It’s amazing the number of people who say they prefer the Valley course over the much more famous Stadium course at the Tournament Players Club in Ponte Vedra, a little south of Jacksonville.

On a recent tour of the Jacksonville area – the First Coast as the PR folks like to say – I had more people tell me they enjoyed the Valley course over the heavily-televised Stadium, with its famous No. 17 island green. That includes pros and amateurs alike. I’m betting there are thousands upon thousands of people who don’t even know the TPC has two courses.

I played the Stadium course recently and, of course, loved it, even though it was wet and windy, a steady drizzle blowing sideways. Haven’t played the Valley yet, but I’m hoping to get on during a second trip to Jacksonville soon.

And to answer a question I’ve gotten several times: I made par on the 17th. Hit just short of the green, barely avoiding the water, and got up and down in two. Actually, it’s not that difficult a hole, as most people who have played it will tell you.

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