TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Review: Playing One of Scottsdale’s Most Famous Golf Courses

I played TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course yesterday, June 28th, through my weekly round with the Scottsdale Golf League. If you follow golf at all, you already know this place — it’s the home of the WM Phoenix Open and the loudest par 3 in the world. Playing it on a normal Saturday morning, without 20,000 people surrounding the 16th tee, is a completely different experience than watching it on TV — and honestly, it’s a great one. The course was in excellent shape, the pace was solid, and the closing four holes reminded me exactly why this layout works so well for tournament golf.

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is one of those golf courses every Scottsdale golfer should play at least once. It is famous because of the WM Phoenix Open, the massive crowds, and the legendary par-3 16th hole, but the course itself is more than just one stadium hole and a television backdrop.

Located in North Scottsdale, TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course gives golfers the rare chance to play the same layout the PGA Tour uses every year. That alone makes it different from most public golf courses in Arizona. You are not just playing a nice desert course. You are playing a course where the best players in the world have had to deal with the same fairways, bunkers, water hazards, desert areas, and pressure-filled finishing holes.

First Impression

The first thing you notice at TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is that it feels big. The property has a tournament atmosphere even when the grandstands are not full. The practice area, clubhouse, service, and overall setup feel polished and professional. This is not a casual muni where you roll out of the car five minutes before your tee time and hope the range balls are not older than your wedge grooves.

The course has a clean resort feel, but it still has enough bite to make you pay attention. Fairways are generally playable, but being in the wrong spot can turn a simple approach into a defensive shot quickly. The bunkering is strong, the greens are well protected, and the desert edges are always waiting for the loose swing.

Course Layout and Playability

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is a par-71 layout with a strong mix of holes. The front nine is solid, but the back nine is where the course really starts to separate itself. The closing stretch is what most golfers will remember.

This is not the most scenic desert golf course in Scottsdale if you are judging purely by mountain views and dramatic elevation changes. Courses like Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, or Grayhawk may give you more natural desert drama. TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is different. It is more of a tournament golf experience. The appeal is the history, the strategy, the conditioning, and the feeling that you are playing inside a PGA Tour venue.

For average golfers, the course is challenging but fair if you choose the right tees. Play too far back and it can beat you up. Play the proper yardage and it becomes a fun test where you can still score if you keep the ball in play. The greens require attention, but they are not ridiculous. Bad shots are punished, but good shots usually get rewarded. That is all you can really ask for.

The Famous 16th Hole

The 16th hole is the star of the show. During the WM Phoenix Open, it becomes the loudest hole in golf, surrounded by massive stadium seating and thousands of fans. When you play it during a normal round, it is much quieter, obviously, but you still feel the history.

The funny part is that without the tournament buildout, the hole itself is not overly complicated. It is a short par 3 that demands a committed iron shot. But because everyone knows the hole, it carries more pressure than the yardage suggests. Nobody wants to step onto that tee and hit the kind of shot that would get booed by 20,000 people.

It is one of the few holes in golf where the atmosphere is almost more famous than the architecture. Still, it is a great experience and a must-play for anyone who follows golf.

Best Stretch of the Course

The best part of TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is the closing stretch from 15 through 18.

The 15th is a risk-reward par 5 with water in play and a memorable green complex. It is the kind of hole where better players may think about going for it, while everyone else needs to decide how much trouble they want to bring into play.

The 16th is the famous par 3.

The 17th is a short, driveable par 4 that creates real decision-making. You can be aggressive, but water and bunkers can quickly turn a birdie chance into a mess. It is one of the more fun holes on the course because it gives you options.

The 18th is a strong finishing par 4 with water left and plenty of pressure on both the tee shot and approach. It looks like a finishing hole should look. If you are playing a match, this is exactly the kind of hole where things can change fast.

That final four-hole stretch is the reason the course works so well for tournament golf. There are birdies available, but there is also enough trouble to create big swings.

Conditions and Service

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is usually in excellent condition. The fairways, greens, bunkers, and overall presentation are what you would expect from a high-end Scottsdale golf property connected to the PGA Tour. You are paying premium Scottsdale golf rates, so the course needs to deliver a premium experience. Most of the time, it does.

The service is also a big part of the experience. From arrival to practice facilities to the first tee, the operation feels organized. That matters, especially when green fees are not cheap. At this price point, golfers expect more than grass and flags. They expect the entire day to feel well run.

Is TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Worth Playing?

Yes, TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is worth playing, especially if you are a golf fan, visiting Scottsdale, entertaining clients, or checking off famous public golf courses. It is not the cheapest round in town, and it may not be the best pure desert-golf value in Arizona, but it is one of the most recognizable golf experiences in Scottsdale.

If you only care about dramatic desert scenery, there may be other Scottsdale-area courses you prefer. If you care about playing a PGA Tour venue with history, excellent conditioning, and one of the most famous holes in golf, TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course should be on your list.

Final Thoughts

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is not famous by accident. The WM Phoenix Open put it on the map, but the course has enough quality and strategy to stand on its own. The front nine is good, the back nine is better, and the closing stretch is one of the most recognizable finishes in Arizona golf.

For Scottsdale golfers, it is a course you should experience at least once. For visitors, it is one of the easiest recommendations to make because it combines location, conditioning, tournament history, and name recognition.

Would I play it again? Absolutely. I would just make sure I picked the right tees, brought my A-game for the final four holes, and tried not to hit one on 16 that would have gotten me booed out of the building.

Quick Rating

Course Layout: 8.5/10
Conditioning: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Scenery: 7.5/10
Fun Factor: 9/10
Overall Experience: 9/10

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is a premium Scottsdale golf experience and one of the most famous public golf courses in Arizona.

I took these photos during my round, and they show what makes TPC Scottsdale unique: the desert setting, mountain views, tournament history, and the famous 16th hole.