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Featured Golf Course December 2007
By Shane Jensen
on Dec 05, 2007
Recently the TPC of Scottsdale Champions course, formerly the Desert, opened its doors to public play. Randy Hackenkamper was charged with the task of revamping the Champions course and bringing it up to speed with the Stadium course.
Previously, the golf course played only 6,500 yards but they have lengthened the golf course to over 7,100 yards from the back tees. This will allow the golf course to be playable for a wider range of golfers. The lower handicap players will be tested and the higher handicappers have enough room to miss the ball.
This golf course was designed to be different from the Stadium course. Here you will not find the mounding like around the Stadium course. In addition to yardage, the golf course also added bunkers and changed the grass on the greens and fairways. The greens were converted to a Dwarf Emerald grass, making the Champions course the first golf course in Arizona to use this type of grass.
Holes 16, 17, and 18 are some of the most dramatic holes on the golf course. Here players will have to bring their 'A' game to finish strong. The 16th hole is a long par-3 that plays 213 yards and requires an accurate tee shot. The tee on this hole is surrounded by trees and a wash runs between the tee and green. There is a small landing area short of the green, but the middle of the green is the best option.
In order to reach this green, players will have to cross the Thunderbird Bridge which connects the green to the cart path. From this vantage point players will be able to wave at the balls they just hit into the canyon. This is really a great golf hole.
The 18th hole is one of four holes on the golf course that has water. This is a long par-4 that measures 458 yards. The best place to hit the ball is toward the right center of the fairway. There is a pond on the left side and players will need to avoid this area. There is a transition bunker between the fairway and water that can keep your ball form swimming.
The green on this hole is medium-sized and has a bunker behind the green. If you happen to hit the ball short you will find a grass bunker in front of the green. Overall, chipping is made difficult by the swells and slopes that surround this green. If you're coming into this hole needing a par to win the match, that could be a tall order. This is a great finishing hole and will certainly test the skills of players.
The Champions course has been packed since it opened on November 15, 2007. They have been sending out over 200 golfers per day. Obviously the new design has been a wild success, and it doesn't hurt that the weather is great in Scottsdale this time of year. My guess is that both of these assumptions are true.
With two championship golf courses, the TPC of Scottsdale is sure to become more of a favorite in the Scottsdale area. The golf course is always kept in tour condition and they recently have added a fore caddy program to give players that added tour feel. Anytime you see the TPC logo you can expect a great time.
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