Sawgrass Country Club is a private member owned country club in the southeastern United States, located at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, southeast of Jacksonville. A Distinguished 5 Star Platinum Club of America and a Premier Private Country Club of Northeast Florida. The club hosted the PGA Tour's Tournament Players Championship five times, from 1977 through 1981.
| Club information | |
|---|---|
   | |
| Coordinates | 30°11′20″N 81°22′12″W / 30.189°N 81.37°W |
| Location | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Elevation | 5 feet (1.5 m) |
| Established | 1974 2015 (renovation and South) |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 27 |
| Events hosted | Tournament Players Championship (1977–1981) Senior Tournament Players Championship (1987) |
| Website | sawgrasscountryclub.com |
| East – West | |
| Designed by | Ed Seay (1974) Robert Walker (2015 renovation) |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,049 yards (6,446 m) |
| Course rating | 74.8 |
| Slope rating | 148 [1] |
| South | |
| Designed by | Robert Walker (opened 2015) |
| Par | 36 |
| Length | 3,513 yards (3,212 m) |
| Course rating | 37.5 |
| Slope rating | 147 [2] |
Golf
editFounded in 1974, Sawgrass Country Club expanded to 27 holes of golf in the 80's. The original 18-hole course consists of the East and West nines, designed by Ed Seay, and is now joined by the equally challenging South Course by Robert Walker, who also renovated the other nines.
The club hosted the Players Championship from 1977 through 1981, where it was played on the East and West nines in mid- to late March. It moved to adjacent TPC Sawgrass in 1982, where it has been played every year since, and was renamed The Players Championship in 1988.
| Tournament Players Championships (1977–1981) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Winner | Country | Score | Margin of victory |
Winner's share ($) |
Purse ($) |
| 1977 | Mark Hayes |  United States |
289 (+1) | 2 strokes | 60,000 | 300,000 |
| 1978 | Jack Nicklaus | United States |
289 (+1) | 1 stroke | 60,000 | 300,000 |
| 1979 | Lanny Wadkins | United States |
283 (−5) | 5 strokes | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1980 | Lee Trevino | United States |
278 (−10) | 1 stroke | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1981 | Raymond Floyd | United States |
285 (−3) | Playoff | 72,000 | 400,000 |
In 1987, Sawgrass hosted the Senior Tournament Players Championship in mid-June, which was won by Gary Player. The par-72 course was set at 6,636 yards (6,068 m) and the winner's share was $60,000.[3] Player sank a seven-foot (2.1 m) birdie putt on the final green to win by a stroke at 280 (−8).[4]
Tennis
editIn addition to championship golf, Sawgrass Country Club maintains a tennis facility, known as the Racquet Club. The Racquet Club at Sawgrass Country Club has been ranked among the 50 best tennis facilities in the United States by Tennis Magazine.[5] In 2009 and 2010 the Racquet Club hosted the MPS Group Championships, a tennis tournament on the WTA Tour.
Fishing
editFreshwater
The club's 27 holes of championship golf have a great deal of water. These ponds have natural structure and provide incredible habitat for some of Florida's biggest large mouth bass. Some even exceeding 10 pounds in weight. Residents and members have long enjoyed morning and evening fishing on and around the course. The months of January, February, and March attract the most fishing due to the large mouth bass bedding habits. Portion of the Guana River runs through holes 4 and 5 on the East nine. The natural swampy land the course was built on is also home to very large alligators. Some have even been over 10 ft in length. Other species found in the water include: gar, carp, crappie, tilapia, and bowfin. Sawgrass Country Club even hosts an annual bass fishing tournament. (https://www.sawgrasscountryclub.com/club/scripts/calendar/view_club_calendaritem.asp?CID=2194436&GRP=28959&NS=PUBLIC&src=w).
Saltwater
SCC's beach access provides a great location for surf fishing.
Fourth of July
editSawgrass has a long standing tradition of celebrating USA's freedom on Independence Day. The day always starts with a golf cart parade. Families enjoy friendly competition while decorating carts in a particular theme. While many simply stick with patriotic, themes can be about anything the contestant desires. The carts parade around the neighborhood and are judged in multiple categories. A cookout and fireworks are also part of the tradition. The club's fireworks have gained the reputation as being one of the best shows in the area.
References
edit- ^ "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Sawgrass Country Club (East-West)". United States Golf Association. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Sawgrass Country Club (South)". United States Golf Association. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ "Player wins". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). wire services. June 15, 1987. p. 3C.
- ^ "Player hits seven-footer for victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 15, 1987. p. 2B.
- ^ "Sawgrass Country Club Tennis".
External links
edit.