Arena Golf - Pro or Con ?

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By Darius V

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  1. Darius V

    Darius V
    Barrie, ON

    This weekend we get the opportunity to watch the show at TPC Scottsdale. When I had the opportunity to play there, there were no stands so the course certainly looked a lot different than it does during the tournament. My question relates to the 16th hole and the arena set-up around the par three. DO you like the idea of such a venue, or do you prefer the more quiet (yet exciting) gallery as seen at the 17th of TPC Sawgrass?

    For me - I kind of like what has happened at TPC Scottsdale #16. I like how the fans get involved in the whole thing, and can only imagine how it adds a certain amount of pressure on the players. I don't think I would like to see it on a regular basis at PGA Tournaments, but now and again it is nice to see something different.

    Darius

  2. Wendy H

    Wendy H
    Ontario

    Great question Darius. And awesome that you've played it! Do they take all the stands down or are parts of them permanent? I rather enjoy watching the players play the 16th as it is now. It adds some much needed 'fun' to the tournament. If every course did it I think the novelty would wear thin but to me it's a high point to watch the goings-on at this hole. Interesting to hear other comments on this too...
  3. Darius V

    Darius V
    Barrie, ON

    Wendy... When I played the course there were no stands or remnants of stands at all. The course certainly looked SIGNIFICANTLY different being so barren. In some cases it is hard to compare the hole on television to the pictures we took :)

    Darius
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  4. Lewis K

    Lewis K
    Red Deer Alberta CANADA

    If it happens too often, I wonder if it would turn out similar to the outdoor hockey games in the NHL? Really neat to be a part of, but not entertaining for anyone not attending live?
    I know every year I watch the Phoenix Open just for the stadium hole, but don't think I would plan my day to watch it on TV if it happened every month.

    Take care
  5. Dino J

    Dino J
    Burnaby, BC

    Hi Darius - I am still toying with the idea of heading down there in the next several weeks (early March perhaps).

    I must admit that my thinking on this has evolved somewhat in that at first I was not a fan of the stadium golf concept. I just thought that it was too raucous and too much of a booze fuelled concept. However, my thinking has changed somewhat in that the 16th hole is really a somewhat innocuous hole and not too hard on its own, so that it offers the opportunity for the players to experience something different - pressure wise and a venue in which spectators can get closer to the game in (what hopefully remains) a fun way.

    Further, there are still two more holes to finish with that allows players to contemplate the "risk reward" benefits of each hole (as we saw this weekend) and to finish up the round.



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