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.