TPC Stadium

The 137-yard 17th demands a committed short-iron to a green surrounded by water, with no generous miss when the wind catches the ball. It is the signature moment at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, but the wider test begins well before the closing stretch. Pete Dye and Deane R. Beman created a par 72 that measures 7,245 yards from the championship tees, asking players to think from the tee rather than simply overpower the course. Fairway position matters, bunkers frame the preferred angles and the visual pressure can make a sensible target feel smaller than it is. Water stays in play at the par-four 18th, where a well-placed drive still leaves a demanding approach to finish. The course was conceived as a permanent home for THE PLAYERS Championship, with the land shaped to give spectators clear views around the action.

A second round is close by on Dye’s Valley Course, the neighbouring par 72 designed by Pete Dye, Bobby Weed and Jerry Pate. At 6,847 yards from its TPC tees, it provides a useful change of pace without changing resorts. Travelling without clubs is straightforward through the golf shop, which carries premium sets from Callaway, Cobra, Mizuno, TaylorMade and Titleist, in men’s and women’s specifications, with right-handed and left-handed choices and regular or stiff shafts. Groups can also arrange clinics before their round through the clubhouse.

The attached Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa keeps the stay convenient, with a choice of room types, several places to eat and swimming pools for time away from the course. NINETEEN is particularly well placed after a round, its verandah looking across the 18th while the kitchen serves seasonal American and Continental cooking. The wine list contains more than 800 selections, while the beer taps change regularly and the cocktail menu follows the season. Ponte Vedra Beach lies on Florida’s north-east coast, around a two-hour drive from Orlando International Airport.