Changes Coming to Home of The PLAYERS Championship
Changes are coming to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass after this year's PLAYERS Championship.
Following the 2016 edition of the season's so-called "Fifth Major", the course known for its famous island green will close for six months as several major changes will be made to the course. The most naotable of those changes will be a complete re-design of the par 4 12th hole.
Widely considered as highly underwhelming, the 12th in its current state is the shortest on the course measuing in at 358 yards. While the exact yardage of what it will be after the de-design is not known, the early reports are that after the changes, the hole will become a drivable par 4, adding more intrigue to the course.
"The redesigned 12th hole will add an element of excitement early on the back nine which we expect will be well-received by contestants, spectators and television viewers around the world," said Andy Pazder, PGA Tour Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations.
While that will be the most significant of the changes that will be made, several smaller, yet crucial, changes will be made to the course while it is closed as well.
The greens on holes 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 14 will all be resurfaced with TifEagle Bermudagrass and slight modifications to certain areas of the greens will be made. This will be done to counteract wear and tear from everyday play and add, in some cases, a new hole location to further reduce wear on the greens.
Extensive work will be done on the practice area as well, including an expansion of the hitting space on the back tees that the PGA Tour pros use and a redesign of the floor of the range. In addition to expansion of the tee deck, the work on the back of the range includes conversion of the existing building to a player lounge and the addition of a patio area with seating.
For the fans attending The PLAYERS every year, there will also be some improvements made to the entry ways of the property, making for a better experience for the everyone.
The 2016 edition of The PLAYERS Championship will be held May 12th through the 15th where Loxahatchee River resident Rickie Fowler will look to defend his title.
Leave A Comment