Waste Management Phoenix Open

TPC Scottsdale - Stadium Course

Hole 18

TPC Scottsdale. The Phoenix Open. An event that is for sure on any golf fans bucket list. The 16th gets wild. Miss the green and you’ll get covered in beer, hole out and you’ll get covered in beer. And while I definitely recommend just watching the 16th hole, the bunkers are not the best this course has to offer. 

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is a relatively recent build in comparison to some of the courses that we’ve already stopped at. A perfect example of a top notch desert course. The vast expanses of desert, with cacti and boulders bordering all the holes and practically all the tee boxes, make for a truly spectacular looking course. I mean who can forget when Tiger moved a boulder here with the help of the crowd. I can tell you if I were in the crowd I’d probably stand on that dumb rock and add some extra weight to it. Use some of that Navy Seal training Tiger, drag that puppy by yourself now. 

The bunkering here is equally as amazing as the overall course aesthetic. The beautiful white sand against those lush velvet bentgrass greens, dang. Fun fact, velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina) in addition to being my all time favorite grass, makes the absolutely best putting surface. If I had my own course, you better believe every green is getting that smooth, smooth carpet of velvet bent. 

I could talk forever about velvet bent, but you’re here to read about bunkering. Choosing a bunker here was surprisingly difficult, several beauts stood out. The fairway bunkers on 18 take the cake though. Falling perfectly in the range of most people off the tee, especially if they are trying to shave some distance off their approach, these church pew wannabes are definitely a stand out. Since it will be a few more years before Oakmont hosts the US Open again, these will have to fill in. 

This bunker has four long grass islands making it a minor league version of that famous bunker in PA, and an absolute gorgeous hazard. The longer grass on the islands help conceal a hard second shot for anyone unfortunate to end up in it. Not to mention the bunker does have a bit of lip making a shot close to the edge equally as difficult. And, it’s next to a body of water, how can I forget. The epitome of a hazard. 

Tom Weiskopf created a gem of a course not only from a players’ perspective, but from the view of fans as well. While everyone tramples each other running to 16 for a seat, I say meander around. Grab a spot on the left side of 18 or the right side of 10 and you’ll see views and bunkers straight out of heaven. And then once some rowdy fans end up being removed you can slink in and take their spot. Win. Win.