How can you play TPC Sawgrass? (And how much does it cost?)

It’s arguably the most iconic golf course in the world that doesn’t host a major – but that doesn’t make it off-limits. So how can you play TPC Sawgrass?

Every year, when the Players Championship on the PGA Tour comes around, golf fans all over the globe marvel at the Stadium Course and wonder, “How can you play TPC Sawgrass?” This is closely followed by “How much does it cost?” Well, allow me to answer both those questions for you.

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass has rightfully earned its place among the best golf courses in the world – not only for the iconic 17th hole. TPC Sawgrass was born from the dream of then-PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman. Beman worked with renowned architect Pete Dye to design a golf course that wouldn’t favor a particular player or style of play.

There’s a strong mix of short, medium, and long par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s. As well as right and left doglegs. The course layout was meticulously designed so no two consecutive holes ever played in the same direction. This means the wind has a more balanced influence on play.

The Players Championship moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1982 for the ninth iteration of the tournament. That year’s champion, Jerry Pate, celebrated his victory by throwing Dye and Beman into the lake by the 18th green, then jumping in himself.

In 42 years of the Players Championship being played on the Stadium Course, we’ve seen some iconic champions, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Scottie Scheffler, Fred Couples, and Sandy Lyle.

Having delivered copious amounts of symbolic moments over the years, there’s no wonder TPC Sawgrass is a bucket-list destination for many golfers. So, how can you live out this dream?

Where is TPC Sawgrass?

TPC Sawgrass calls the picturesque Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, home. It’s roughly 25 miles southeast of Jacksonville and the same distance from St. Augustine – one of the USA’s most welcoming cities.

Can you play TPC Sawgrass?

That’s why you’re here, right? And yes, you can. The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is widely regarded as one of the best public golf courses, not only in the US, but the world.

So, how can you play at TPC Sawgrass?

There are technically four ways of playing at TPC Sawgrass because they have two golf courses – the Stadium and Dye’s Valley.

For both courses, you can book a tee time up to 14 days in advance. Alternatively, you can book up to 12 months in advance through TPC Vacations. With the latter, you must book a minimum one-night accommodation at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa.

Now, how much does it cost to play at TPC Sawgrass?

There are different prices depending on which course you wish to play and what time of year you choose to play.

Between September and May, the green fee for the Stadium Course is $750 – just shy of £600 if you’re reading from the UK. Between June and August, the total cost drops to $550 (£430). Why? Presumably because of the heat.

Green fees for Dye’s Valley are considerably cheaper. Between September and May, a round at Dye’s Valley will cost you $325 (£250), and between June and August, green fees are $225 (£175).

I will note, all of those prices include your green fee, cart fee, forecaddie with group, and a warm-up bag of practice golf balls.

Package costs all depend on how many nights of accommodation you want at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, how many rounds of golf you want to play (and on which course), and the time of year in which you travel.

The Players Stadium package is the cheapest option, it includes one night of accommodation and one round on the Stadium Course. Prices start from $1,022 (£800) per person.

The most expensive standard package on offer is the Tour Player Experience, which includes, two nights of accommodation at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, one round on the Stadium Course, one round at Dye’s Valley, a private full tour of the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse by hand-picked PGA golf professionals, VIP locker room treatment, a personal professional caddie master, access to all Tour Player only areas, customized exclusive practice ground set-up, Tour Player Experience locker name plate, a leather-bound TPC Sawgrass Storyteller’s Guide, VIP service throughout the entire day, exclusive memorabilia not available to the public, and much more.

The Tour Player Experience starts at a whopping $3,433 (£2,650) per person.

Based on a two-night stay at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, one round on the Stadium Course, and one round at Dye’s Valley (the Dye’s Duo Package), you’re looking at $1,717 (£1,350). Compared to how much it costs to play Pebble Beach, this is very reasonable.

If you choose to walk the course. You have to pay extra for a caddie, which is either an $85 (£65) or $130 (£100) upgrade, depending on whether it’s one caddie per person or if two people share a caddie. Once you’ve completed your round, the suggested tip for a forecaddie is $40 per golfer and $50 per golfer for any walking upgrade.

If you decide not to play with your own clubs, you can hire a set for $85 (£65) – you get half a dozen golf balls, too.

Let’s say you book the Dye’s Duo Package, plus the caddie tip – let’s call it $100 because you’re not a cheapskate (that’s for both rounds) – that’s a grand total of $1,817.

That’s before you’ve even thought about eating, drinking, replenishing golf balls lost on the 17th, or splashing your cash on some beautiful TPC Sawgrass merch to remember your once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Lastly, how do you book?

You can book a tee time directly at TPC Sawgrass or through TPC Vacations. What are you waiting for? That bucket list isn’t going to get ticked off by itself!