TPC Sawgrass Course Help

[Kippy]

So I have a golf tournament there next week, it's on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I have a practice round on Thursday(Thanksgiving).

 

The first 2 days are the valley course and the last day is the Stadium course.

 

For any of you that have played it is it hard? My dad has played it several times and says a scratch golfer might not even be able to break 80 (I'm a 3 handicap). The course rating is also 76.8 which ties Augusta and Oakmont.

 

Can any of you give me any tips for either course?

Thanks!

[Scratchwho]

I like the Valley course much better...More forgiving and much better layout. My best advice to you is go to the most narrow hole around you and practice hitting driver on it. Sawgrass is long enough that you need to hit driver but tight enough to make you think twice. Good Luck!

[dirthead]

I played the Stadium course in July and shot 83. I'm a 2 hcp and just had two days worth of lessons before playing the course, so I was going through some swing changes. I haven't played the Valley course. The Stadium course is definitely hard. I played the first 5 holes and last 3 holes even par. The middle holes ate my lunch. The Bermuda rough was horrendous. I started missing fairways around number 6 and felt like I was hitting shots from a salad bar. The rough wasn't terribly tall, but it was thin and the ball just fell right to the bottom. Very hard to get out of. I'm really no expert on the course, but I would say fairways and greens are the key (when aren't they). Some of the tee shots were a bit tricky. Lots of sand and water, virtually on every shot. If you are hitting the ball well, especially your tee shots, you can shoot a good score. If you are spraying your tee shots, watch out.

[CheckJV]

There are a few really difficult holes but the Stadium course is not super difficult. You do have to hit some accurate drives on a few holes. A lot of the holes appear intimidating from the tee box and that is what gets to everyone. A 3 handicap should have no problem shooting around 80.

[jtarble]

Haven't played the Valley, have heard it's much easier. But if you can drive the ball straight, the Stadium course isn't that tough. I'm a 3 hdcp and shot 79 with a triple on 8.

It's very easy to get intimidated by the shots you'll face, but everything is straightforward and most places give you a spot to miss. Just commit to your lines and know where you can and can't miss. It's a really fun course though. Good luck

[cubuffs]

Agree with what has been said above. Will you have a fore caddie for the round on the Stadium course? I can tell you when I played, he was worth 3-4 shots throughout the round in helping me with lines from the tee. On certain holes depending on your length, you have to take lines that aren't exactly obvious (#5 as an example where you play it further right over the trap).

[LittleLeftToRight]

When I play a new course I Google Earth it. You can measure yardages and even get a rough idea of slopes around the greens. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of playing a course for the first time. It will also prevent you from making dumb mistakes like hitting a drive into a bunker because it "looks" like you can carry it. You will also be able to figure out lines off the tee and the parts of a hole you want to avoid. Obviously a course is a lot easier the second time around, but researching it with Google Earth might save you some embarrassment and give you some advantage over others in the tournament who are flying blind. Good luck!

[potomacgolfer]

If you're a 3 handicap, you will be fine -- relax and enjoy. I've played the Stadium course many times even though I'm a high handicapper, and there are no unpredictable "tricks," esp. if you have a caddie or forecaddie to help. Green are quick but not ridiculous.

[Kippy]

[quote name='cubuffs' timestamp='1385157624' post='8191814']
Agree with what has been said above. Will you have a fore caddie for the round on the Stadium course? I can tell you when I played, he was worth 3-4 shots throughout the round in helping me with lines from the tee. On certain holes depending on your length, you have to take lines that aren't exactly obvious (#5 as an example where you play it further right over the trap).
[/quote]
I don't think I will as it is in a tournament. But spectators will hopefully help if I have any

[dirthead]

[quote name='Kippy' timestamp='1385163650' post='8192530']
[quote name='cubuffs' timestamp='1385157624' post='8191814']
Agree with what has been said above. Will you have a fore caddie for the round on the Stadium course? I can tell you when I played, he was worth 3-4 shots throughout the round in helping me with lines from the tee. On certain holes depending on your length, you have to take lines that aren't exactly obvious (#5 as an example where you play it further right over the trap).
[/quote]
I don't think I will as it is in a tournament. But spectators will hopefully help if I have any
[/quote]

What cubuffs said is 100% true. Lots of lines off the tee that aren't obvious. Don't just grab driver and try to blow it down the fairway. The forecaddies were great for that. If they have a yardage book showing distances from the tee box, that would help a lot. You need to be very strategic with your tee shots on most holes. There are a few you can just swing away with the driver, but not many. Getting your tee shot in the fairway would be my number 1 priority. If the rough is up even a little, you'll have a hard time hitting the green from that nasty stuff.

[italianstallion]

Haven't played the Valley but played the Stadium twice. As a 2 HC my first round I pulled driver just about everywhere and shot 92. Went back a month later, and outside the par 3's I hit driver on 5 holes and hit 3 wood on everything else. Shot a 79, which I'm really proud of.

So like another poster said, on the Stadium course the Bermuda rough will cost you strokes. Ball goes straight to the bottom, which makes it hard to make a solid strike. If you do get a good strike, the ball just knuckles out of it. That's why I hit three wood all day my second go around; your chances of shooting well are so much better from 170-200 yards out in the fairway than 150 yards out in the rough.

The lines are very intimidating because Pete Dye pinches the fairways at certain yardage a from the tee. Take a look at the course on google earth and take note of the landing areas, which are more often in the 260-285 range than in the 285+ range. Play to these areas, plot your way around, and you'll fair well

[tcantine]

I've played the stadium a bunch and while its tough, the hardest part, at least for me, is creating proper angles off the tee to give the best approach. I've shot anywhere from 72 to 82. Make hay on the first 3 holes of each side and weather the middle 3. The last 3 on each side are very tee shot dependant. Missing greens isn't the end of the world but missing on the wrong side is. Have fun and play loose, a lot of people will defeat themselves.

[duck]

Shot 76 at the stadium with a ball in the water on 17. Played it from the back tees and the course was over seeded . It played long.

[9ccat9]

I have played Oakmont and TPC Sawgrass, the hardest part of TPC was the ball settling down in the rough. Driving was visually difficult, but you will have more room than what it looks like.