Ask any player for their golf-location bucket list and most will include TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course on it somewhere. Among the best public golf courses anywhere in the world - and certainly in the US - Sawgrass hosts arguably the most iconic single hole on the planet too.
But if you harbor dreams of sending your favorite Pro V1 high into the sky before landing safely aboard the penultimate hole in Ponte Beach, Florida, you better start saving.
While it still trails the most expensive green fee in the world by some distance - Shadow Creek in Las Vegas recently pushed its highest price up to $1,250 from $1,000 - second-place TPC Sawgrass just announced its most valuable tee time will top out at an almost-equally astonishing $900. That has risen from $840 for a morning start at the Pete Dye-designed course during its peak season last winter.
Rates include your green fee, cart fee, forecaddie base rate, and a bag of balls at the practice range, although it does not take into account the tip for your forecaddie - which is recommended to be around $40.
Shadow Creek in Las Vegas has the most expensive green fee in the world
Should you prefer to walk the Stadium Course - potentially looking to gain more value for you hard-earned money by soaking in the scenery for as long as possible - you can upgrade to a walking caddie for an additional $125 per person or $85 per bag if you want to load your caddie up with a maximum of two. The course recommends a tip of $50 per bag, should you choose this option.
But, if you’re really looking to make the most of your bucket-list adventure, you might want to consider the priciest option of them all - the Tour Player Experience. For just $2,554 per person, you get a two-night stay at the Sawgrass Marriott, one round each on the Stadium Course and the Valley Course, a walking caddie, player locker-room access, plus meals and other Sawgrass goodies to take away.
A general view of the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course
At the other end of the price spectrum, it is possible to play at the home of the richest individual purse anywhere in tournament golf during peak season (September to May) for only $650 - but these are known to be snapped up very quickly. Otherwise, prices can vary between the two depending on the time of day and the month you want to go out in.
The cheapest tee time available at TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course begins at $450 - although that exists during the off-peak schedule of May to August when weather conditions in northern Florida can make playing golf extremely uncomfortable.
Not everything at TPC Sawgrass has to make your credit card cry, however, with complimentary tours of the clubhouse and 17th hole with one of Sawgrass’ ‘storytellers’ - these are hourly throughout the day from 9am until 4pm. The restaurant and golf shop are also open to the public.
The course is currently shut until November 5, 2023 and also closes for about a month in the lead up to The Players. In 2024, the course shuts down on February 19 and reopens a month later, once the PGA Tour’s flagship event has concluded.
