Not long after Stephen Ames putted out on the 72nd hole to win the 2006 Players Championship, bulldozers rumbled onto the famed course and tore down fairways, greens, and even the clubhouse. It’s all part of a massive renovation to bring the facility up to world-renowned status.
The fairways renovation includes removing the topsoil, adding extensive irrigation and fresh sand. Five fairways (1, 2, 4, 5, and 9) have already been completed. Every green on the course is having a subsurface mechanical drainage system instealled which will serve two purposes: to hydrate the greens during dry weather and to quite literally suck the water out in wet conditions. These changes should make the course more playable in worse conditions and put a halt to the extensive rain delays the Players Championship – which moves to May in 2007 – regularly sees in its current March calendar slot.
Normally, we wouldn’t bother to update you on the progress of something as boring as a course renovation, but several photos were posted to pgatour.com today, and we found them fascinating. The 18th hole, above, and the 17th hole have been completely torn apart to have the sub-air system installed. Looking at some of the pictures, you may wonder how in the heck they plan to be read for any play in 2007, let alone a top-tier PGA Tour event in May.
Check out the images for yourself.
It sure isn’t as pretty as it in during tournament play. 🙂
I have mixed feelings on the situation, but I guess the sub-air systems will be for the better. With the tourney moving to May, I don’t really think any changes were necessary. But what do I know?
it sounds like they are only making some subtle changes. They have added some yards to some holes and flattened some greens. From what I hear, the changes should not alter the course significantly.
The good news is that the irrigation will be awesome and comparable with the Masters(if not better).
I gotta hand it to the PGA and how they have handled the TPC so far. I’ll give them the benefit of doubt and trust they will improve the course.
The course is one of my favorites to have played and I would love to see a better Match Play tourney played there.
Maybe they could change the Grand Slam of Golf to play at the TPC in match play format. I would think it would raise the interest level.
The purpose is not to change or alter or lengthen the course, but simply to improve drainage. If anything, I’ve heard that they’ll be eliminating some of the rough so that balls run through fairways and into worse trouble.
Never having played at TPC Sawgrass myself. But learning more about the game all the time. I feel that the changes to the course will be for the better. Hopefullt I will get the chance to experience the TPC Sawgrassand it’s entirity someday.
This is the most famous golf hole in the world. It is frightening yet beautiful. It is easy yet most difficult. The golfer must simply relax, trust his swing, and stay within his own game. Just do it. Following the fundimentals and calmly executing is all a golfer can do. “Take Dead Aim” at the center left of course.