PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Not long after Lee Smith arrived in Ponte Vedra Beach as the new executive director of The Players Championship, he found himself in a conversation with a local real estate agent when the conversation shifted to his line of work.
When Smith said that he was with the PGA Tour and the new face of The Players, that led into another conversation that put the spotlight on just how well regarded the event is.
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“And I followed up with ‘Do you play golf?’ And she said ‘Never. I’ve never played golf.’ And you know that just hits you that this is a community event that you can’t miss,” Smith said.
“It speaks volumes to the fact that we’re not just looking for the core golf fan. You know, we’re looking for somebody that wants to come out, hopefully enjoy some great weather. Be outside. Watch the best players in the world. Have a culinary experience around the club that will rival any other sports entertainment out there. And so, it’s always important for us to focus on that experience outside the ropes.”
Golf will be the main attraction when the best golfers in the world descend on the Stadium Course the week of March 11 for the 50th Players Championship. The tournament has been played at TPC Sawgrass since 1982 and had bounced between March and May until the PGA Tour locked it in to March in 2019. Monday’s Players media day kicked off the closing stretch to tournament week for the biggest non-major event on the golf calendar.
The first three days that week are just as good to experience TPC Sawgrass as any other. Golfers will have practice rounds on March 12 and 13, typically low-stress days and not nearly as much foot traffic as when the tournament begins on March 14.
“That first day after the event, there’s a sullen feeling that we’ve got to wait another 364 days to do this again,” Smith said. “So, very, very excited for that.”
The Players is still all about golf, but the tournament has worked to make it not about golf, too. Smith said that conversation with his real estate agent was his introduction to how much crossover appeal this tournament has to casual and non-golf fans. He’s heard time and again since that day from different people in the north Florida area what The Players is about, and what makes the tournament special. One very big aspect of that is the attention to local detail, something The Players has done well for years and years.
Familiar restaurants and their menus will dot the course. So, don’t be surprised if you see a sign for Taco Lu or Silkie’s on the course. And everyone knows the iconic No. 17 hole, so drift over to the replica island green and try and land it on the green.
“Our goal is when the local community comes out, they’re going to see some of their creature comforts that they see throughout the year,” Smith said.
Smith was hired to take over for Jared Rice just about a month after last year’s Players wrapped up with Scottie Scheffler coasting to a five-shot win over Tyrrell Hatton. The past 11 months have been a crash course in getting up to speed on the community, the tournament and everything in between for Smith. He was hired from a general manager role at Liberty National Golf Club, but has a background as a PGA Tour pro.
Military tickets
Complimentary tickets to active-duty service members and one dependent (March 12-13) and one tournament day (March 14-17). Discounted tickets are available for veterans, which include a $20 voucher for food and nonalcoholic beverages. For information on that and where to register, see here.
Buy parking early
It tends to sell out Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $15 for Tuesday and Wednesday parking, and $40 for tournament days.
Shuttles available
Free shuttle service Friday-Sunday is available at Palm Valley Academy (700 Bobcat Lane, Ponte Vedra Beach, 32081), Valley Ridge Academy (105 Greenleaf Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, 32081) and Pine Island Academy (805 Pine Island Rd, St. Augustine, 32095). Shuttles are also available from Downtown Jacksonville at Marriott Jacksonville Downtown, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk. Cost for those are $20.
Bike, golf carts park free
Parking for bikes and golf carts is free in Lot 4W.
Leave the cash at home
The tournament has gone to a contactless pay system. All transactions are digital and cashless.
Fan lockers on site
Make sure you’re aware of the bag policy. Opaque bags measuring 6x6x6 inches and smaller or clear bags 12x6x12 inches and smaller are allowed inside the course grounds. Fans can bring in their own food in a 1 gallon clear, plastic bag where food items are also wrapped in clear wrap. But the tournament offers free fan lockers at the Nicklaus and Couples entry.