Ponte Vedra (Ocean)

TPC Sawgrass is often showcased for its introduction of the island green to PGA play, however it’s hardly the first course to feature such a par three. In fact, it’s not even the first course in the greater Jacksonville area to host such a hole! That honor belongs to the Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra, with Herbert Strong being the architect responsible.

The origins of the hole have a very similar story as Sawgrass’s, however. Pete and Alice Dye were looking to create a white-knuckle ride for PGA professionals, and Strong intended to do the same when creating Ponte Vedra during 1928. Bobby Jones himself called it a “course to challenge professionals.”

Unlike its famous neighbor, Ponte Vedra has not attempted to keep up with the intense slope ratings of modern courses. Bobby Weed was the most recent architect to conduct a renovation at Ocean, focusing on bringing back Strong’s original vision. Now, at its longest, the course measures out to 6,700 yards, a less daunting sum with modern technology. Still, winds off of the Atlantic — as well as the inevitable anxiety that comes with an island target — can still make Ocean a minor monster.