Well our staff has found another golf experience to be a rewarding one and when we say rewarding, wait to hear what we have to say about the TPC Scottsdale and its Stadium course.
For starters, the TPC offers two courses in the Scottsdale area, the Stadium and the Desert course. The Stadium course which we had a chance to play not only offers a rewarding golf experience, but it also has a full pro-shop with all the TPC gear desired and as far as we concerned a five star restaurant located inside the clubhouse.
The course, which is set in the Sonoran Desert, has the gorgeous McDowell Mountains as a backdrop, which at times can be distracting as stopping to take in the breathtaking views is a must.
Not only is the course designed Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish a place to take in the views, but it is also home to the Phoenix Open and the Stadium course is a must for all advanced players.
If you are new to the game we recommend playing the Desert course. Although we did not play this course so we can rate the difficulty we were told that the course is shorter and a better course to warm up with.
Stadium Course
Our first look at this facility in Scottsdale will be the Stadium course. The course which just re-opened this past week after a overseeding process is in mint condition, as much to say it looks like a tournament is going to be held their next week. The overseeding process takes place once a year and was a great success according to Public Relations director Russ Davis.
After looking at the grass, the excitement to proceed to the first tee almost overwhelmed us as we took less than two minutes going to the first tee and we just about skipped past the starter. We do not recommend doing this as much as you may want to jump out and play.
As we approached the tee box on the first tee we once again noticed that the TPC Scottsdale uses Tifdwarf Bermuda grass as a base. This grass has a very soft give in the fairways and on the tee boxes the use of the Bermudagrass is something that every golfer should welcome. With the shape of the course there is no question as to why the course Superintendent Phil Shoemaker has maintained a gem that every golfer should be delighted with.
The first tip that we recommend after playing the first five holes is keep the ball in the fairway, because unlike some courses on the East Coast, the desert rocks make it very difficult to hit a shot out of the rough. If you happen to hit the ball into the desert rough, local rules say that you may move the ball within two club lengths and take a one-stroke penalty.
On the front nine holes, there is a lot of open room to drive the ball, including the six par four holes and the par five on number three. If you play the champ tees or the blue on this course this hole is long 537 yards and possibly is the most difficult hole on the front nine.
It is tough to say that any of the holes compared to the back nine are difficult but they are. Most of holes may seem long, but the lack of hazards also stands out on this course. If the ball is kept in the fairway, the score will be low and you probably will go home a happy golfer.
In the first nine holes our staff did not fare to well on holes five and eight, as they do not have much room to work with on the right side of the fairway. If you hook or slice the ball on either of these holes just go back to the bag and pick out another ball and drop. If you do not have reservations at the Scottsdale Princess on number five and you are a person that drives the ball to the right you just have lost your ball.
If the first nine holes are not challenging, then we have a surprise about the back nine as the two par five and the five par four holes may leave any golfer scratching his head for answers as to how to play this course.
We found number 13 and 15 to be most difficult holes on this part of the course. The number 15 also happens to be the best hole on the stadium course and is an outstanding par 5 for either the low or high handicapper. The most difficult part of this hole is the fact it is an island green and if your diving has been just all right like ours was there might be some trouble with this hole. If you hit the ball far there is no reason that the ball can be chipped up on the green after the third shot.
Lastly, we want to mention the 18th hole, as the aesthetics of this hole. They are almost enough to out do the 15th hole, but just not enough. The water on the left-hand side of the tee boxes along with the cactuses and occasional roadrunners make this hole a signature way to end a day at a great course.
After finishing 18 holes, the attentive staff will take your clubs and clean then and lastly carry then to your car. The service is certainly second to none and is well worth waiting for. There is nothing like friendly attentive staff to help you after a good or bad day of golf.
Golf Shop
After we finished a great round of golf we decided to head inside to see why all players have had nothing but great things to say about the selection and service offered inside the pro-shop.
Once again, once we walked through the freshly polished and cleaned doors we found a fully stocked and staffed pro-shop with all of your TPC Scottsdale needs. From hats to shirts, bag tags to drivers and more, this store has it all and is sure to make you take home some souvenirs.
The staff inside the shop was very helpful to those making selections and to those paying for their green fees. They will also gladly answer any questions about the course or the shop if you have any.
Restaurant
Lastly, after a hard day of golf who could forget about the 19th hole. The Grill, which is located inside of the clubhouse is not your traditional clubhouse restaurant. The Grill offers some award winning food that any golfer surely will not forget.
For starters, The Grill could be considered as close to a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse or a Morton’s as anyone could find. as we could tell some of the food may be of better quality then these two well know steakhouses.
To start, we sampled one of the best shrimp platters we have seen in some time. This was definitely something that is unique to the Southwest as the spicy chili flavor was emanating from the dish as it was set on the table.
We decided to sample the aged New York Strip which when chargrilled has a flavor that is simply mouthwatering. There are two cuts of meat that can be ordered, the prime, which is available for $30.00 and the dry aged for $38.00. Do not expect a small piece of steak when this hits the table, as this chunk of meat may be enough to want to take home.
For those golfers who do not like beef we suggest trying the sesame crusted filet mignon of ahi tuna served with ginger tomato sauce quinoa, roasted peppers and shiitakes. The tuna is served in a very large portion. This is available for $26.00 and is highly recommended.
As for dessert what would a golf club be without some cigar selections? All right so you do not like a cigar as a dessert, but how can any resist a chocolate hand rolled TPC cigar combined will a white chocolate box of the Grill matches.
Not a bad way to finish dinner. One recommendation, do not eat the match cover as it is about as close to eating a piece of wax. We accidentally did so thinking the whole dessert was edible.
Course Rating
It is very hard to say that this course is flawless, but from our prospective from everything that we received it very well may be. The only thing that we may have found to be a problem for some golfers is the price of the course. The $172.00 peak season prices may be slightly a little high for those looking to pay $100 or so. So we recommend playing this course anytime whatever the price as you will get your money’s worth from this course.
Course Facts
Average Tee Size: 9,500 sq. feet
Average Green Size: 6,100 sq. feet
Course Rating from Championship tees: 73.9
Course Slope from Championship tees: 131
Stimpmeter Rating for Tournament Play: 10.5 feet
Rounds Per Year 76,000 desert, 40,000 stadium
Acres of Fairway: 27
Acres of Rough: 26+
Sand Bunkers 72
Water Hazards 16 acres- 3 Lakes
Soil Conditions: Heavy Clay
Green Construction soil mix: 80% sand, 20% sphagnum peatmoss
Source of Water: Central Arizona Project
Irrigation System: Automatic rain bird cirrus control/ Toro Sprinklers
Drainage: Fair
Tees: 3/8 inch
Greens: .100 inch
Rough: 4 inches
Miscellaneous Facts
New Irrigation system
16 acres of the course underwent a revegitation project, which included the planting of 100 new trees
The fourth hole had a new TPC Tee built extending the yardage from 150-174.
Wildlife on the Course: Roadrunner, Coyote, Rabbit, Rattlesnake, Hawks and Herons.
