Hey golf fans! Have you heard about TPC courses but wanted to know more about what TPC stands for and the story behind these famous championship golf courses? As a golf architecture nerd and weekend hacker myself, I‘ve done some deep digging into the world of TPC golf.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know about the Tournament Players Club.
A Network Born from Rebellion
TPC has its origins in golf‘s infamous power struggle between the PGA Tour and the PGA of America. Say what? Let me explain.
Back in the 1960s, touring professionals felt the PGA of America, which ran the Tour at the time, wasn‘t serving the interests of the players. So they rebelled and formed what we now know as the PGA Tour to take control of their own competitive fate.
But the PGA of America still controlled the prestigious PGA Championship, along with a lot of golf real estate and club properties.
To reduce dependence on the PGA of America, the Tour came up with the idea in the 1970s for their own branded network of tournament courses. And thus, the Tournament Players Club was born!
Ponte Vedra Beach Breakthrough
The first TPC course opened in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida in 1980 – TPC Sawgrass.
Built on 415 acres of swampy land, Sawgrass was designed to be the permanent home of The Players Championship. With its diabolical island green 17th hole and Pete Dye‘s devilish design, it sent shockwaves through golf.
Sawgrass announced that TPC courses would offer a new championship golf experience for fans and pros alike. No dull, flat tournament venues – these layouts would be bold and brash.
Over the years, TPC Sawgrass has cemented its place as one of the most recognizable and fearsome courses in golf. It set the tone for the TPC brand.
Rapid Expansion Through the 1980s
Emboldened by Sawgrass, TPC expansion kicked into high gear through the go-go 80s:
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TPC Eagle Trace opened in 1984 just outside PGA Tour headquarters in Florida
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TPC Piper Glen launched near Charlotte in 1985
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1986 welcomed TPC River Highlands in Connecticut
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TPC Sawgrass‘ Stadium Course hosted the first PLAYERS Championship in 1982
By the end of the decade, 10 TPC courses were operating from coast to coast. More premier golf venues would follow.
TPC By the Numbers
Today, the TPC network has grown to include over 34 golf courses:
- 29 courses in the United States
- 3 courses in Canada
- 2 courses in Mexico
Most TPC layouts have hosted or were designed to host PGA Tour events:
- 17 courses have held PGA Tour events
- 6 courses used to host tour events
- 11 courses designed for potential tournaments
Additionally, many TPCs regularly host Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Champions events.
Venerable Venues Coast to Coast
TPC has a presence across North America:
East Coast
- TPC Sawgrass – Players Championship
- TPC Boston – Former Dell Technologies Championship venue
- TPC River Highlands – Travelers Championship
Gulf Coast
- TPC San Antonio – Valero Texas Open
- TPC Southwind – FedEx St. Jude Championship
West Coast
- TPC Scottsdale – Waste Management Phoenix Open
- TPC Harding Park – 2020 PGA Championship
International
- TPC Toronto – RBC Canadian Open
- TPC Cancun – Former developmental tour stop
With tour stops from Florida to California and beyond, TPC boasts some of the most revered courses in the world.
Yearly Crowds and Economic Impact
The scope of the TPC platform becomes clear when you look at attendance and money generated:
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Over 700,000 fans attend TPC-hosted tournaments each year
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These events drive $200 million in charity funds
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TPC tournaments create $2 billion in economic activity
Big crowds, big dollars, big impact. TPC courses areanchors for the PGA Tour.
What Makes a TPC Course?
Given their prestige, certain design attributes have become signatures of TPC courses:
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Championship length – Most top out 7,200-7,600 yards to challenge today‘s pros
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Tour conditions – Impeccable year-round maintenance and setup
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Risk/reward holes – Holes 16-18 at TPC Sawgrass exemplify exciting risk/reward with water in play
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Spectator-friendly – Mounding and sightlines allow fans to follow the action
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Luxury amenities – High-end clubhouses cater to VIP spectators in style
Blending challenge, playability, and amenities, TPCs represent PGA Tour golf at its finest.
How Do You Gain Access?
As a golf nut, playing a TPC course is a dream! But how do us average Joes get access since they‘re owned by the Tour?
TPCs allocate limited public tee times, with availability highest in summer. But landing a spot takes persistence and cash.
Typical rates range from…
- $400-$500 in summer
- $600+ in peak season
As for eligibility, there are a few ways amateurs can earn access:
- Win a PGA Tour event
- Finish top 30 in FedExCup standings
- Rank top 125 in official money list
Alternatively, you can join a TPC club as a dues-paying member. But be prepared to fork over five or even six figures!
I‘m saving my pennies and keeping my fingers crossed for a slot one day.
Tiger, Phil, and Celebrity Owners
TPC isn‘t the only tour player golf course network out there.
Tiger Woods owns Payne‘s Valley near Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri, while Phil Mickelson has snapped up courses like Ocotillo Golf Club in Arizona.
But while Tiger and Phil‘s properties offer access to fans, they don‘t host regular Tour events like the TPC network does.
In fact, only about 20% of PGA Tour stops in a season are held at courses fully owned by the Tour. TPC remains their primary vehicle.
The Verdict? It‘s Complicated
In my view, TPC delivers pristine conditions, thrilling risk/reward golf, and memorable tournaments. Seeing the pros up close is worth the price.
However, some feel TPCs are shaping modern course design too heavily towards the elite player. Most amateurs don‘t have the length or precision to enjoy them.
Others argue TPCs undermine the local public golf infrastructure by hoarding prime property for high-end play.
Regardless, TPC courses undoubtedly provide an exceptional environment for today‘s biggest events. Their quality and prestige can‘t be denied.
But accessibility concerns will follow them as long as high prices and remote locations keep average fans from playing. It‘s the ongoing controversy surrounding golf‘s most famous course network.
So there you have it – the full story on those mysterious three letters TPC! Let me know if you have any other golf course questions. I‘m always happy to chat more about the world of golf architecture and history.
Until next time, keep it in the short grass!
