Located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the TPC Sawgrass or the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass is essentially a golf course that is southeast of Jacksonville. The venue was the first of a number of Tournament Players Clubs to be constructed and it was established almost 42 years ago in the fall of 1980.

Home to the PGA Tour, it hosts and headquarters The Players Championship, which is among the signature events of the PGA Tour. Jerome and Paul Fletcher negotiated a contract with the PGA Tour, which comprised the donation of 415 acres for a dollar (the clubhouse has the original check prominently displayed there).

The TPC Sawgrass has two individual courses, the Valley Course and the Stadium Course. The design of the Stadium Course is the brainchild of Pete and Alice Dye, distinguished golf course architects. It is known for being among the most challenging golf courses across the globe.

Specifically built for The Players Championship, a distinctive “stadium” notion is used: similar to other sports, fans at the TPC are seated in “stands” built out of raised mounds of grass. The stadium is renowned for its par-3, 137-yard 17th signature hole, referred to as the “Island Green.” It is among the most difficult and recognizable holes in golf. The capacity of the stadium is 36,000.

The design of the Island Green resulted from an accident: the original design for the 17th was to be a plain par-3 green just partially encircled by a lake. But the soil around the 17th is sandy, which is required to develop a good golf course; however, it is unusual on the property that is otherwise swampy. By the time the course was nearly completed, all the sand had been excavated from the spot, leaving a huge crater.

The Island Green concept was the suggestion of Alice Dye, who recalled another golf course with a similar green. Even though he was not thrilled by the idea, Pete went along with it, in the process producing one of the most recognizable holes in golf. Due to its popularity among fans, eleven cameras are devoted to it by the Golf Channel during the tournament.

TPC Sawgrass is a recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and has received that award three times, so far. In addition, Golfweek magazine has also honored them as a top-10 rated resort golf course in the United States.

If golf isn't your thing, check out the historic Mandarin Museum.