So I decided I would stop by TPC Sawgrass on the way back from golf today. I wasn’t sure how far I would get seeing as the Players Championship is coming up in 2 weeks. I pulled up at security and they said, not problem. As you drive in, you pass the PGA’s offices and then head up towards the clubhouse. Before I get into this, let me just say this place is amazing! Absolutely the finest golfing facility I have ever been at (and no I didn’t get to play!). I started walking around, went down to where they have the winners plaques and took a picture of Ames plaque. Just beyond there is the practice range which is massive to say the least. They weren’t allowing them to tee off from the grass so they were hitting off the fake stuff, I would assume to get it ready for the tourney. I later found out this is the last day you can play it until after the event is over and its $375 so suffice it to say, I passed. As I walked around behind the clubhouse, a marshall pulled up and asked if he could help me. I told him I was simply having a look but he indicated I probably shouldn’t be down there so I made my way back up to the clubhouse. At that point I was about 40 yds from the 18th green. Back to the clubhouse, which by the way is a paltry 77000 sq feet, and was built in less than a year, including tearing down the old one which was started 2 years ago, just after the tournament ended and was ready to go for the next year.
Well, I walked around the clubhouse, went into the proshop, where they had the FedEx cup on display at the entrance, and the Charles Schwabb cup as well. I also went into the Presidents Cup room, a small room where they had all sorts of pictures, etc. of last years event and as well, the cup itself. See the pic of Mike Weir staring down Tiger on the wall. Pretty cool.
I then went upstairs where the ballrooms are (it is amazing you can just go wherever you like pretty much) and out onto the balcony. There is a great view of 18 from there.
I then went back downstairs and was talking to the hostess and I asked if you could get a view of 17 from anywhere around there. She said that the guide was taking a couple out on a cart and asked if I would like to join them. Well duh! I was all over that like a fat kid on a smartie. So we head out there and Gail our guide says she doesn’t know much about golf so she asked us to tell her when she should stop so as not to distract the golfers. Too funny. The other couple were from Albany and he was as giddy as I was that we were going out there. We drove up 18, had a good look at that and then just past there we saw the 17th green. It’s much smaller than it looks on TV. We then asked how close we could go and she said, go right up if you like. Ok! So we walked up, took a few steps on and touched the green. Amazing. Pin was back right today in the toughest spot of all! Took a few pics. Did I mention I didn’t have my camera and these are from my blackberry. Luckily the guy that was with me had one and didn’t know how to use it so I took all the pics on his camera and he will email them to me, I hope.
So we drove up behind the tee, walked down and stood just behind the hedge where the pros tee off. They weren’t using that tee today (it was covered) the blues and whites were over to the left. We then watched some guys hit and they were pretty cool about us standing there. 1 of 4 made it the first time. We moved over to 16 talked to the group coming off, some guys from Ireland who were over for a trip. The caddy said he caddied for a guy that had a hole in one on 17 last year. One of the Irish guys knocked it to about 10 feet but missed the birdie putt. Made our way back up 16 to and then had a look at 10. Holy narrow batman! After that I got dropped back at the clubhouse. All I can say is what an amazing experience and hats off to the staff there, and Gail especially.
pics to follow
