PGA Frisco - Fields Ranch East

In 2023, the PGA of America moved its headquarters to Frisco, TX after spending nearly 60 years located in Palm Beach, Florida. Keep in mind the "PGA" is NOT the "PGA TOUR"... rather it's the entity that oversees the Club Pros that fold your shirts and give lessons. They also run the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup.

The East course was designed by Gil Hanse, and built specifically to host Major championships, becoming the final anchor location for the "Five Families" of golf:

The R&A - St. Andrews Old Course
The Masters - Augusta National
The USGA - Pinehurst #2
PGA TOUR - TPC Sawgrass (Stadium)
PGA of America - Fields Ranch (East)

Before Fields Ranch East even opened it was awarded the:

2023 and 2029 Senior PGA Championship
2025 and 2031 Women's PGA Championship
2027 and 2034 PGA Championship

And I fully expect a Ryder Cup to go there at some point (probably 2039).

 

So how was it? Pretty awesome!

 

It's a big-boy course that's listed at 7,860 for the Championship, and can easily be stretched beyond 8,000 (however, no Major is ready to be the first to officially do that, as it'll drum up more ball rollback debate). Their "signature hole" (I disagree with that assessment) is a par three that plays straight uphill into the prevailing wind... and is 269 on the card!

 

The 13th is back there somewhere.

  

The wind is brutal in this part of Texas, and we had a full weekend of constant 20+ mph sustained. The greens were surprisingly small, and work is already being done to soften the edges to add more pin-able areas. 

 

Not pin-able.

 

Caddies told me Scottie Scheffler bullied the course into adding a new teebox on 18 because he didn't like the angle (there's nothing wrong with the angle, he's a grumpy man-child). 

Bryson DeChambeau (another man-child) apparently walked off the course during a practice round after 11 holes because the teeboxes "weren't level" - a trick that Chambers Bay also used.

 

Those complaints make me even more excited for the tournament next year. When TPC Sawgrass opened, the pros immediately tried to have it banned after one event. Now it's regarded as a challenging masterpiece. Will Fields Ranch East be seen in the same light 40 years from now? Probably not. But there are a lot of great holes out there.

 

It's like one of those movies where the more you think about it... the better it gets. 

 

With thick fescue waste areas, they can make this course incredibly difficult.

  

The entire resort complex (and Omni hotel) was pretty nice as well. Logistically one of the worst run places we've been to (although not nearly as bad as Southern Pines), but you can see the potential. There's a massive putting and par-3 course that's lit until midnight, and plenty of places to get food and drinks. You really don't have to leave the resort.

 

From the hotel... 18th green in the center... 10th tee on the right.

Their other course on property was decent with even more land movement, but that was our windiest day and everyone was just trying to survive. I'm not sure we were able to fully appreciate it.

 

Bottom line... very enjoyable location and experience. Don't get caught up in the course/set-up discourse next year at the PGA Championship. It's a great test of golf. It's not unfair. And if scores are low it's because the PGA of America chickened out.

Saddlebrook Notes

It's been awhile since we played here... but...

 

The range has been moved "closer" to the first tees. Range is included in greens fee. 

 

Parking is basically valet only, unless you want to roll the dice and just park in the valet only lot. You'll then have a long walk to the pro shop. The entire setup is terrible, and even if you valet it takes forever to get your car when we leave. I'd recommend arriving early to avoid any delays parking.

 

The new "sports bar" is in the main hotel where the valet is located. We should just eat there afterward.

 

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Unrelated to this Sunday, you may have noticed our schedule changed slightly. 

• Ho is out of town Week 2, which would have doubled our Lake Jovita rates. So we moved that to Week 5. 
• Hunter's Green didn't inform me they are punching their greens days before our originally scheduled Week 3 event... so we moved that to Week 6
• It's been a challenge finding "decent" places for Weeks 2 and 3... Seminole Lake agreed to take us Week 2, but we need to go out after their members (10:30am).

Adjust your RSVPs accordingly. As it stands now I'm probably going to drop Week 2 down to 16 players. Or perhaps even 12...

Week 1 - Summer 2026

One spot remaining 

We're at the "new" Saddlebrook National on Sunday, May 31st - 9am start. What used to be the "Palmer" and "Saddlebrook" courses have been hacked together into three different nines. Their signature nines are Pine and Oak.

 

It's a Frankenstein's Monster of a course, with a par-5 now playing as a long par-4... and multiple par-4s now par-3s with teeboxes slapped in the middle of old fairways. You'll also drive past old par-3s that no longer exist (although it looks like they should). If you don't get the sense the entire routing is "off"... then golf architecture isn't for you. And that's OK! Slap balls and hit cups!

 

A couple of weeks ago the course was in immaculate condition. A new range sits on the old Palmer 1, 2 and 18 (yes, the fun little par-3 finishing hole is gone). And we're getting a $55+ rate with range balls included. It's a great way to start the season, and we should probably just play here every season.

 

I've already reduced us to 16 players.  The next 5 to register are IN.  By about Tuesday I'm going to start asking for guests to fill the spots.

 

Everyone is on the WHITE tees, with the old men / shit golfers on GOLD if they desire.

 

Here's their scorecard from our new top-secret classified alien technology:

 

 

 

 

Let me know if you want to move back. See you next Sunday. 

Week 6 - Hunter's Green

Hunter's Green is punching their greens a week before our scheduled event in Week 3. So we're moving it to Week 6 (July 26)... where it'll be two weeks after they punch a 2nd time. I guess that's better. Anyway..

Same deal as last time... $80 and an 11:30am start. 

I have to pre-pay for everyone, and we must get to 16 people. Send me $80 if you're playing that week. Ask friends if you have any.

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In a related note... as we build technology for the future... we're probably going to need to start locking the field 8+ days out. And by that I mean 1) dropping groups to whatever multiple of 4 allows, and 2) penalizing anyone who bails within 7 days of the event.

We have 20 spots reserved for Saddlebrook (week 1) and I'm about to drop that to 12 or 16 based on RSVPs. 

Spring 2026 Champs Dinner

Great night celebrating great Champions. Looking forward to the Summer season!