Despite limited capacity, THE PLAYERS Championship still plans to donate food to the needy

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Food and drink has always been a big part of THE PLAYERS Championship experience. Each year, the tournament donates food to the needy, but with COVID-19 limiting capacity to 20% (roughly 10,000 attendees a day), organizers say they still plan on donating food — they just don’t know how much.

Food safety has always been a top priority, according to regional food and beverage director Tyler Hagin. Now, he says, food handlers are being more careful than ever before.

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“COVID, it just makes you think a little harder about making sure everyone’s safe, from fan safety to employee safety.”

Hagin oversees food operations at TPC Sawgrass. He says it takes about 150 people to make it all happen -- there are a lot of mouths to feed.

“At the end of the day, there’s something special and very rewarding about helping others.”

Last year, the tournament donated 17,000 meals -- worth over $700,000 dollars -- to Feeding Northeast Florida.

“Anything that we’re not going to be using or we have extra, we donate everything we can.”

Giving back to the community is a common theme at the tournament.

“That’s a big part of what THE PLAYERS Championship is, it’s how do we help Northeast Florida.”

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And it’s no different when it comes to meals, Hagin says.

Hagin says there are four venues in the clubhouse and about 15 food trucks throughout the course.

Cox Media Group