TPC Sawgrass: Everything You Need to Know About Golf's Famous Island Green
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is the most famous par 3 in golf. A 137-yard shot to a circular island green surrounded by water on all sides, it has swallowed the tee shots of every significant player in the world at some point during The Players Championship. In any given year during tournament week, somewhere between 50 and 100 balls land in the water at the 17th hole. The TPC Sawgrass stadium course was built in 1980; the 17th hole has been producing anguish and ecstasy for every year since.
The Course
Pete Dye designed the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, opening it in 1980. The course was the first "stadium" course — designed with mounding around greens and fairways specifically to accommodate spectator viewing, a concept that seems obvious now but was genuinely innovative at the time. The course plays to a par 72 at approximately 7,200 yards from the championship tees.
The routing is distinctly Florida — wetlands, sawgrass, and the occasional live oak provide the visual frame. The design features railroad tie bulkheads, island greens, and other Dye signatures that were considered controversial when the course opened and are now simply "TPC Sawgrass." Greg Norman famously called it "not a golf course" when it opened. He eventually won The Players Championship on it.
The 17th Hole
The island green par 3 is approximately 137 yards from the standard tees, played over a causeway to a circular green approximately 90 feet in diameter. The green has some slope, but not enough to help if the ball runs to the edge — the margin between a good shot and a wet one is measured in feet rather than yards.
During The Players Championship, the 17th hole average score is consistently above 3.0 — meaning the field averages more than a bogey on a 137-yard hole. On the most difficult days, with the pin tucked close to the water and wind off the lagoon, it can play as high as a 3.5 average. Players who win The Players Championship typically make par or birdie at the 17th hole at least three of the four rounds.
The Players Championship
The Players Championship has been held at TPC Sawgrass every May since 1982. The PGA Tour's "Fifth Major" — a marketing designation the Tour has pushed with varying success over the years — has the highest purse of any tournament on tour and the strongest field outside the four actual majors. Winners include Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Steve Elkington, Hal Sutton (twice), Davis Love III, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, and Rory McIlroy.
Playing TPC Sawgrass
The Stadium Course is open to the public as a resort course through the TPC Sawgrass hotel. Book well in advance, particularly for spring rounds around Players Championship week when the course is at its best and busiest. The Valley Course (a second 18-hole layout on the property) is also accessible and provides a less demanding alternative for recreational golfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the island green at TPC Sawgrass?
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass plays approximately 137 yards from the standard tees. The championship tees play slightly longer (up to 147 yards for The Players Championship setup).
How many balls go into the water at TPC Sawgrass 17th?
During a full week of Players Championship tournament play, typically 50-100 balls enter the water at the 17th hole across the professional and amateur rounds. During the public-play season, the 17th hole is one of the most ball-consuming holes in Florida golf.
Is TPC Sawgrass public or private?
TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course is open to the public as a resort course through the TPC Sawgrass hotel. It is not private, though access requires either hotel accommodation or advance booking as a resort guest.