PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass atmosphere extended beyond professional golf, featuring interactive experiences for fans of all ages. The First Tee - North Florida organization hosted a popular attraction: a miniature version of the famous 17th hole island green.
“The 17 challenge hole is a mock of the island 17 green. It’s about a 35-yard shot, and everybody, courtesy of the players, gets to come hit two balls,” said Terry O’Grady, Director of Development for First Tee - North Florida. The organization focuses on youth development through golf, emphasizing character building over technical prowess.
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“We’re not interested in lessons and making you the next Tiger Woods or Scotty Scheffler,” O’Grady said. “We basically build character through the game of golf, where kids learn confidence in a judgment-free space.”
Visitors from as far as Connecticut praised the tournament’s organization and atmosphere on the final day.
“For locals to gear up for this all year long, and we’ll look forward to it. It’s a great way to showcase Ponte Vedra,” said Lauren Musinski, who attended with friends Nick Lefebvre and Elisa Chase.
The final day of the tournament also drew spectators from across the globe, including one local couple marking their recent engagement.
Rich Phelan and Leanne Boyle chose the tournament as their engagement celebration venue, with their wedding date set for May 2.
“We came down to The Players to celebrate. It’s a great tradition for us to come out here,” Phelan said, describing their decision to commemorate their commitment at the iconic course.