ON THE TRAIL
TPC Sawgrass
Sitting at the tip of a narrow peninsula that strikes out 411 feet into the centre of a pond, the‘ Island Green’ at TPC Sawgrass is undoubtedly one of the most iconic— and most vexing— holes in golfing. The club was formed in Ponte Vedra Beach in 1980 on the impetus of PGA commissioner Deane Beman, and as the world’ s first Stadium Course planned with spectators in mind, has been the home of The Players Championship ever since. While the signature 17th is supposed to test the best, TPC favours no particular style, giving any golfer the opportunity to tee up on a tournament-grade course.
GOLF COURSES IN FLORIDA
With more courses than any other state, Florida is a must-visit for golfers, says Emily Lush
Some 1,400 golf courses stud the Florida Peninsula and Panhandle. The Sunshine State’ s love of the game can be traced back to the 1890s, when the first stay-and-play resorts were built for pleasure-seekers travelling south on the new railroads. During the‘ golden age’ of golf-course architecture in the early 1900s, designers descended on Florida to shape its marshes, grasslands and sand dunes into state-of-the-art greens. Their legacy lives on in the Historic Golf Trail, which has in turn inspired many of today’ s modern clubs. While firstclass golfing is par for the course in Florida, these five spots stand out for their inspired fairways and exceptional facilities.
Sarasota National Golf Club
Clusters of sabal palms, pine and oak trees frame this 18-hole, semi-private course in the Gulf Coast city of Venice. An Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuary, Sarasota was planned and executed with the environment in mind— which is why much of the property’ s 2,400 acres are preserved as wetland. The championship course was designed by Gordon B. Lewis and is characterised by open, rolling fairways that are suitable for all levels. Sandhill cranes, white pelicans and gators are commonly spotted in the rough. illustrations: Lis watkins
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