The Dreaded 17th at TPC Sawgrass

Wednesday, 23 Mar 2005 | Sports

The Par 3, 17th Hole of the Pete Dye designed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida is one of PGA golf's most dreaded, filmed and beautiful holes.

It's only 143 yards, but it can be deadly. The famous hole sports an island green with plenty of water all around. The players have a hard time getting No. 17 off their minds during tournament play. You can't relax even with a several stroke lead until you've finished 17 high and dry. Although pros require only a pitching wedge or 9-iron off the tee, Tiger Woods says he's used as much as a 5-iron when the winds whip up. An average of 150,000 golf balls are removed annually from the water surrounding the 17th green.

Pete Dye made the hole quite by accident when encouraged by his wife to create an island green after too much dirt was excavated for other holes. One thing is for sure. This is a TV hole. This weekend NBC will cover the hole with up to 14 cameras including one that can travel as fast as 60 mi/hr traveling on a wire from the tee to the green.

You'll get a chance to see the famous hole this weekend if you tune in for the The Players Championship running from March 21-27, 2005.

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