hole 11 –
Views:
A fan favorite par 5 where players often go for the green in two, the green is surrounded by sand and water, which provides non-stop drama and excitement.
The newly enhanced bowl-shaped mounding around the green provides fantastic views of 11 and 12 with great shade.
Additional mounding for improved viewing on 11 green.
Food & Beverage:
Tacos on 12
TacoLu - Jacksonville’s most popular Baja Mexicana, will be serving food and beverages.
Taste of JAX
Mojo Kitchen
Hawkers Asian Street Fare
Trucks on 10
Cely's Filipino Food
Chick-Fil-A
BUBBA Burger
Mama’s Food
Pele’s Wood Fire
Up In Smoke BBQ
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at Trucks on 10
Permanent restroom located at Taste of JAX
Renovation:
Reduced size of bunker at beginning of fairway to create spectator cross-over
Reduced width of right rough at 1st landing area
Expanded green in front and back left
Reshaped left side of green to expand fairway
Created spectator mound back left of green
Hole 12 –
Views/Renovation:
Added new tee to be set-up as a reachable par 4
Eliminated mound left of fairway and converted it to a fairway bunker
Eliminated fairway bunker right side and converted it into rough
Reshaped green complex
Added pond left of the green
Added spectator mounding left of pond, behind green, and right of green
Food & Beverage:
Tacos on 12
TacoLu - Jacksonville’s most popular Baja Mexicana, will be serving food and beverages.
Taste of JAX
Mojo Kitchen
Hawkers Asian Street Fare
Permanent restroom located at Taste of JAX
Hole 13 –
Views:
Fans directly behind the green may even see a ball or two roll through the green and end up in collection area just on the other side of the ropes from where they’re sitting.
The top of the mounding behind the green also provides a nice view of players teeing off on No. 14.
Food & Beverage:
Tacos on 12
TacoLu - Jacksonville’s most popular Baja Mexicana, will be serving food and beverages.
Renovation:
Expanded green back and back left
Improved spectator mounding behind green
Hole 14 –
Views:
A tough par 4 with great, elevated views behind the tee and the right side of the fairway. Errant tee shots to the right often end up right near fans.
Food & Beverage:
Taste of JAX
Mojo Kitchen
Hawkers Asian Street Fare
Renovation:
Shifted cart path further from tees to widen player walk path
Lowered contours front right of green
Hole 15 –
Views:
This par 4 has elevated mounding on the left side of the green, providing good views of approach shots and putting.
Additional mounding for improved viewing on 15 green.
Food & Beverage:
Taste of JAX
Mojo Kitchen
Hawkers Asian Street Fare
Trucks on 10
Cely's Filipino Food
Chick-Fil-A
BUBBA Burger
Mama’s Food
Pele’s Wood Fire
Up In Smoke BBQ
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at Trucks on 10
GREY GOOSE® Bloody Mary Bar at Couples Gate Entrance
Permanent restroom located at Taste of JAX
Renovation:
Shifted tee back +/- 20 yds
Reduced width of left rough
Eliminated turf strip between left greenside bunker and approach bunker
Hole 16 –
Views:
The Fan Bleacher presented by MD Anderson Cancer Center – a public access shade zone – located behind the tee, provides a great view as players launch their tee shots.
The elevated mounding on the left side of the green also provides an ideal vantage point for approach shots and putts, as well as a view of the 17th hole.
This is one of the most iconic par 5s in all of golf, offering opportunities for eagles and birdies with accurate approach shots, but also bogeys and double bogeys with water looming down the right-hand side.
Food & Beverage:
The Blue Room VIP Lounge presented by Michelob ULTRA (upgraded ticket available at theplayersblueroom.com) located behind 17 tee
Ovinté
Bistro Aix
IL DESCO
Stadium Village
The Patio
Patriot’s Outpost (open to all active duty, Reserve, military retirees, veterans and their dependents)
The Patio
Fan Bleacher presented by MD Anderson Cancer Center
Concession stand located in the Grove behind 16 green and 17 tee
The Food Court
Brucci’s Pizza
Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q
Firehouse Subs
MShack
Tropical Smoothie Café
Trucks on 10
Cely's Filipino Food
Chick-Fil-A
BUBBA Burger
Mama’s Food
Pele’s Wood Fire
Up In Smoke BBQ
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located at Trucks on 10
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located behind 16 green
GREY GOOSE® Bloody Mary Bar at Couples Gate Entrance
GREY GOOSE® Bloody Mary Bar at Nicklaus Gate Entrance
Permanent restroom located at The Patio
Permanent restroom located behind 16 green
Renovation:
Added spectator mound in right rough at 1st landing area
Reduced width of left rough at 1st landing area
Expanded approach width to the left
Modified contours slightly back right of green
Hole 17 –
Views:
There is not a bad view of this legendary, island green par 3.
Cool off in the shade at the Fan Bleacher presented by MD Anderson Cancer Center – a public access shade zone – located behind the green.
This is a perfect spot to watch golf and then see players walk off the green and through the tunnel as they head to the 18th tee.
Food & Beverage:
Concession stand located in the Grove behind 16 green and 17 tee
The Blue Room VIP Lounge presented by Michelob ULTRA (upgraded ticket available at theplayersblueroom.com) located behind 17 tee
Ovinté
Bistro Aix
IL DESCO
The Food Court
Brucci’s Pizza
Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q
Firehouse Subs
MShack
Tropical Smoothie Café
The Oasis (21+)
Concession Stand located at 18 tee
Michelob ULTRA Mobile Build-a-Bar located behind 16 green
GREY GOOSE® Bloody Mary Bar at Nicklaus Gate Entrance
Permanent restroom located behind 16 green
Renovation:
Removed hedge from behind tee and expanded spectator mound
Hole 18 –
Views:
This finishing hole is one of the most difficult on the PGA TOUR, with water down the left side and an extremely narrow fairway.
You’ll find great views behind the tee and down the right side of the hole.
The elevated area around the green is known as The Bluff, where courtesy folding chairs are provided at no charge, and if you’re in your chair when the last putt drops at the end of the day, you can take it home for free!
Food & Beverage:
The Oasis (21+)
Concession Stand located at 18 tee
Permanent restroom located at The Patio
Renovation:
Removed several palms back left of tee to improve spectator visibility
