By David R. Holland
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – A week after the chilled fans of the 2011 Phoenix Open left the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, there were still skeletal remains of the grandstands where the PGA Tour’s preeminent attended event is staged.
No hecklers could be found at the par-3 16th, where during the tournament more than 50,000 fans can cheer and jeer as the pros strike a 150- to 175-yard shot than can be magic or tragic.
Magic has occurred on eight occasions when Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton, Brad Bryant, David Edwards, Jay Delsing, Steve Stricker, Mike Sposa and Jarrod Lye aced the hole.
“Really it was designed as just a little bridge hole to get to the 17th and 18th,” said Tom Weiskopf, co-designer with Jay Morrish of TPC Scottsdale. “Here is this little par 3 that doesn’t seem to be much of a challenge.”
The two probably never dreamed it would become a crescendo with such a boisterous crowd watching.
Morrish said the hole has become a “rallying point for the unduly enthusiastic and sobriety-challenged portion of the gallery”.
Some pros even bring gifts to try and appease the rowdies. If you miss the green expect an unhappy response. Leave a putt short and boos will reign down.
So, the final four holes can send a player and the gallery into a frenzy, or they can break a pro golfer’s heart.
Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale: 25 years later
It is hard to believe TPC Scottsdale is in the midst of its 25th anniversary celebration and the legends of this tournament have grown over the years on a golf course that Weiskopf and Morrish designed for a specific purpose – to host the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which has run for more than 73 years.
“Our goal was to create some risk-reward opportunities in the last four or five holes and give a guy who was two or three strokes back a chance to get right back into the tournament,” Weiskopf said.
Seventeen certainly created drama this year. It is one of those drivable par fours that regained popularity in the course building boom of the 1990s and 2000s. It’s only 332 yards, but a sliver of water just short and left of the tricky green gobbles up a bunch of balls.
Phil Mickelson rocketed his drive in to the water twice – in the third and fourth rounds. Scratch your head and wonder why these grip and rip pros just don’t play safer, especially on the final day when the pin placement is on a back miniscule nose of the green.
Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale: The verdict
This is a fun experience – to walk where the pros tee it up. And a mandatory forecaddie makes the day even more enjoyable, especially when you play just a week after the tournament. You will also enjoy the conditioning and the hustle and bustle of bringing down all the grandstands.
My forecaddie was especially helpful showing the right spots to aim for and adding comments about past Phoenix Open highlights and how some pros shined and some pros failed.
Take No. 17, for example. Andrew Magee scored an ace on the hole in 2001. It was a bizarre event that happened just after he had made a double bogey on 15. He pulled out driver, the ball bounded onto the green through Gary Nicklaus, Steve Pate, struck Tom Byrum’s putter and ricocheted into the hole.
Then there were the failures in this year’s tournament, like on Monday morning when Tommy (Two Gloves) Gainey nailed one of the red stakes propelling his ball into the water, then chunked the next chip. His triple bogey took him from contender to a tie for eighth place. You too, can experience these failures at 17. Or you could be heroic.
Most amateurs who play can’t help but think of the tournament and what their favorite pro did on 15, 16, 17 and 18. And Weiskopf and Morrish nailed it when they built drivable par fours in their courses.
“Short par fours are hard to do correctly. If you are going to layup I want the players to have the pressure of a tough chip and putt. And most of these I do have the biggest green on the course with lots of contours and movement in the putting surfaces. But there are other ways to do short par fours. Just think about No. 10 at Riviera Country Club – tough, short hole, but it has a small green.”
Weiskopf said he started thinking about drivable par fours when he played in the 1968 British Open at The Old Course in St. Andrews. “Depending on the wind you can drive 9, 10, 12 and 18, but you better hit your best shot. Most of the courses I’ve designed have had at least one or two of these holes.
TPC Scottsdale features a practice facility with a massive range and short-game area. There's also the PGA Tour Academy, which offers golf schools and individual lessons, utilizing the latest in video and computer software. The school also employs some of the best instructors in the country.
Be pampered at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Luxury world-class hotel, golf and Willow Stream Spa – what a combination. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers The Championship Golf Package for those wishing to play on two of Arizona's favorite courses -- the TPC Stadium Course and the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course designed by Randy Heckenkemper.
The package includes one night lodging, one round of golf at one of three courses, also including nearby Grayhawk, use of the practice facility prior to your round, transportation to and from the courses, and golf concierge service.
