TPC Sawgrass

[Erial_Lion]

Question for @MtNittany (or anyone else with input)...heading down to Ponta Vedra Beach in a few weeks. Playing Dye's Valley twice and the Stadium Course once. Assume you have experience with Dye's Valley...thoughts on it? I've read some that like it even better than the Stadium course, and others that think it's good but not great. Also, any bar/restaurant recommendations in that area? (staying at the Sawgrass Mariott, which gets mixed reviews)

Picked up my new clubs today, so need to get out a few times in the next few weeks before I fly down.

 

[MtNittany]

Only familiar with the Stadium Course. I'll ask Pedersen if I see him the next few days about the other stuff.

 

[MtNittany]

Question for @MtNittany (or anyone else with input)...heading down to Ponta Vedra Beach in a few weeks. Playing Dye's Valley twice and the Stadium Course once. Assume you have experience with Dye's Valley...thoughts on it? I've read some that like it even better than the Stadium course, and others that think it's good but not great. Also, any bar/restaurant recommendations in that area? (staying at the Sawgrass Mariott, which gets mixed reviews)

Picked up my new clubs today, so need to get out a few times in the next few weeks before I fly down.

Talked to Doug this AM about the Valley. He says top notch, don't pass up an opportunity to play it. I asked him about the name and whether it was sort of hilly, and he said "Flat as a pancake - No idea where the name came from."

He didn't have anything really to add on restaurants or nightlife.

 

[NoBareFeet]

Need a 4th?

 

[Shep]

Stadium course is very good. You will realize how precise you need to be with your irons on many of the holes to score well. The drive on 18 is very difficult. The 17th hole is so fun. You can guess which hole I played better.

 

[MtNittany]

Stadium course is very good. You will realize how precise you need to be with your irons on many of the holes to score well. The drive on 18 is very difficult. The 17th hole is so fun. You can guess which hole I played better.

The drive on 18 is harder than the tee shot on 17. The way Alice...err Pete wanted it.

 

[1995PSUGrad]

When I was a teacher, I had a student who was a very good golfer. His father owned a golf course and his uncle was a club pro down in Florida. As a sophomore in high school he went down to visit his uncle and they played TPC Sawgrass. He shot a -1.

A month or so later he played in a tournament at Toftrees. He was all excited because he knew I went to Penn State. Keep in mind that we lived near the coast in NC. He came back from the tournament and wouldn't tell me how he did, when usually it's the first thing he would talk about after a tournament. All he would say was that he wasn't prepared for all of the hills.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Played Dye’s Valley today. Awesome experience…course was a great layout, condition was fantastic, and the Sawgrass facility here has a world class range. Can’t speak more highly of the staff and our forecaddy. Expensive, but couldn’t recommend it more strongly.

PSU connection today (we’re everywhere)…warming up on the range, and a big guy called out my PSU hat. Got talking and not only was he an alum, he played…Greg Huntington, class of 92. Super nice guy. We’re both excited for the Campbell era.

Hoping the Stadium Course takes it easy on me tomorrow.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Played Dye’s Valley today. Awesome experience…course was a great layout, condition was fantastic, and the Sawgrass facility here has a world class range. Can’t speak more highly of the staff and our forecaddy. Expensive, but couldn’t recommend it more strongly.

PSU connection today (we’re everywhere)…warming up on the range, and a big guy called out my PSU hat. Got talking and not only was he an alum, he played…Greg Huntington, class of 92. Super nice guy. We’re both excited for the Campbell era.

Hoping the Stadium Course takes it easy on me tomorrow.

How was the wind today?

Here’s a good article regarding Greg. He must still reside in the Jacksonville area.

Talking Penn State Football History: Greg Huntington | PennSports.LIVE

pennsports.live

 

[Erial_Lion]

How was the wind today?

Pretty windy. But made it really comfortable.

 

[not so fast my friend]

Enjoy tomorrow! Great course. Loved the bunkers with real sand! Where I normally play, sand is so inconsistent.

Also loved the practice area. Got to really practice the tight lies and got way better using the bounce of my wedges chipping/pitching those couple of days at that practice area.

 

[MtNittany]

...Hoping the Stadium Course takes it easy on me tomorrow.

If it helps you on #17 tee, just tell yourself it's not as hard as the tee shot on #18. That usually helps. For a bit.

 

[Erial_Lion]

If it helps you on #17 tee, just tell yourself it's not as hard as the tee shot on #18. That usually helps. For a bit.

Yea, a 130 shot doesn’t bother me a ton…a slight pull hook turning into a re-tee is terrifying.

 

[centaur94]

Thanks for the updates. I’m playing both courses with my daughter over the summer. Really looking forward to it.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Yea, a 130 shot doesn’t bother me a ton…a slight pull hook turning into a re-tee is terrifying.

As I expected, was fine on 17, and over-drew one into the water on 18. Course was awesome, such a cool experience to play so many iconic holes.

Pro-tip for anyone coming here…get the pretzel in the restaurant after the round! It was awesome (and a good photo to post for anyone that, unlike me, does social media).

Wasn’t wearing anything PSU today, but still got a “we are” from a guy that noticed my tattoo.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Thanks for the updates. I’m playing both courses with my daughter over the summer. Really looking forward to it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on everything after you play.

Other thing to mention is that they give tours every hour on the hour from 9-3. Highly recommended…free as the guys are volunteering and tips go to charity. Guy that gave ours was awesome (used to do commentary on the ESPN+ broadcasts that I watch every week), with so many great stories. The clubhouse is a museum…allow time to walk through and take it all in!

 

[centaur94]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on everything after you play.

Other thing to mention is that they give tours every hour on the hour from 9-3. Highly recommended…free as the guys are volunteering and tips go to charity. Guy that gave ours was awesome (used to do commentary on the ESPN+ broadcasts that I watch every week), with so many great stories. The clubhouse is a museum…allow time to walk through and take it all in!

How was the pace of play? I imagine people take allot of pictures.

 

[Erial_Lion]

How was the pace of play? I imagine people take allot of pictures.

It was pretty good on Dye’s Valley. About 4:20 on Monday and 4:10 today. Stadium was a lot slower (cart path only is tough for those riding)…we played in about 5:05. There was a ranger pushing us a few times (one of the guys we were paired with was pretty bad…our forecaddy said you’d be surprised at how many really bad golfers play it). Also slows down at 17 as most groups all hit one from the pro tee for fun, then another from the tee they are playing.

And today was the third day in a row I met someone with a PSU connection…guy in the parking lot introduced himself and said both his daughters played softball for us.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

I’m playing both courses with my daughter over the summer. Really looking forward to it.

Stay hydrated.