TPC Sawgrass & St. Augustine
Home to the PGA Tour & THE PLAYERS
The place
Welcome to the oldest city in the United States.
Saint Augustine has plenty of history to explore -- more than 450 years of it! It is the oldest city in the USA. Go back in time and walk through brick-lined streets, experience the city's Spanish conquest flavour with centuries-old buildings, horse-drawn carriages, hidden courtyards and fortress walls.
Visit Atlantic Ocean beaches like sandy St. Augustine Beach and tranquil Crescent Beach, stay at one of the 5* hotels and resorts, enjoy the exquisite cuisine and play in one of the world class golf courses. Don’t forget to visit the St Augustine World Golf Hall of Fame located a few minutes away from Ponte Vedra Beach and go inside the TPC Sawgrass and walk by Dye Valley and Stadium fields (annual headquarters of THE PLAYERS).
Golf
The emblem of this destination is TPC Sawgrass with its two courses: TPC Stadium Course (headquarters of THE PLAYERS) and Dye’s Valley (headquarters of the Web.com Tour Championship).
The Players Stadium Course
Home of the 5th Major “The Players Championship”, this Pete Dye course was built by the PGA Tour to be the permanent home of the Championship. This is the first true “Stadium course”, it was originally designed to provide an overall fan experience accessible to all fans. This course is truly balanced and does no favor any particular player or style of play. Players find a selection of short, medium and long holes which favors precision over distance. With its signature island green on the par-3 with just 137 yards, the 17th hole is one of the most recognized in golf (masterpiece by Alice Dye, wife of Pete).
Dye's Valley
Another design by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, is Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass, the sister track to the world-famous THE PLAYERS Stadium Course. It opened in 1987 and it has hosted the Korn Ferry Tour Championship since 2013. With design features similar to the Stadium, it has also hosted the Senior Players Championship, the NFL Golf Classic, and the final round of the Q School.
The King & The Bear at World Hall of Fame
The only golf course in the world that has been co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Featuring a style mix, the first nine holes are an open link-style layout. The second round is more traditional: typical Florida countryside lined with pine trees, 200-year-old oak trees and numerous water hazards. The course is a short drive away from Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, and Orlando.
Slammer & Squire at World Hall of Fame
Designed by Bobby Weed along with Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, this magnificent and highly enjoyable layout has been designed to preserve the area's natural beauty. The course showcases unspoiled wooded forest areas, wetlands and natural beauty of the region. It is relatively wide open with several contoured greens and impressive views of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Other recommended golf courses
The Palencia Club, St. Johns C.C, Marsh Landing C.C
Other things to do
Ponte Vedra Beach draws leisure travellers in search of miles of unobstructed white sandy beaches and warm sea waters. Take a day trip and get to know this laid-back community with blended notes of natural beauty. Take advantage of nearby cultural and recreational attractions.
Sightseeing in St. Augustine is a must. It is a picturesque city rich in history. The Nation's Oldest City has an amazing food and restaurants offering, enjoy seafood, Caribbean cooking, and Spanish specialties, or hit one of the local bars and grab a beer while watching the sunset. If you are a shopping fan, the city center of St. Johns and the city of Jacksonville are highly recommended.
Thinking about playing more golf: there are excellent options nearby. In the Orlando area consider playing at Bay Hill Lodge or Streamsong Resort, which are located just 100 miles away.
Planning
Where to stay
Royal Golf Travel has an array of very good lodging alternatives to choose from: houses, villas and condos in gated communities. Hotel in TPC Sawgrass and in World Golf Village are also very recommendable options.
Time to book
We recommend booking the trip at least 5 months in advance to guarantee tee time availability and find good accommodation options.
When to travel
The courses in the area usually perform maintenance during the months of April and May, we recommend travelling to this destination from May to October.
How to get there
The best option is to fly into Jacksonville. Or the alternative is to fly into Miami or Orlando International Airports and drive to the destination.
