Agents with clients who love to golf, take note: The only ways to obtain access to TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour's The Players Championship, is to be either a member of the club or a guest at the newly renovated Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa. In Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, this golf resort has the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west. It's a 35-minute drive from Jacksonville International Airport.  The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

In preparation for the 2007 The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass has undergone renovations in the past few months and is adding a new clubhouse, while the Marriott is renovating its guest rooms.

At press time, most of the rooms had been finished; the project was due to be complete within the first few weeks of this month.

About the Resort

The Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa has 508 guest rooms, suites and villas; six restaurants and two lighter-fare dining options; two lounges; and a 20,000-square-foot spa.

The guest rooms in the main tower underwent $16 million worth of enhancements and were converted to Marriott "Revive" rooms. They have wood furnishings, silver light fixtures, window treatments and coordinated artwork. New amenities include more spacious workspaces with an ergonomic desk and chair, while "Revive" bathrooms feature enhanced vanities, dual sinks and redesigned flooring. The best rooms to book are in the main building overlooking the lagoons, pool and golf course.

Recently renovated guest room

The Courses and Golf Facilities

Renovations to TPC Sawgrass' golf courses took place last year and included the eight-month, $10 million renovation of the The Players Stadium Course, which re-opened this past November with new state-of-the-art irrigation and drainage systems. Dye's Valley Course also received more than $1 million worth of enhancements, including extensive landscaping improvements and bunker reconstruction. In December, TPC Sawgrass introduced the TourAcademy, which offers highly personalized golf instruction.

The main clubhouse was completely demolished in April 2006. Slated for a re-opening this May, right in time for the May 7 to 13 The Players Championship, the $30 million, 77,000-square-foot TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse will include a 14,000-square-foot terraced event lawn, a restaurant, separate member/player locker rooms and resort locker rooms, as well as a "Walk of Fame" entryway featuring interactive exhibits and displays.

The focal points of the foyer will be five wall murals depicting great moments in The Players. Six hospitality rooms will serve as pre-function areas and have both audiovisual capabilities and Internet access. There are also three boardrooms.

Travel agents sending their clients to Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa should contact Jane Farve, the reservations manager, at [email protected] or 904-280-7049.