Conceived by former PGA commissioner Deane Beman and brought to fiery life by Renowned golf course architect Pete Dye, one of the most influential architects of the last 50 years.The 17that Sawgrass is arguably the most memorable hole in all of professional golf. Dye originally intended there to be a small lake adjacent to the green. But the soil around the green site contained the best sand for filling in the fairways on the other parts of the marshy property. Before anyone noticed, three-- fourths of the area around the green had been removed. Pete immediately remembered a watery hole at the nearby Ponte Vedra Club, designed by Herb Strong, and the island 17th was born.
The hole seems easy enough, it'sa relatively short132 yardpar-3, but this little gem has seen many a "Players Championship"dream come to a quick and decisive conclusion. It takes only a puff of breeze or gust of wind to cause your tee shot to fall short or sail precariously long and over the greenand into the water.Both circumstances leave themost seasoned professional scratching their head and teeing up a second time to hit their third. Don't be fooled. Hit to the center of the green here,and you could still find yourself more than a hundred feet away,putting to an impossible hole location. The spine that separatesthis green can deflect even a seemingly great shot into three-putt range. Hit to the right side, and you'll have a great look at birdie. If you're feeling GREAT about your wedge game and you find yourself down in your match, this is a great hole to press.
The island shape isn't for the faint of heart, but no one is safe until this hole is in your rearview mirror.
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Try your hand at some of the most thrilling holes in golf history—start planning your next golf trip to The Golf Course at Northern Bay. Questions? Contact our team.
