TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course)
History
TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1986, set against the stunning backdrop of the McDowell Mountains and the rugged Sonoran Desert. The course was built as a true stadium-style layout, with earthen mounds and elevated viewing areas engineered to accommodate up to 200,000 spectators during tournament week — the largest gallery in professional golf. It has hosted the WM Phoenix Open (formerly Phoenix Open, FBR Open) continuously since 1987, becoming one of the rowdiest and most electric events on the PGA Tour. Weiskopf and Morrish incorporated native desert vegetation, dramatic elevation changes, and strategic bunkering throughout the desert terrain. The par-3 16th hole — known as 'The Colosseum' — is the signature: a short iron shot to an island-like green completely surrounded by a bowl-shaped stadium that holds roughly 20,000 fans and creates an atmosphere unlike any other in golf.
Signature Hole
16th hole, par 3, approximately 163 yards — enclosed amphitheater green surrounded by 20,000+ spectators, nicknamed 'The Colosseum'
Notable Tournaments
- WM Phoenix Open / Waste Management Phoenix Open / Phoenix Open (1987–present)