What is the toughest hole at Sawgrass?
The par-3, island-green 17th is one of the most famous holes in the world. But it's merely a part of TPC Sawgrass' closing puzzle; the 18th hole is actually tougher, boasting a +. 530 scoring average during the 2022 Players, the highest number on the course.
Signature Hole: 17th Hole – 137 Yard Par 3 – The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass' famed Stadium course is simply one of the most recognizable holes in the world of golf. The brainchild of Pete Dye's wife Alice, TPC's island green has become an icon in the game and the most photographed hole on the east coast.
The par-5 16th is actually the easiest hole on the course, by scoring average, but is also responsible for the third-most balls in the water, behind only the two closing holes. At 523 yards, it's reachable for just about every player in the field.
The hardest hole at a regular tour stop was the 529-yard par-4 on the Memorial Park Golf Course in Texas, host venue for the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open.
Playing to a stroke average of 3.265, it was the 10th hardest out of 204 par-3s on the PGA Tour last season and by far the hardest under 150 yards. And that's for guys with the confidence to make the 122-yard carry to the green every time.
Players 2022: Drunker than most—How a fan crashed a playoff at TPC Sawgrass by jumping into the water at the 17th. Hal Valdes said he was trying to win a $500 bet from a fraternity brother when he went for a swin at the 17th hole in the middle of a playoff to decide the 1987 Players Championship.
Single Carry Caddies are available for those players wanting to walk the course with their own personal caddie. The Single Carry Caddie fee is $90 per player and recommended gratuity is $40 and up per player. It is the member's responsibility to render gratuities in cash only.
Par 5 efficiency is extremely important at TPC Sawgrass. With all four of the par 5s under 575 yards and three of them under 540 yards, a good amount of the scoring needs to come from these holes collectively. Last year's winner, Cameron Smith, was third in par-5 scoring in his past 24 rounds leading into the event.
It is known for its signature hole, the par-3, 137-yard (125 m) 17th, known as the "Island Green," one of golf's most recognizable and difficult holes. It has a capacity of 36,000.
There have been 13 hole-in-ones on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. Hayden Buckley, Aaron Rai and Alex Smalley each recorded one one 2023.
What is the most famous hole on the PGA Tour?
Augusta National's 13th Hole
This majestic hole is possibly the most famous on the golf course with some truly stunning golf shots having been played here over the years.
Most members think of the par 4 as the harder hole, because the par 5 is easier to par, but the par 4 is actually easier, because the tee is 60 yards closer to the green.

The lower the handicap, the better the golfer; and the higher the handicap, the worse the golfer. If you have a high handicap, you need more than the suggested number of strokes (par) to finish the golf course. Scratch golfers have a handicap of zero. That means they finish the course or hole on par.
This is a modal window. Follow along as a professional diver collects golf balls from the water surrounding the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. Note that there's an alligator close by!
Why the 17th at TPC Sawgrass is so hard appears to be simple at first – it's surrounded by water. Up to a point that is true. However, it's not actually the water, but the “fear of failure” that really makes it so difficult.
➤ The longest putt on the 17th was 59 feet, 9 inches, made by Bernhard Langer during the second round of the 2008 tournament. Tiger Woods' 60-footer putt in 2001 was from the fringe so, technically, under PGA Tour rules, doesn't count as a putt. ➤ Langer has made the most career birdies on 17, with 24.
TPC Sawgrass operates like hotel and airline industries and has dynamic pricing. This means that any given day, that number can fluctuate, hence the $720 number. The $720 rate means the Stadium Course is the priciest tee time among public golf courses, even more than places like Shadow Creek and Pebble Beach.
Usual prices to play TPC Sawgrass, one of the best golf courses in the US, usually start at $600 from September to May, and $450 during the summer, but with limited availability for March tee times and coming right on the back of the Players Championship, prices are higher.
Just 12 miles from Jacksonville, Fla., and 20 miles north of historic St. Augustine, TPC Sawgrass offers two championship golf courses that are open for the public to enjoy – THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, Home of THE PLAYERS Championship, and Dye's Valley Course.
All attire that is acceptable on the Golf Course. Denim in good condition is permitted in the Clubhouse unless otherwise noted for a specific event. Specific attire may be required for special events, which will be noted.
Is Sawgrass worth the money?
Final Thoughts on TPC Sawgrass
It's one of the best target golf courses in the world, and to play a tour-level, championship course that isn't all about length was nice to see. The rate when we played was $413. I don't care who you are, that is a lot of money for a round of golf. In 2022?
Being a golf-cart girl earns me the most money I've ever made during the summer. At my course, we make a base rate of $16 an hour plus tips. The tips can fluctuate from day-to-day, but they're steadily very good. On TikTok, you see cart girls making thousands of dollars a day, and that's not realistic for most of us.
TPC is a high club golf that doesn't not have define a dress code but the people who go wear outfit sport or casual of major international brands.
Tom Hoge's new magic number: 62. On a Saturday afternoon of low scores at The Players Championship, Hoge went lowest of all and surpassed a host of major champions to carve out his own page in the record books at The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Despite the lore and the gore of the Players Championship, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is not the toughest layout played on the PGA Tour.
Mancil Davis – 51
Known as the “King of Aces”, Davis holds the PGA world record for holes in one. His first ace came in 1967. His 51st was tallied in 2007 during a celebrity golf tournament.
The PGA Championship has the strongest field of any of the four men's majors. The tournament is run by Professional Golfers' Association of America so, unlike the other three majors, no amateurs are in the field.
There are only three players in the history of the PGA Tour to record two holes-in-one in the same round: Bill Whedon at the 1955 Insurance City Open, Yusaku Miyazato at the 2006 Reno-Tahoe Open and Brian Harman at the 2015 The Barclays.
From September through May, pricing at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass starts at $600 per person and includes the greens fee, the cart fee, a forecaddie for the group, and a bag of balls to warm up. From June through August, pricing starts at $450 per player.
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is known as the "Island Green." That may be a bit of a misnomer, considering it's not an island, but rather a peninsula. The hole is surrounded by water on all sides, save for a walking path to make it up to the green, and features a tiny bunker at the tip.
How many hole in ones does Tiger Woods have?
Woods has hit a hole-in-one 20 times in the course of his lifetime, his first at the age of six. Three have come in PGA Tour competitions - at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, 1997 Phoenix Open, and 1998 Sprint International. Woods is the only professional golfer to win four majors in a row.
Andrew Magee created history with his ace
The 4-time PGA Tour event winner is the only person to ever hit a hole-in-one on a par-4 in the history of the PGA Tour. In 2001, on the 25th of January Magee made the record-breaking shot at the Phoenix Open. Magee was a bit frustrated after hitting a bogey on the 15th hole.
Although no one in PGA Tour history has ever recorded an ace on a par-5, there have actually been five records of par-5 holes-in-one. And no, none of them were from Happy Gilmore. The first “condor” occurred in 1962 off the club of Larry Bruce.
On a par 4 hole with a stroke index of 10, the player's maximum hole score is 7. Double bogey (6) + 1 handicap stroke = 7.
A 20 Handicap can record up to an 8 on Hole# 5 —Double Bogey plus 2 Handicap Strokes. 9 Hole Round vs 18 Hole Round — 7- 13 holes will be considered a Nine Hole Score and 14 holes or more will be considered an 18 Hole Score.
1 handicapped hole means it is the most difficult. Yet the hole that is toughest for some players is not necessarily the toughest for all players.
A score is acceptable for handicap purposes if the round has been played: In an authorized format of play over at least the minimum number of holes required for either a 9-hole or an 18-hole score to be acceptable.
While most stadiums don't allow smoking, Sawgrass is a huge open space which means smoking a cigar with your buddies isn't (terribly) annoying at all. Just make sure you're not blowing huge smoke clouds in the face of strangers. If you have some nice smokes, this is the place to bring them.
The water depth on Hole 17 at Sawgrass is approximately 3-4. 5 feet deep–depending on which tee box you are playing from. The deepest water comes into play when playing from the championship tees at 4.
Can you bring umbrella to TPC Sawgrass?
Mobile phones, tablets, and PDA's - MUST be on Silent mode and adhere to TOUR's Mobile Device Policy (CLICK HERE for more information) Point and shoot, film or DSLR cameras with lens smaller than 6”; no case (During Practice Rounds Only) Umbrellas without sleeve.
The par-5 16th is actually the easiest hole on the course, by scoring average, but is also responsible for the third-most balls in the water, behind only the two closing holes. At 523 yards, it's reachable for just about every player in the field.
Latest News, Tour News
Here's a statistic! Since 2003, 925 balls have been lost into the water at the island-like 17th green during the course of the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra in Florida.
The beloved par-3 is the shortest on the PGA TOUR at just 106 yards, and played as little as 92 yards during the 2010 U.S. Open. But Pebble Beach co-designer Jack Neville recognized what a special hole No. 7 could be before it even opened.
TPC — which stands for Tournament Players Club — means that a golf course is part of a prestigious network of golf courses around the world.
10 Years On: Tiger Woods wins at The Players Championship 2013 at TPC Sawgrass.
Bob Tway holds the unfortunate record of posting a 12 at TPC Sawgrass' iconic par-three 17th during the 2005 Players Championship - the highest ever score on the infamous hole.
Tom Hoge Shoots 62 to Set New Scoring Record at TPC Sawgrass - Sports Illustrated Golf: News, Scores, Equipment, Instruction, Travel, Courses.
Usual prices to play TPC Sawgrass, one of the best golf courses in the US, usually start at $600 from September to May, and $450 during the summer, but with limited availability for March tee times and coming right on the back of the Players Championship, prices are higher.
How much does TPC pay? The average TPC salary ranges from approximately $37,096 per year for a Server to $65,008 per year for an Assistant Golf Professional. The average TPC hourly pay ranges from approximately $18 per hour for a Server to $20 per hour for a Server/Bartender.
Do you get a caddie at TPC Sawgrass?
CADDIES AT TPC SAWGRASS
To ensure our guests have every option for making their TPC Sawgrass experience as rewarding as possible, we proudly offer caddie services through CADDIEMASTER, the premiere caddie management company.
This championship-caliber golf course is accessible to all golf fans. Working with renowned golf course architect Pete Dye, Commissioner Deane Beman created a course design that favored no particular player or style of play.
There have been 13 hole-in-ones on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. Hayden Buckley, Aaron Rai and Alex Smalley each recorded one one 2023.
Players 2023: Tom Hoge scorches Sawgrass to shoot course-record 62, vaults up leaderboard. Tom Hoge woke up Saturday in Ponte Vedra not knowing if he was going to make the cut at the Players Championship.
Jack took it deep, offering simple thoughts on each hole, and critiques of others. If he had to choose, it's probably the 10th, 12th or 13th. The real gold was in Jack's thoughts elsewhere on the course. He's not a fan of the 2nd hole.