Imagine a par-three surrounded completely by grandstands for 20,000 spectators cheering on their favourite players in a setting that visually resembles a football stadium rather than a golf course. Well, it exists and it is the 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course in Arizona, which is set up just like that during the week of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the beginning of February. You could say that, in a sense, it is the most spectacular hole in world golf. It is certainly quite a show.
Not like a few years ago, when players such as Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler took the opportunity of stirring up the crowds by throwing footballs. Even Padraig Harrington kicked one during the 2013 edition in true American football style. In 2014 caddies’ races – which had delighted fans – were banned to avoid possible injuries, and in 2015, "for security reasons", players and caddies were prohibited from launching balls into the stands.
Even so, the show around that 149-metre par-three, with its green protected by four bunkers, is guaranteed. When players enter through the stadium door at the tee, the crowd roars – encouraging those who hit good shots and booing those who do not – because the hole is relatively easy by PGA Tour standards. With so much shouting by enthusiastic spectators, in a way the scene resembles the old Roman arenas where gladiators fought, which is perhaps why the hole is known as the Coliseum.
If the stands around the 16 are impressive enough on their own, even more so is the volume of spectators who travel to the Stadium Course during the week of the Phoenix Open and who have turned this golf tournament into one of the sports events with the highest number of on-site galleries in the world. In recent years considerably more than half a million spectators have attended the four days of competition. In 2016 the attendance record was set, with 201,003 spectators in a single day (Saturday, 6 February), and last year there were a total of 720,000 during the week, 63,000 more than the previous year.
Only one sporting event held within closed facilities would be able to surpass the numbers at the Phoenix Open: the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, with 235,000 spectators in the stands and some 400,000 in total around the famous American mid-west oval racetrack. Other sporting events can attract more people, but it’s in open spaces, such as the New York Marathon, with a million spectators, or the Tour de France, where it was estimated that the first stage of 2014 was watched by two million people in situ.
Many of the spectators who fill the stands are students from nearby Arizona State University in Tempe. One of the most famous moments in the Coliseum came during the Saturday of the 1997 edition, when Tiger Woods caused the stands to erupt by throwing cups and other objects at the spectators.
The most popular US PGA Tour player at the Phoenix Open is undoubtedly Phil Mickelson, a former student at Arizona State University and a three-time winner of the tournament.
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You Can Also Be There
If you want to enjoy the Stadium Course when the Phoenix Open is not being held, and try to emulate the best golfers in the world - yes, without the pressure of thousands of spectators watching your shots - you just have to hand over $245 dollars for a tee time starting at 2.40 pm, or $389 if you want to play at an earlier hour.
$12 Million for Worth Causes
The Waste Management Phoenix Open and its tournament hosts, the Thunderbirds, raise money for various charities, most of which offer programs benefiting young people. Recent beneficiaries include Phoenix Children's Hospital, First Tee of Phoenix, Special Olympics Arizona, Homeward Bound, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Waste Not, Junior Golf Association of Arizona, Elevate Phoenix, A New Leaf and Tumbleweed. The Waste Management Phoenix Open raised more than $12.2 million for charities in 2018, setting a record in this respect; and the Thunderbirds have raised more than $134 million in the 82-year history of the tournament.
Impact in Arizona
For Arizona, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is much more than just a magnet for media attention in the world of golf: it also draws considerable revenue into the state. According to the latest economic impact study published by W.P. Carey Business School at Arizona State University, referring to the 2017 edition, the tournament injected $389 million into the Arizona economy that year. The studio was hired by tournament hosts the Thunderbirds. The economic impact of the 2017 tournament was 65.4 per cent ($222 million) higher than that registered in a similar study held in 2012.
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Tickets Never Run Out
Daily general admission is free on Monday and Tuesday thanks to the sponsorship of a car brand; on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday it costs $ 40; and on Friday and Saturday it is $50.
Children under 17 years of age enter free if accompanied by an adult. Tickets for the Waste
Management Phoenix Open are never sold out and are on sale at TPC Scottsdale's own box office during the week of the competition. Advance ticket sales close on the Friday before the tournament.
The Thunderbirds
Organisers of the Phoenix Open, the Thunderbirds began their journey in 1937, when the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce expanded its role as a convention and tourism office. A special events committee was needed to venture into new business fields, and five young executives were selected to lead the committee.
The Chamber suggested that the committee become an official group and expand its membership, and each of the five chose 10 additional members to form a committee of 55. The Thunderbird name was chosen because this iconic bird from American Indian iconography was, and remains, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce emblem.
Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organisation formed in 1986 to distribute funds raised through the Phoenix Open. The objective is to help children and families in need and improve people’s quality of life in the community. Donations collected are directed to organisations based in or with a significant presence in Arizona.
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Fan Code of Contact
“We take pride in the fact that the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community has become one of the premier sporting events in the country, attracting record numbers of fans from throughout the United States and the world. To ensure a fun, safe and memorable experience for all, please adhere to the tournament’s Code of Conduct:
Fans will respect the tournament players, caddies, officials and other fans.
Fans will enjoy the WM Phoenix Open free from disruptive behaviour including, but not limited to, foul or abusive language, obscene gestures, fighting, throwing objects, attempting to disrupt play or distract tournament players from their professional game. Such behaviour includes taunting players, caddies and officials, volunteers or other fans. Those who engage in any of these actions are subject to immediate ejection from the tournament and subject to criminal trespass.
Fans will avoid engaging in behaviour that endangers the safety of tournament players, caddies, officials, volunteers or other spectators.
Fans consuming alcoholic beverages will do so in a responsible manner. Impaired or intoxicated fans will be removed from the tournament grounds and subject to criminal trespass or prosecution.
Under-age fans who are found to be consuming alcoholic beverages or any fan who assists in purchasing or supplying alcoholic beverages to under-age fans will be removed from the tournament grounds in a prompt and safe manner and subject to criminal prosecution.
Tournament volunteers, ambassadors, security and police personnel are trained to intervene where necessary to help ensure that the above expectations are met, and fans are encouraged to report any inappropriate behaviour to the nearest tournament representative.
The Thunderbirds reserve the right to deny entry or eject from the tournament fans displaying inappropriate behaviour.
Fans who choose not to adhere to any of these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund. Hospitality package holders and/or their guests who are identified violating any of these provisions are subject to revocation of their hospitality suite, box and/or package for the remainder of the tournament and all future tournaments.
The Thunderbirds thank you in advance for adhering to the Waste Management Phoenix Open Fan Code of Conduct. Your cooperation ensures the Waste Management Phoenix Open will continue its tradition as not only the biggest event on the PGA Tour, but also the best!”
