Scottsdale and the entire Phoenix Metropolitan area are a popular vacation destination for those who love sports of all varieties. We are home to professional baseball, football, basketball, and hockey teams, and Scottsdale, specifically, is on the PGA Tour, with the Phoenix Waste Management Open taking place every February. Offering a gorgeous course, the opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrities from all walks of life, and the opportunity to stay in the most comfortable and luxurious vacation sanctuaries in the state, your visit during the Open will be everything you dreamed of and more, especially when you choose I Love Scottsdale to come home to every night!
TPC Scottsdale, 17020 Hayden Road in Scottsdale
First, let’s take a few minutes to talk about the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, more commonly known as TPC Scottsdale. Designed by golf course architects Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the course is a child of the 80s with construction starting in January of 1986. There are two courses at this club, the Stadium Course and the Champions Course, with the former being the course the tournament is played on. Over the years, both courses have been acknowledged as being one of America’s Best Courses as well as one of the top 50 Golf Resort Destinations and many other awards and acknowledgements. The par 71 course stretches out over 7200 yards and is known for having more forgiving fairways, while still remaining complex enough to give professional golfers a challenge. Offering a Sonoran desert landscape, complete with cacti and other native shrubs, the greens and fairways are lush and green and ecologically driven as they use reclaimed waste water to keep them healthy. The most famous hole, the 16th hole, is famous not for its complications or stunning landscape, but for being the loudest hole on the tour, something we will discuss in the paragraph below.
The 16th Hole, aka The Coliseum
Nicknamed “The Coliseum,” the 16th hole is surrounded by stadium style seating and is often the most crowded hole of the entire tournament. One year, there was actually a concert that was held at this hole, and the guests are known to be loud and raucous, with the shenanigans starting in 1997 when Tiger Woods (aged 21) made a hole-in-one, one of only 11 players to do so throughout its existence. Every year since, the crowds have grown larger, the cheers louder, and the party atmosphere partier. (That may not be how that word is supposed to be used, but it works so we are leaving it!) Today, there are 294 skyboxes, making it the only fully enclosed hole on the PGA Tour. The breakfast club gives out 10,000 breakfast burritos to fans making their way to the hole and the grandstands can seat over 20,000 people. All of this for one hole on the PGA Tour? It does sound crazy, but when you are there, it just feels natural.
The Controversy of the 16th Hole
The 16th hole is controversial in the golf world, as the noise and party atmosphere is completely opposite the tradition of silence and dignity. Some of the younger golfers seem to thrive on the energy, but traditionalists will say that it is an embarrassment. In 2024, record-breaking crowds led to the 16th hole being shut down, and some of the golfers began to complain, so there are expected to be big changes in 2025. The changes, however, will not affect the heart of this rowdy hole, and there will always be something crazy (one year a fan made “sand angels” in the sand trap!) to look forward to.
The People’s Open
All the controversy aside, the Phoenix Waste Management Open 2025, rebranded as the WM Phoenix Open but aka The People’s Open, is still one of the biggest draws for out of state visitors. Coming in from all over the world to view the best of the best play in a sport that has been played for over 500 years, hearing the echoes of the past with every swing of the club. The sport’s biggest names have played here over the years, including Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer, and the future’s biggest stars have made their names here, including Tiger Woods, hometown hero Phil Mickelson, and Sam Ryder. The Thunderbirds, a local civic organization, have hosted the Open since 1939, and working as a team the Open and the Thunderbirds have raised millions of dollars for charities over the years, showing it is possible to have a good time and do a good deed at the same time. You will recognize the members of the Thunderbirds by the large silver pendant they wear and by the fact that they will be the ones making the signs for silence when the golfers are putting!
The Party at the Bird’s Nest
The 16th hole isn’t the only party spot at the Phoenix WM Open, not by a long shot, especially as long as the Bird’s Nest exists. Offering four days of parties, live entertainment, drinks, and more than likely, the opportunity to “star search” as many celebrities love the party atmosphere of the Open, the proceeds are donated to Arizona charities. In previous years, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, and Macklemore have headlined at the Nest, and in 2025, Jelly Roll, Luke Bryan, and Nickelback are adding their names to the list. Opening at 3 PM each day (the headliners jump on stage at about 8:30), food is served, drinks are consumed, games are played, and everyone is guaranteed to have the best time ever. Offering photo booths, cornhole, Connect 4, and Jenga, this party will almost make you forget you are here for the golf. Almost.
This and That
There are always little details about the WM Phoenix Open that don’t seem to fit into any categories, so we’ve created the this and that category. Gates open at 7 AM every day except Friday, when they open at 7:30 AM, and the best days to go are Wednesday, Thursday, and surprisingly Sunday, the final day of the Open, when they are least crowded. Why would the final day be the least crowded you ask? The final day of the WM Phoenix Open falls on Super Bowl Sunday, so only diehard golf fans will attend on this day. Monday and Tuesday are free to get in, so we should add those days to the list of best days to go. Food and drink is sold on the premises, so no outdoor food can be brought in, and in recent years, the vendors started going cashless, so don’t forget your debit or credit cards; your greenbacks will not be accepted. And if you happen to be vacationing here, but weren’t able to get tickets to the Open, you can watch it on the Golf Channel in your I Love Scottsdale sports sanctuary. Smart TVs are state of the art, offering crystal-clear pictures that will make you feel like you are sitting in the grandstands of the 16th hole!
Around Town
Tickets for the Bird’s Nest could be considered expensive, so if you can only afford one or two nights or are here for the entire seven days of the Open, you may be looking for more things to do after the competition shuts down each day. Fortunately, you have chosen I Love Scottsdale and we’ve got you covered, offering information that will make your Scottsdale vacation one that you will never forget, starting with a taste of the town at the restaurants listed below.
TORO, 17020 Hayden Road in Scottsdale
Serving sushi and ceviche, you may have noticed that TORO shares an address with the TPC, but the restaurant does lie across the street from the course. You won’t have to go far after your day at the Open to enjoy fresh sushi and delicious Latin foods, but as you might expect they will be extremely busy! They do offer a weekend brunch, so if you don’t feel like starting your day at the TPC especially early, their brunch menu is very tasty, including the Brunch Tasting Board (for the table) that offers sweet and savory munchies that all will love.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, 7361 E Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
Located about 9 minutes away from TPC Scottsdale, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant is a chain restaurant that offers some of the best wines in the world and doesn’t taste like a chain restaurant. Offering one of the largest menus we have seen in some time, the food is healthy, hearty, and delicious and if you have trouble narrowing down your choices, you can never go wrong with the items listed on their Chef’s Recommendation Menu which includes wine pairing suggestions and desserts.
Grass Roots Kitchen & Tap, 8120 Hayden Road E-100
Offering a menu filled with made from scratch Southern favorites, Grass Roots Kitchen & Tap is a laid back spot that just makes us happy, and we think it will do the same for you after a long day at the Open. Farm to table is the phrase of the day and Carolina BBQ would show you the error in your ways if you ever thought that any other barbecue was the best. Their happy hour, they call it social hour, takes place from 3 to 6 pm every day and offers more yum for your buck in the form of wings, sliders, pork belly, and more, while also adding great wine, top shelf spirits, and innovative cocktails at bargain prices.
Golf in Scottsdale
Seeing the pros work their magic on the greens might encourage you to spend some time on the greens improving your own skills and the courses listed below are probably going to offer a large selection of tee times during your week of Scottsdale golf adventures.
Grayhawk Golf Club, 8620 E Thompson Peak Parkway
Located in the heart of North Scottsdale, Grayhawk Golf Club offers two courses, Raptor and Talon, and an award-winning Italian restaurant, Isabella’s Kitchen, ensuring that your every golf dream will come true. Rolling hills offer a more gentle complement to the craggy mountains that surround the course and a blend of green grass and desert plants almost makes golfers forget their scores!
Scottsdale Silverado Golf Club, 7605 E Indian Bend Road
Acknowledged as Scottsdale’s best public golf course, Scottsdale Silverado Golf Club is a par 70 18-hole course known to be challenging without intimidating and its green fees are surprisingly reasonable, considering we are in Scottsdale. Views of the McDowell Mountains and the Four Peaks Mountain Range add to your enjoyment level of a day of your own day of championship play during your vacation in paradise.
Relaxing at Home with I Love Scottsdale
A vacation home should add to your vacation experience, and our I Love Scottsdale escapes are designed to do just that. Our condos are charming and located in communities you will want to explore, featuring resort pools, hot tubs, and other community amenities and our stand alone homes will stun you with their beauty, style, and luxury. Private pools and hot tubs are more common than not, and yes, even during your March visit you will probably enjoy some pool time. (Many are heated for your swimming pleasure) There may be putting greens, cornhole games, firepits, and outdoor kitchens in the yard of your home sweet vacation home, making it difficult to leave each morning to head to the WM Phoenix Open. Inside, you may find game rooms furnished with pool tables, arcade games, even video game consoles or yours might offer a theater room furnished with leather recliners and a supersized movie screen. Fully equipped kitchens, living rooms with fireplaces (it does get cold after the sun sets in the winter), and tranquil bedrooms will ensure that every moment spent with us will be the most comfortable moments of all.
Reserve your favorite I Love Scottsdale golf sanctuary today, even if its last minute!
