The 17th hole at TPC at Sawgrass is famous for its island green. It is the signature hole of the Stadium Course, a short par-three that measures about 137 yards from the championship tee.
The green is actually a peninsula rather than a true island: a narrow path connects it to the surrounding land. Water nearly encircles the putting surface, leaving golfers little room for error. A small bunker sits at the front, but most shots that miss the green find the water.
The hole’s dramatic shape was partly accidental. During construction, workers excavated unusually large amounts of sand from the area, creating a crater that designer Pete Dye incorporated into the final layout. Swirling winds and the target’s small size make club selection especially difficult.
A common mix-up is calling it the 18th hole, since the 18th is the course’s finishing hole. The island green is specifically the Stadium Course’s 17th, and more than 100,000 balls are reportedly recovered from the surrounding water each year.