TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

Tom weiskopf and jay morrish designed the stadium course at tpc scottsdale, which opened for play in 1986. The city of scottsdale invited them to build a community golf course that will also challenge the best players in the world. Tpc scottsdale is one of arizona's most famous golfing destinations, as well as the long-term, modern-day home of the phoenix open, so the builders should be proud.

Since its inception in 1932, the phoenix open has gone by many names: the western open, the arizona open, the ben hogan invitational, and the fbr open, to name a few. Until 1987, the event was held at the ultra-private phoenix and arizona country clubs before transferring to the local tpc scottsdale, where it has been ever since.

Tpc scottsdale's stadium course was excavated and sculpted from the sonoran desert and is one of the most famous among professionals. Tpc scottsdale is as open and welcoming as a labrador puppy, in contrast to previous tpc courses that were close and challenging. The mcdowell mountains serve as a scenic background to a course with so little elevation change. The greens are similarly smooth, with only minor contours, and are often hit with a bouncing approach shot. Mark calcavecchia has won the phoenix open more times than anybody else, and his winning score in 2001 was a scorching 28-under-par. Calcavecchia's three phoenix open wins at tpc scottsdale for a combined score of 69 under par. Even as a bowling average, it's not bad!

The par five 15th, which is modeled after augusta national's famed 13th, is perhaps the most unforgettable hole on the 7,216-yard stadium course. The entire left side of the hole is bordered by water, and while the island green is reachable for the long hitter, so is the surrounding sea. Spectators shape a human amphitheatre around the tabletop green, which is surrounded by deep bunkers, on the par three 16th hole during the phoenix open. Weiskopf and morrish have made a habit of designing drivable par fours, and the 17th is no exception, with water on the left side of the green waiting to trap errant drives.

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