Golf is known as a quiet and serene game played in a mostly silent environment. The golf course is definitely the opposite of a party setting. Don’t tell that to the fans on the 16th hole in Scottsdale this week.
The PGA Tour makes its annual return to the desert this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and with that the biggest party hole in golf.
Having evolved over the years, the 16th at TPC Scottsdale is a party within a golf tournament. Known for its raucous crown and party like atmosphere, the 16th is completely enclosed in grandstands, hospitality suites, and corporate boxes. The fans, many of which are there for the party will routinely cheer if a golfer hits the green on the relatively short par 3 and boo him if he misses off the tee. The players even use the hole to interact with fans, using the hole to hand out swag provided to them by their sponsors. Up until a few years ago, the caddies even got in on the fun, having caddie races on the hole until the Tour put a stop to it.
Several tournaments have tried to emulate the environment at the 16th, including the Honda Classic at PGA National, where the par 3 17th is now fully enclosed. TPC Phoenix was the first, and still is the biggest party on Tour.
