Upgrades receive high marks GOLF

After makeover, Stadium Course remains ‘ a great test’

Emerging from swampland more than 35 years ago, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass has always been a good walk often spoiled by the dangers resting from the first tee to the 18th green.

Built by the devilish hands of Pete Dye, the course is a visually intimidating track full of water hazards, thin fairways, potholes, craters, mounds, sharp edges and deep, vast bunkers and waste areas.

Home since 1982 to The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event, Dye’s gem has terrified even the game’s best players. Dye’s goal was to make the players sweat — over every shot. Goal achieved. With its democratic design, the course demands usage of every club in the bag and tests every aspect in the player’s arsenal.

Over the years, the course has been tweaked and the greens softened. While it remained a stern test, the layout had grown a bit tired. But in keeping with the Tour’s mandate to improve each year, a major renovation began the day after Jason Day wrapped up his authoritative victory in last year’s Players.

Despite the makeover, the spirit of Dye’s doctrine was enhanced with additional temptation and trepidation ahead of this year’s 44th edition of The Players.

“It was much needed,” said 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, who lives 2 miles from TPC Sawgrass and practices almost every day at the facility when he’s in town. “We need to make sure every part of the golf course is major championshipcaliber. Unfortunately, the driving range was not there. The course condition was not major championship- esque.

“So you have to give props to the Tour for spending the money for the upgrades. The course and the range look amazing.”

A natural renovation occurred in October when Hurricane Matthew knocked down more than 200 trees, giving the course a more open look. All 18 greens were resurfaced with a more resilient strain of Bermuda ( TifEagle) that can withstand heat and frost. Seven greens were reconfigured to withstand wear and tear and provide more pin positions.

The vast practice range has been expanded and enhanced with additional putting and chipping areas and more targets to aim at and improved hitting bays to hit from.

But the biggest eye- opening alterations came on the sixth, seventh, 12th and 15th holes.

The sixth and seventh, which run parallel to each other, are now joined by a sizable lake. The 12th has been redesigned from a 360- yard par- 4 to a 303- yard, drivable par- 4. And a new tee at the 15th has stretched the hole to 470 yards.

“Every year we’re looking at ways we can improve our product. Our goal is to have it more exciting overall, and excitement in our world is movement on the leaderboard,” said the Tour’s inhouse architect, Steve Wenzloff, who consulted with Dye and Tour players.

Movement might occur on the 12th. The Tour was looking to add drama to the start of the back nine to augment the thrilling theater annually produced on the course’s famous closing stretch of the par- 5 16th, the par- 3 17th with its island green and the water- guarded, par- 4 18th. The riskreward 12th might deliver.

A large mound on the left of the fairway was replaced with a long strip bunker. The green was moved to the right, and a new tee was built. And then there is the lagoon that was added to the left of the green — 8 yards to the left and 7 yards below the putting surface. A closely mowed slope rests between water and green. The tee 303 yards away was placed in a direct line with the green, tempting players to think that the hole is so short they have to go for it.

“The 12th hole can now range from an eagle to bogey or worse,” Wenzloff said.

Horschel isn’t so sure. “I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward,” he said. “You have to hit such a perfect drive to get on the green. If you hit it a little left, you’re in the water. You hit it a little right, and you have to deal with those mounds to probably a tight pin. I don’t think they gave enough landing area for the guys to go for it. I think the guys who live here locally will have a little advantage because we’ve played it more. I think the guys who go for the green will play it at par. Guys who lay up will play a quartershot under par.”

Many players agree with Horschel, as, among others, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth said they more than likely will lay up on the hole.

As for the 15th, Horschel said the 20 yards added to the hole with the new tee won’t have a major impact.

He said the new tee on No. 7 definitely will.

The most noticeable change on the front nine comes at the sixth and seventh holes, where a large mound and two streams between the holes’ fairways was made into a panoramic lake. Although the new body of water won’t have much impact on the 393- yard, par- 4 sixth, it will jar the eyes of the players on the 451- yard, par- 4 seventh. The tee on the seventh was moved back and 5 yards to the left. A large tree on the right 150 yards from the tree could now come into play.

“Going left was never an issue at 7,” Horschel said. “Sure, some guys found the water, but it was rare. But that little change of the tee was dramatic. Now you have a massive lake in your vision. It sort of messes with your mind a little bit.”

Somewhere, Dye is smiling.

PGA TOUR The course renovation at TPC Sawgrass included redesigning the par- 4 12th hole by moving its green to the right, building a new tee and dropping its distance from 360 yards to 303 yards.