TPC Sawgrass - Pete Dye's Best Course or Most Famous?

[Mike Bodo]

Seeing this is Players week and the unofficial 5th major of the year, it calls for a TPC Sawgrass thread. To that end I'll ask everyone if history will view TPC Sawgrass as Pete Dye's greatest work, his most famous or both? I've personally not played or walked TPC Sawgrass, so I can't comment on it being his best work. However, I can more easily see it being his most famous purely from the standpoint it hosts one of the most prestigous golf touraments of the professional men's calendar each year.


There are a number of Dye courses I would play before TPC Sawgrass. In particular, but not in any order, Kiawah (Ocean), Harbor Town, Crooked Stick and Whistling Straits. I walked Whistling Straits during the 2015 PGA Championship and absolutely loved it and thought it was amazing! I've played the Dye course at French Lick and loved it, even though it kicked my ass. Perhaps I'm off my keester, but Sawgrass comes across to me on TV as being somewhat tricked up and gimmicky. For those who have played it, love it and feel it's his best course please share why. Thanks! 

[Paul Jones]

He came to speak to a group of us about 10 years ago when we were at Whistling Straits...  someone asked him which course he was most pride of?  Without hesitation, he said Casa de Campo and then went on to talk about what it did for the community. 

[Jim_Coleman]

   A long time ago (40 years?) I ran into RTJ at Dorado Beach and asked him what was his favorite golf course. His answer: “my next one.”

[Tim Martin]

Perhaps I'm off my keester, but Sawgrass comes across to me on TV as being somewhat tricked up and gimmicky. For those who have played it, love it and feel it's his best course please share why. Thanks! 

Mike-I enjoy watching The Players Championship as it really seems to test the field. I attended a few years ago without ever having played the golf course. It was a fun day and the PGA Tour does a terrific job of running the tournament. That said the abundance of flanking water, forced  carries and hero shots quelled any desire to want to play. I’ve told people my perspective and more than half have said play first before you become entrenched in your position. Who has changed their mind when spectating initially and then subsequently getting a chance to play?

[Andrew Harvie]

I've yet to see Casa de Campo but Ocean Course is better than Sawgrass

[Tim Martin]

I've yet to see Casa de Campo but Ocean Course is better than Sawgrass

+1

[Tommy Williamsen]

It is probably his best tournament course, with the Ocean course a close second.

[Tom_Doak]

The TPC was changed - a lot - in those first few years after it opened, and at least some of those changes were more to appease the client than at Pete's own instigation.  I don't think he considered it his best work.  But it might have had the greatest impact.

[Max Prokopy]

Certainly his most famous work.  Although he did build another island green at PGA West, the Sawgrass finish has a momentum all its own. 


Regarding best, I sincerely doubt it but have only played a few Dye courses so don't feel qualified to offer an opinion.

[Tim_Weiman]

I enjoyed Blackwolf Run the most.

[Michael Morandi]

Few championship courses offer the risk/reward of the final 3 at TPC  Sawgrass.

[cary lichtenstein]

Excellent tournament watching but definitely not amateur friendly. I like watching the tournament but not playing there. Not his best work.

[Kalen Braley]

I wish the original configuration was still in place around 16 and 17.  That original gladiator look was almost primal, certainly intimidating.

Someone posted up some pics a couple years back, would be interesting to see those again.