January 30, 2011

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, colloquially known as TPC at Sawgrass, is a well-known golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville. It is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and annually hosts The Players Championship, the PGA Tour's flagship event.

The actual grass, Sawgrass, is so named because it has spiny, serrated leaf blades that resemble a saw. Member Lars Faus was contacted for his knowledge of sawgrass after he routinely walked through it without a scratch at South Padre Island Golf Club.

"Lars," yelled Chad Long as Lars walked in and out of a large area of sawgrass to reclaim a golf ball. "Your a very smart guy," referring to his magazine-model legs not having a scratch.

Faus replied, "I know. Everyone makes mistakes, but smart people learn from their mistakes."

Long and Faus were referring to Lars' rain pants. "Most people do not think outside of the box," says Faus. "I do not have a rain suit, but a rain/sawgrass suit. It is not snake proof, but it is sawgrass proof. Add a pair of golf gloves to protect your hands."

The Wisconsian remembers as a kid on family vacations pushing aside sawgrass while trying to run through it down in Florida. "The sawgrass was unrelenting. My hands were cut to ribbons," said Faus. "Some of the blades sliced into my neck and face. It was a wake up call to respect grass."

Sawgrass is the species that inspired the phrase 'river of grass' and is often referred to as Everglades river grass. Sawgrass is actually a sedge, not a true grass. Sedges have triangular shaped stems whereas true grasses have round stems. Sawgrass grows in dense, uniform stands that may cover large areas. The plant spreads by underground stems and forms thick, often impenetrable concentrations that can become a problem as they clog waterways and prevent navigation and water flow.

"Sawgrass was everywhere in Laguna Vista, TX," says Faus. "The guys who were not petrified by snakes would walk ignorantly into it and come out with scratches and cuts. It was like reliving a bad dream."

While the coarse texture and sharp-toothed leaf blades of the plant make it difficult and even hazardous to be near, many wildlife species utilize saw-grass for both food and shelter. Migrating ducks and geese consume the seeds as a high-energy food source. Sawgrass provides cover and nesting sites for numerous birds, reptiles like snakes, and amphibians.

"Walking through sawgrass is easy with some sense," says Faus. "Everyone is afraid of sharks at the beach, but they should be worried about the sun. Everyone is afraid of snakes in the south, but should be worried about sawgrass."

"Sawgrass is found primarily in southeastern coastal areas from Virginia to Florida and as far west as the South Padre," says Faus. "It is most abundant across large areas in southern Florida where shallow soils cover limerock and there is standing or slow moving water. Wildfires spread quickly in saw-grass even with standing water present, but saw-grass rapidly resprouts from the roots or underwater stems."

The 2011 Virtual Tournament has officially started, however the scorecard volume is not expected to heat up until April or May for Lars Laus in Wisconsin.