The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach
The golf world gathers at The Stadium Course to witness history
It is not called Florida’s Historic Coast for no reason…Aside from having 450-years of Hispanic influence, cobblestone roads leading to centuries-old forts and churches and horse-drawn carriage rides through time, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra will once again be part of history during The PLAYERS Championship May 8 – 13, 2018.
Since its start in 1974, with Jack Nicklaus’ historic victory over J.C. Snead, The PLAYERS has been one of the PGA TOUR’s most coveted titles. Thousands of golf lovers flock to The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach every year, not only to witness history, but to play the courses the pros play, enjoy 42 miles of wide, sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, St. Augustine’s historic sites, famous restaurants, and breathtaking nature.
Here’s a guide to getting the most out of your trip to Ponte Vedra Beach, where you can play bucket-list championship courses, and also enjoy St. Augustine’s historic sites.
17th Island Hole at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course
Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass
Dye’s Valley Course, sister-course to the famous TPC Stadium Course
Designed by Pete Dye, Bobby Weed, and player consultant Jerry Pate, Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass, the sister-course to the world-famous THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, is available for play year round. Seasoned and casual golfers can benefit from the design of this golf course with wider fairways and larger greens.
Boasting perfectly manicured surfaces and water on every hole, Dye’s Valley was ranked No. 21 in Golfweek’s 2017-18 rankings of “Best Courses You Can Play” in Florida. Opened in 1987, Dye’s Valley Course previously hosted the Web.com Tour Championship and the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open.
World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village
Pay homage to golfs greats at the World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. It is the only place in the world where golf’s greatest players are enshrined along with exhibits tracing the evolution of the game and the personal memorabilia and artifacts from its 146 members. The World Golf Hall of Fame is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site honors both men and women.
The Hall of Fame Museum features The Hall of Fame Challenge, a monthly closest-to-the-pin contest conducted at the Hall of Fame’s outdoor Challenge Hole, where guests can compete to win prizes. Guests can take their swings at the Challenge Hole — a 132-yard island green reminiscent of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass — and have their shots measured. Those distances are then entered into our online leaderboard. The leaderboard is updated weekly, and the winning distance each month will receive a Commemorative Brick under the Gazebo!
King and Bear Golf Course at World Golf Village
The Slammer & Squire and The King & Bear
Just a few minutes away at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, vacationers live out golf fantasies on two great courses – the Slammer & Squire inspired by Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead, and the King & Bear, jointly designed by golfing greats Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
The Slammer & Squire is a 6,939-yard resort course and is distinguished by memorable par-3s, preserved woodlands, wetland and natural beauty. The King & Bear is a 7,279-yard course that is eminently playable and picturesque with par-5s amid lakes and live oaks. The King & Bear is rated among Golf Week’s Top Resort Courses.
Historic 9th Hole Island Green at the Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, The Lagoon Course & The Ocean Course
At the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, the Lagoon Course is a 6,022 yard, par 70 masterpiece. The course places a premium on accurate drives and thoughtful approaches. Water is definitely a dominant feature with a mosaic of lakes and lagoons taunting golfers on 11 holes. The par-72, 6,811 yard Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has served as the site for the U.S. Open qualifying round five times.
In addition to these very well-known courses, there are nearly a dozen other must-play championship courses available to play. Golfers can enjoy St. Augustine’s historic sites, famous restaurants, pristine beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, and breathtaking nature.
Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine
The Castillo de San Marcos, a National Monument
Nearly 450 years separate its past from its present, but nowhere is history more celebrated than in St. Augustine. The Castillo de San Marcos, is the oldest masonry Fort in the United States and the only standing 17th-century military construction. It is also one of two forts built of coquina, a soft limestone composed of broken shells.
Construction began on the Castillo de San Marcos in 1672 and lasted 23 years, until 1695. Castillo de San Marcos is a large Spanish stone fortress built to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. It’s a National Monument and, at over 315 years old, it’s the oldest structure in St. Augustine.
The Ponce de Leon Hotel, St. Augustine
Ponce de Leon Hotel, a National Historical Landmark
Explore the grandeur of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, built in 1887 by millionaire developer and Standard Oil co-founder Henry M. Flagler. The Ponce de Leon Hotel, also known as The Ponce, was an exclusive luxury hotel in St. Augustine. The site is a National Historical Landmark.
Florida’s Historic Coast has special offers for Golf Getaways featuring the ultimate golf experiences that are on every golfers bucket list, even ticket and lodging packages to The PLAYERS Championship! Find travel packages, book accommodations, schedule tee times and more all from florida-golf.org.
