The 17th hole "Island Green"

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TPC Sawgrass' signature hole is the Stadium Course's 17th, known simply as the "Island Green". While gorgeous to view, the hole has been known to scare even the top professional golfers. It measures only 132 yards from tee to green (requiring only a pitching wedge for most pros), but consists of nothing but an undulating, 78-foot-long green and a tiny bunker in front of it. Save a small path to the green, the rest of the hole is completely surrounded by water, and its location amidst a canyon of trees causes the wind to swirl over the green. Club selection at 17 is a huge consideration, as there is nowhere to land the ball but on the green – or in the water. It is estimated that over 100,000 balls are retrieved from the surrounding water every year, courtesy of professionals and tourists alike trying their luck.

According to the TPC Sawgrass website, the design came by accident. The original design for the 17th was to be a simple par-3 green only partially surrounded by a lake. However, the soil surrounding the 17th consisted of sand – necessary to build a good golf course, but rare on the otherwise swampy property – and by the time the course was near completion all the sand had been dug from the area, leaving a large crater. Dye's wife, Alice, suggested the Island Green concept, remembering another course with a similar green; Dye was not thrilled at the idea but went ahead with it, in the process creating one of golf's most recognizable holes.
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Coordinates:   30°11'40"N   81°23'27"W

Comments

  • I would try it. I'll most likey loose my golf ball but, it would be fun. It's like a hole near where I live. www.riverridge-golfclub.com Hole #14
This article was last modified 16 years ago