The single most famous golf hole with a floating green is the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, home of THE PLAYERS Championship. While it’s technically an island green anchored to the ground, its all-or-nothing design has cemented it in golf history. But it's not the only one. This article will guide you through the details of the world's most famous floating and island greens, including the one that actually floats. We’ll cover the stories behind these legendary holes and, most importantly, provide a coach's perspective on how to conquer them on your next round.
When golfers talk about an "island green," one image flashes in their minds: a small patch of perfectly manicured grass, surrounded on all sides by dark water, with a tiny walkway for access. That image belongs to the 17th hole on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It’s arguably the most famous par-3 in the world, capable of making the best professional players look like weekend hackers.
The story goes that when course architect Pete Dye originally designed the hole, it was a simple par-3 with water on just one side. His wife, and fellow designer, Alice Dye, suggested a more dramatic alternative. She reportedly said, "Why don't you just bulldoze everything and put a green in the middle of the lake?" Pete initially resisted, but the idea stuck. The result was a hole that, while short, is one of the most intimidating in all of golf.
Every year during THE PLAYERS Championship, the golf world holds its collective breath as the leaders approach the 17th. We’ve seen dreams made and shattered here. Countless golf balls - estimated at over 100,000 per year from amateurs - find a watery grave. It’s not just a hole, it's a spectacle.
On the scorecard, the 17th looks harmless. It measures only about 137 yards from the championship tees. For a professional golfer, this is a simple little wedge. But the hole’s genius isn’t in its length, it’s in the pressure it creates.
So, you’ve booked the trip of a lifetime and you're standing on that iconic tee box. Your heart is pounding. How do you give yourself the best chance of finding dry land? As a coach, this is what I'd tell you.
This is the most critical decision. The hole might say 137 yards, but that's just a number. You need to account for the wind, the pin location, and the temperature. My advice is to take one more club than you think you need and make a smooth, controlled swing. A full-swing sand wedge that you have to press can easily balloon into the wind, but a three-quarter pitching wedge will have a more penetrating flight. Feel the wind on your face and trust your gut, but once you choose a club, don’t second-guess it.
Do not just aim for “the green.” That’s too big and undefined. Pick a tiny target. Is the pin in the front? Aim for the heart of the green, forgetting the pin exists. Is the pin tucked in the classic "Sunday" location in the back-right? Your target should be 10-15 feet left of the flag. This gives you margin for error. A slight push is safe, and a dead-straight shot is on the green. By focusing on a small spot, your brain has a clearer task, reducing the achnce of a panicked, aimless swing.
The pressure of the 17th is what causes poor shots, not technical flaws. Use a simple, repeatable pre-shot routine to insulate yourself from the moment. Here's a quick one:
Trust your preparation. You’ve hit this shot hundreds of times on other holes. The only thing different here is the scenery and the story in your head.
While Sawgrass has the fame, The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course in Idaho boasts a par-3 that is a true engineering marvel: an actual floating green. It's a 15,000-square-foot island built on a massive concrete-and-styrofoam barge, a one-of-a-kind experience in the golf world.
Designed by Scott Miller, this incredible structure isn't fixed in place. Using an intricate underwater cable system, the green is moved daily by computer. This means the yardage of the 14th hole can range from as short as 90 yards all the way up to 220 yards. The hole is set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Coeur d'Alene, surrounded by pine-covered mountains.
After hitting your tee shot, you don't walk to the green. Instead, you board a small, electric-powered ferryboat called "Putter" for the ride to the green. When you finish the hole, your caddie hands you a personalized certificate of achievement that lists the yardage of the hole that day. It highlights what this hole is all about: the experience.
Playing a genuinely floating, movable green presents its own set of challenges. Here’s how to approach it:
Because you're hitting entirely over water toward a solitary target with a vast mountain background, depth perception can be incredibly tricky. The green might look closer or farther than it really is. Your best bet is to trust the yardage provided on the tee box or by your caddie. Don't let your eyes play tricks on you.
The tee boxes for the 14th are significantly elevated above the green. This means the ball will stay in the air longer. An elevated tee shot generally plays a little shorter than the actual yardage, but wind coming off the lake can easily negate that. If there's any breeze at all, it will affect your shot. It's often better to take a little extra club and swing easy, much like the advice for TPC Sawgrass, to keep the ball flight from soaring too high and getting knocked around.
Seriously. This is one of the most unique and beautiful golf holes on the planet. From a coaching perspective, players perform their best when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. Don't get so wrapped up in hitting a perfect shot that you forget to appreciate the moment. Look at the mountains, enjoy the crystal-clear water, and have fun with the boat ride regardless of where your ball landed. This is a story you'll be telling your friends for years, so make sure you're present for it.
The concept of an island or floating green is so compelling that several other courses have created their own spectacular versions. Here are a few more noteworthy ones:
Another Pete Dye creation, and some argue it's even more difficult than the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. "Alcatraz" is surrounded by rock and water, with a very deep green that demands precise distance control. It’s longer and often requires a mid-to-short iron, adding another layer of difficulty.
Located in Yakima, Washington, this course offers perhaps the most whimsical island green in golf. The green itself is shaped like a giant apple, complete with a "stem" bunker at the top and a "leaf" bunker on the side, all floating in the middle of a lake. It's a fitting tribute to the region's famous produce and a fun, memorable challenge.
In New Orleans, you'll find another classic island green that puts a premium on accuracy. Though not as famous as the major resort courses, it presents locals and visitors with a nerve-wracking tee shot that defines the round before it concludes.
The floating or island green represents one of golf's most thrilling challenges, a test of both physical skill and mental fortitude. From the legendary pressure of TPC Sawgrass to the unique moving marvel at Coeur d'Alene, these all-or-nothing shots create stories and memories that last a lifetime.
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