First impressions From a PLAYERS & TPC Sawgrass First-Timer

After so many years of seeing it on TV, playing it in video games, and watching endless highlights on YouTube, on Tuesday of PLAYERS I finally got the chance to see TPC Sawgrass up close and in person and I must admit - it was pretty darn cool.

Now look, I’m not saying that I was ready to be disappointed, but as a full-grown adult man (who still has a tendency to act like a bit of a child), I’ve gotten to the point in my life where few things actually surprise me and I try not to buy into the hype. The last time I felt any sort of emotional response to seeing a golf course was when I saw St. Andrews and the Old Course for the first time - I couldn't hold back tears (true story). Not so much because of the course itself but because it was a place that at one point in my life I had given up hope that I would ever see it in person.

Okay, okay—enough about that, because for one thing TPC Sawgrass is NOT the Old Course, and Ponte Verda Beach is NO St. Andrew. But regardless of which one you prefer, both have a place in golf and after seeing Sawgrass for the first time, I had 5 things to takeaway from the experience.

1. TPC Sawgrass is HUGE

I have spent a lot of time walking golf courses, and after taking in close to 20,000 steps on day one, I still feel like I didn't get the full Sawgrass experience yet.

From the clubhouse to the practice area to the overall scale of the golf course it all feels substantial, and considering it used to be a giant swap, it's one heck of a piece of property. My only lingering question from what I've seen so far is “what's the maintenance budget?”

Speaking of the course…

2. It's an amazing spectator golf course

Full credit to Deane Beman for having the vision of stadium golf and Pete Dye for executing that vision.

From start to finish (especially the finish) TPC Sawgrass delivers drama and consequence on every shot and as a fan, it's one of the few golf courses that offers such awesome accessibility to that viewing experience.

Even the back of the expansive practice area features an elevated hillside that offers the ability to watch players warm up and hit shots to defined targets including a green site similar to 17 - all the way down to the bulkhead.

3. The players love it

When talking to people involved—my conversations ranged from players to the equipment reps and everyone in between—they love TPC Sawgrass and what the PLAYERS means to the sport.

The thing about the PGA TOUR is, that most events are run by different organizations, which means at the end of the day they each have their own character - or in one way or another, they lack uniformity.

With so many players living close to TPC Sawgrass, and with it being the PGA TOUR's home event, you can feel the pride of the people putting it on and you can really tell how much the players look forward to the PLAYERS each year.

4. I’ll admit, 17 is pretty darn cool

As I said off the top, I try pretty hard not to buy into the hype, and having seen it so many times on TV I felt like I knew what to expect, but actually seeing 17 and watching players hit the the island green is truly an experience.

From the busy left hillside and with a full view of the hole - seeing the trajectory and feeling the expectation as soon as the ball is hit is fun to see in person. Although I was only there to witness a practice round, there was still an air of tension when you hear steel meet urethane so I can only imagine what that place must feel like on Sunday afternoon when the final groups roll through and the tournament is on the line.

The great thing about the island green is that it's binary, it's a yes or no, true or false question and no other place in professional golf asks that quite like TPC Sawgrass.

5. It's a scary off the tee

With so many camera angles and ways to see the course on various shots, the one thing I never understood until being up close and personal is just how intimidating the tee shots are. As a visionary puzzle crafter, Pete Dye knew a thing or two about how to create illusions and intimidation on every shot and TPC doesn't favor any particular shot or crazy distance advantage which is why trying to pick a winner (beyond Scottie Scheffler that last couple years is always so tough).

So, as someone who has heard a lot of people say “you gotta see this place” and ended up very underwhelmed TPC Sawgrass doesn't fit into that category and I think if you have the opportunity it really is a must see.