Image Source: http://www.tpc.com/cartagena-pga-tour-tpc-network
Back in 1980, the first Tournament, Players Club, (TPC) opened in Florida. As any golf enthusiast knows, these courses are some of the best in the world. Luckily enough for us, we have a multitude of fine clubs here in the US. PGA Tour is the main company that runs the clubs and the mastermind behind the unique set of courses around the country. After more than thirty years in the industry, the company has made a name for itself as one of the most popular golf corporations of all time.
Whether you are a professional golfer or new to the sport, you should find a TPC course near you. If you find one that suits you, you can either become a member of their elite club or pay a one-off day fee to use its facilities. Over the years, the clubs themselves have hosted a range of high-profile events. The initial Florida club is now the reigning HQ for the PGA Tour. The fact that the corporation owns these courses means that they no longer have to hire other courses for events. For the rest of the year, the clubs are open to golfers and tourists.
History and Growth
Since its rather small beginnings, the range of clubs has grown and grown. Back in the 1980's, Commissioner Deane Beman decided to create the clubs. Now, there are more than twenty clubs in the US, which means that you are never too far from a course. In the last thirty years, the clubs have become the main venues for the PGA Tour events. Aside from that, the courses often play host to a broad range of external events such as the second-tier Web.com Tour. These events bring in a whole load of money for the clubs, which means that they can sustain themselves and make a large profit. It is quite astounding to see how much the clubs have grown in the last few years.
The Players Course
While TPC technically stands for The Players Club, many people call it The Players Course. In fact, it is acceptable to use either of these names. Over the years, it has become clear that the two names are interchangeable. Many people now use the acronym as shorthand for either of these titles. The name comes from the fact that the Florida course had the original purpose of hosting, The Players Championship.
Image Source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/players-championship-grabs-few-figured-out-tpc-sawgrass
The fact that players all over the country use these courses is what make them so popular. Each course has a special design that does not offer any advantage to any individual player. That means that it is the best course to play on regardless of your individual skill set. The rather incredible golf course architect Pete Dye designed the course in this manner. Since then, the courses have become globally famous for this reason.
Where are the public-access courses/private courses?
If you hope to tee off for the day, you can access one of the public resorts or day fee clubs. All you need to do is turn up and pay for the use of the grounds. You should, in most cases, make sure that you have golf clubs and any other equipment with you. If you don't have your clubs with you, you can always hire some from the store.
Sometimes, these courses are part of a resort, which means that guests can use them when they stay there. You should look at information about the individual club before you do anything else. That way, you will know what the independent rules of each resort are. You can also find the opening times and prices for each club online.
If you are lucky enough to be a member of TPC, you have access to a broad range of courses around the country. The private courses are of an extremely high level and rival many professional golf clubs. Each golf club has only the best fairway quality available, which means that many people choose them. Once you are a member, you will not have to pay a fee to use all the courses available to you. You may also have the option of becoming a member of an individual TPC course, rather than opting for the entire package deal. Here are the private courses that are available in the US.
Image Source: http://www.tpc.com/Find
Services and Facilities
The clubs all offer basic and premium golf course facilities. The features of each course vary a little, and so it is worth doing your research before you head to a club. You can find out all the things you need to know online with absolute ease. The PGA Tour company started the range of courses to meet the needs of the average golfer.
Community Spirit
The clubs also give to a range of charities, which means that they give back to the local community. Some of the charities they support include the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The First Tee. The clubs have got a whole lot of publicity for their charitable activities.
If you like the sound of the courses, you can find out more about them online. Before you opt to become a full member, it is worth heading to a local course to see whether it is right for you or not. As we have mentioned here, many of the clubs around the country offer day passes, which means that you don't have to pay a full membership. Before you head to a club, you ought to call ahead and book your session. That way, you can make sure that you don't have to wait to use the fairway. Once you get there, all that you need to do is tee off and enjoy your game!
