TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

TPC Scottsdale is a fun course with immaculate conditions, as you would expect at $220+ in 95 degree May weather. It's also an in-your-face TPC experience, which at times makes it seem like all the other tour operated facilities. The final stretch is amazing, and you can definitely visualize what it's like to play in the largest attended tournament of the year (Waste Management Phoenix Open). But the collection of holes isn't as robust as Sawgrass, and and for some reason the defenses seemed more tricked up than San Antonio.

The opening tee shot at the Stadium Course definitely sets the tone. Only 340ish from the Resort tees, there's OB just a few yards off the right rough all the way down to the green. A bunker perfectly placed at 210 with 230 to clear is ready to collect even the best drives down the narrow fairway. And the green is elevated with multiple tiers (a feature used throughout the course). Basically, what should be an easy opener is a disaster waiting to happen for average golfers.

While the front nine basically has no water in play, holes 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18 all have lakes tucked close to greens and/or fairway landing areas. If you're out of position, you're going to post a big number.

The real fun starts at 15, an "easy" par 5 if you lay-up. You still need to avoid water on every shot until you reach the elevated island green. But it's a wonderful hole, visually and strategy-wise, if you're swinging the club well.

Next up is the short par-3 16th, known as "The Colosseum." Probably the 2nd most famous par 3 on tour, everyone expects the structure to exist year round. Some day in our lifetime that might happen, but regulations for a permanent structure currently make it cheaper to build and tear it down each season (running water, electricity, handicap access, etc etc). What you're left with is a beautiful short par-3, with blooming cactus and flowers between you and the elevated green. The pros play it from 140 to 160 depending on the day. We were at 120, and it's amazing how many of us missed the green (I didn't, suckers).

The 17th is one of the best drivable par 4s in the world, with water tight to the green on the left and behind. It's a really cool tee shot, with all of us going for the green finding the right side bailout area.

Finally, the 18th is a nice finishing hole requiring you to cut off as much as you can over water. It's no longer very difficult for the pros, but I recall a handful of big numbers on our cards after the round.

Bottom line... I really enjoyed the course. But if I lived in Scottsdale I'm not sure how often I could justify paying the TPC prices.


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Quick notes on the other courses we played:

Talking Stick (O'Odham) - A wide and deceptively difficult Coore/Crenshaw design. They made a flat piece of land interesting and it feels like a links course. Darren had a hole-in-one on the 6th hole from 150 out. An excellent shot, and he bought just about all of our booze for the weekend afterward.

TPC Scottsdale (Champions) - Fun design. More "desert" style than the Stadium Course. Most of us played as a 2-man scramble since the round was included, so I didn't see much trouble.

We-Ko-Pa (Seguaro) - Best course we played on the trip, and would definitely rank high on my list nationwide. Another Coore/Crenshaw design... all about width and angles. Would recommend as a must-play for anyone visiting the area.

Troon North (Pinnacle) - Stunning desert golf. Stupid hard. Any ball that doesn't land in green grass is lost or stymied behind giant boulders. If your driver isn't cooperating, you will want to quit golf. At the group rate it was definitely worth playing. But I don't understand how anyone with a handicap higher than 10 would want to be a member.

Sunday - Pairings

Against my better judgement, I added a tee time for Dave. Scepter wasn't "thrilled" with it, since we now have 17 players for 20 spots. Our 5th group will also be a couple tee times behind our 4th group... so the last three in are going off at 10:38am.

This also means that if the last two slackers wake up, there's room for them too.

Pairings have been given to the course so they are set in stone.

Keep your registrations current so this doesn't happen next time. We got some good courses lined up this season, and they require a bit more preparation.

Summer 2018 - Week 1 Information

I was a little behind with scheduling this week, but I wanted to see how the rain "subtropical" storm played out before booking somewhere.

Anyway, we're starting this season at 10am on Sunday down at Scepter, which is in Sun City Center. It's the course we played the 2-man scramble event at the end of 2017. Rate is $33 plus tax.

1226 Newpoint Loop, Sun City Center, FL 33573

The range is pretty far away, so I'd get there over an hour early if you want to hit balls.

Right now everyone is playing the WHITE tees, Katie on the RED. The white plays 6,000, and while there is a set behind them (blue) they aren't rated by the USGA for some reason. Instead of using the USGA's estimated slope/rating grid for unrated tees... the two guys who might move back can just play up this week.

Speaking of players... we have 14 people IN, so I booked 16 spots. That could potentially suck for one of the three guys who haven't responded yet. First two of those who do so can have the final spots.

Random pairings will be up by Wednesday.

New Membership Results

We had two guys up for new membership this season. Twelve current members participated in the vote, meaning each prospective member needed 9 votes to be accepted:

Danny Mac was confirmed by a vote of 12-0.

Ben was confirmed by a vote of 11-1.

Congrats guys. I'll get you "officially" set up everywhere on the site shortly.

Checking In

We start back up in 11 days! I'm behind in rolling over the schedule, but I'll get on that ASAP now that I'm back in town.

Voting on new members will start today and end on Sunday. Check your emails.

Also be sure to get your registration for next season updated. Dave, Greg, Ben and Danny have yet to do so. If you see one of those people, tell them to get on it.

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The Board asked me to post a reminder on how to play hazards (red vs. yellow). You can refresh yourself with this very short, and quite excellent, write-up I did last year. Please read the first part of it again.

We only consider policy and rules changes once a year, but one the Board discussed is the Double Par Tampa rule, of setting double-par as a max score on each hole. The discussion centered around: "Is DP the best max? Should we keep it? If we changed it what would be better?"

Wide range of opinions: leave it alone... no maximum score... +4 max.... max of 10 regardless of par.... etc.

Again, the purpose of the Board is to discuss and consider all aspects of league rules, even if there isn't any pressing problem with current policy. But they are elected by you, so give it some thought and tell your representatives your opinion on the matter. If you even have an opinion.

More to come about the new season soon!

Summer Board Meeting

Had our first ever Board of Directors meeting last night. We don't change policy or anything until the end of the year... but we discussed a handful of items we may consider down the road. Nothing big. For the most part everyone is happy with how the league is running.

Danny and Ben passed the preliminary new member vote 5-0. All current members will get an email later this week to officially vote on their membership.

The Hangover bar this season will be at The Retreat (near UT).

Everything else was administrative.

Hopefully some #content coming down the tracks soon.