I played this course about twenty-five years ago (back before frustration forced me to quit playing golf, though I still love the game) and I believe that this is the most beautiful course in the eastern US.
What a place...
Years ago, USA Today had a "World's Worst Golfer" competition. They got entrants from all over with verifiable handicaps in the extreme high double digits that had been playing golf for over 10 years.
The event was pared down to a foursome of the "Worst of the Worst" and they played Sawgrass to determine the..uh...winner??
The "world's Worst Golfer shot somewhere around 290 for 18 holes. I'm not sure of the score, but it was pretty close to par for an entire PGA tournament.
I do remember reading that he put 17 balls into the water on the 17th. He then took a ball and his putter and went around via the path to the green. He even knocked one ball into the water on the path leading over to the green.
It gave me hope.