There’s a huge new building in Ponte Vedra Beach. It’s not for sale, and no one will live in it. But it will attract worldwide attention next month.
At 77,000 square feet, the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse is almost twice as large as the other large clubhouse in North Florida. Even though its base is 20 feet lower than its predecessor, it’s higher at the top due to towers which reach up 65 feet.
The clubhouse construction benefited from good weather and came in on time and, reportedly, on budget. The timing was important as the building had to be ready for The Players Championship, which will be May 7-13.
The $20 million building will dwarf the other giants in this area such as the clubhouses at Hidden Hills, Jacksonville G&CC, Timuquana and Sawgrass.
The clubhouse is the most visible part of the massive renovation to the grounds for what the PGA Tour hopes will make The Players Championship the long-hoped-for “Fifth Major” in the eyes of the nation’s media. It replaces what insiders called the “Spaceship,” a squat building that appeared to be more roof than anything else.
The old clubhouse, which opened in 1981, was on a man-made hill that afforded only views of the practice facility. The new building faces slightly more to the south and overlooks the 9th and 18th holes, and the building is visible from 12 of the course’s 18 holes.
The main public dining area replaces a narrow, unwieldy area that was difficult to serve and provided little quality seating. In its place will be a 2,500 square foot grill with a terrace, and all seats should have good views.
A major problem in the past has been the locker rooms; members had only a small area and it was adjacent to the area used by visitors. Now, there will be separate locker rooms, one for members and Tour players, the other for guests.
If the design looks familiar, it should - the architects were charged with giving it an “Old Florida” look and came up with a well-known model: the old Ponce De Leon Hotel in St. Augustine, now Flagler College. It’s called a “Mediterranean Revival” design.
The clubhouse is designed for more than one week’s use a year and the Tour expects it to become a popular site for events such as weddings and big parties.
While the old clubhouse only had a small banquet area on the top floor, the new building has over 10,000- square-feet of space for events. The old clubhouse had little useable outside space; the new one has an 11,000 square foot “event lawn.”
And maybe a sign of what to come: the management has produced a slick brochure aimed at weddings.