There was a time in the earliest years of The Players Championship and food offerings on the course didn’t get more elaborate than hot dogs, hamburgers and a few sandwich offerings.
Now, if there isn’t something to like at numerous sites around the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, you just didn’t arrive hungry. The fare includes seafood, barbecue, pizza, and Mexican cuisine, and yes, you can get a burger or a hot dog.
Many of the offerings are from First Coast restaurants and food trucks, including the Jacksonville Beach Baja Mexicana restaurant that has become a fixture by the 12th green: Taco Lu, owned by Don Nicol, who lettered in golf four years at Jacksonville University from 1986-1990.
Golf fans line up for Tacos on 12 featuring TacoLu near the 12th hole of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on March 12, 2024. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Taco Lu is celebrating an anniversary of sorts at the 2025 Players Championship. It will be the 12th Players for the popular stop “Tacos on 12,” where Taco Lu employees will serve up its signature tacos and a variety of Dobel Tequila flavors near the 12th hole.
Taco Lu has long relationship with Tour players
“It’s our favorite event and we’re friends with a lot of the professional golfers who play,” said Candace Bradshaw, Taco Lu’s catering manager. “They come to the restaurant a lot during the week and we see them and the fans at the golf course and we think it’s the most fun we can have.”
The relationship between Taco Lu and the PGA Tour began when it was at its previous location further East on Beach Boulevard. Several players on the Korn Ferry Tour lived in a nearby apartment complex and often stopped for carry-out.
They loved the food and spread the word. Business boomed and Nicol was able to move to the old Homestead restaurant.
It really took off before the 2016 Players. Defending champion Rickie Fowler did a promotional TV commercial for The Players and was asked what he liked to do on the First Coast other than play golf.
Fowler mentioned the beach, surfing and fishing, then casually mentioned, “then I’ll head over to Taco Lu’s.”
“You couldn’t buy that kind of advertising,” Bradshaw said.
Even more PGA Tour players flocked to the restaurant after that, and Taco Lu not only had its Tacos on 12 every year at The Players, but it branched out to serve the field in the Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro-Am at the Sea Island Resort.
“It’s been a really mutually beneficial relationship,” Bradshaw said. “And to have all of the local restaurants out there at The Players is huge for the local community. “
Who else is serving at The Players?
The Patio: A shaded fan zone between the 10th tee and the 16th tee/18th green will feature V Pizza and a Michelob Ultra bar.
Sawgrass Square: Located near the 10th tee, fans who are following players playing early and starting on the back nine can grab a bagel from Bagels R Us. Later in the day, 4 Rivers Smokehouse will be serving Texas-style barbecue and Bushmills Irish Whiskey will have a nearby bar.
Trucks on 10: Six local food trucks will be grouped around an open-air Michelob Ultra bar. The offerings are Twisted Okie BBQ, Mama’s Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen, Tikiz, Alma and Hibashi Party.
Stadium Village: Located just within the main entrance to the Stadium Course, the food court will have Homespun Kitchen, Firehouse Subs, Bono’s Bar-B-Q, the Local, Tropical Smoothie, Dailey’s concessions and Carolina Jax.
Taste of JAX: Located behind the 12th tee will be Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Mojo’s BBQ, Ajua Mexican Kitchen and Pele’s Wood Fired.
The Oasis: Fans will have views of the tee of the par-5 ninth hole with ABBQ and cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Blackstone: Located behind the 16th green, Blackstone grills will be set up to cook the Blackstone smash burger, grilled cheese, Mayport shrimp fajitas and Italian sausage and peers.
Wine and Dine on 9: Bonefish Grill will offer good paired with Meiomi Wines along the ninth fairway. Fans can also test their putting skills on a mini putting course.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Players Championship cuisine: Local offers include Taco Lu, V Pizza
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