TPC Sawgrass No. 17: Despite critics, signature par 3 hasn’t changed

(Editor’s note: With the Players Championship just days from starting, we’re taking a look at the famous 17th hole in a series of posts from longtime Florida Times-Union golf writer Garry Smits. This is the third. Here’s the first about how Alice Dye inspired the island, and another on its merchandise line.)

It didn’t take long for the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass to achieve its notoriety. Despite initial complaints by players that the Island Green and other aspects of the course were just a bit whacky or downright unfair, this is the 46th year of the Stadium Course and the 44th Players to be conducted on Pete Dye’s design.

With just a few variations, the course has stood the test of time, and one hole that hasn’t been modified from Dye’s original vision has been the 17th.

Looking down on the #17 Island Hole Friday morning. The view from the MetLife Blimp flying over The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass Friday, May 13, 2016.

Then-PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman worked with Tour players and Dye on modifying areas of the course over the years. Some of the rough edges, such as love grass, tiny pot bunkers and railroad ties have been smoothed out or removed.

The masterpiece at No. 17 looks the same as it did when Jerry Pate, the winner of the first Players at the Stadium Course in 1982, landed his orange Wilson golf ball on the Island green to set up the birdie that clinched the victory. No cosmetic surgery or facelifts have been required.

The PGA Tour has made certain the hole stands out. Dye and Beman built huge spectator mounds to give fans prime views of the par-5 16th hole and No. 17, and it’s also surrounded by dozens of hospitality venues.

Roses grow near the 17th green as the Caddie Competition continues at The Players Championship’s Wednesday practice round in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on March 12, 2025. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

The NBC and Golf Channel telecasts offer aerial shots from towers, drones, cable-suspended cameras and the blimp. There’s even a camera inside the only bunker near the green. TV viewers get graphics on wind speed and direction.

And the fans on-course flock to the hole many spending an entire day watching and waiting for the good shots (there have been 14 holes-in-one and players such as Fred Couples, Nick Price, David Duval, Craig Perks and Rickie Fowler have secured Players Championships with birdies at the Island Green) or the disasters (1,068 shots have gone in the water since the Tour began tracking in 2003).

More: Office in the sky: My crash course as a camera operator 125 feet above TPC Sawgrass’ 17th green

Rory McIlroy tees off on the 17th hole during a three-hole aggregate playoff of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass Monday March 17, 2025. McIlroy won the playoff against J.J. Spaun in the fifth playoff in tournament history at the Stadium Course.

However, Players Championship executive director Lee Smith said that while the 17th hole captures national attention for the tournament, Florida fans are knowledgeable enough at golf to know 17 other holes matter.

“Maybe the national audience focuses on No. 17,” he said. “But I think our local fans know the brilliance of No. 4, the difficulty of holes such as No. 5 and 14, the awesome spots to watch golf at Nos. 12 and 13.”

Of course, the Tour isn’t making T-shirts with the 12th green on it.

“You’re right,” Smith said. “But the New England Patriots aren’t selling a lot of jerseys of their right guard, as opposed to the quarterback. But that right guard was an integral part of their success.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: TPC Sawgrass No. 17: Despite critics, signature par 3 hasn’t changed

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