Phoenix Open 2017

[MillerLowLife]

I'm heading down to attend my first PGA tour event in the next month. I know it's a super crowded even and such but should be a fun experience non the less.

 

Any suggestions for food/bars or advice on my first event and things to remember.

 

Any advice is appreciated!

[TravelingGolfSticks]

Got tickets to the 16th hole last year. Would highly recommend it. We were going to do regular tickets but found a good deal the morning of and went for it. Best time I've had at a tournament. It's not the normal tourney atmosphere. Cheer if they hit the green boo if they don't. One of a kind. Will be in town again this year but will see if I would rather watch them drive 17 or pay for the 16th again.

[BrandenMiller24]

Try a place called twin peeks Coldest beer I've ever had 28 degrees! Great food to!

[irishmike27]

Got tickets to the 16th hole last year. Would highly recommend it. We were going to do regular tickets but found a good deal the morning of and went for it. Best time I've had at a tournament. It's not the normal tourney atmosphere. Cheer if they hit the green boo if they don't. One of a kind. Will be in town again this year but will see if I would rather watch them drive 17 or pay for the 16th again.

Are there special tickets to get into 16? Looking on the website, I didn't see anything.

[TravelingGolfSticks]

They are probably all sold out. You have to buy a whole box if by from them online. We bought ours off of Craigslist last year and worked a deal the night before and picked them up them up the next morning. You will see some on razorgator and places like that as well. Just make sure you look at the tickets real close and look at pictures of other tickets online. There will be fakes out there so watch out. Try to use PayPal or similar app to pay that way you can use their guarantee and PayPal will help you fight if they are a fake. Most fakes will just be a little off and hard to spot and most people selling fakes won't even consider using PayPal.

[MillerLowLife]

Mhmm I didn't realize that you have to get separate tickets for the 16th. I know the tickets I'm getting are free and some are VIP but I'm not sure who is getting the VIP ones.

 

Booked my hotel in Old Scottsdale which I've heard is a popular place to hang around. Only going to the tournament on Sat/Sun. Playing golf on Friday right after we fly in.

[ratspros]

Mhmm I didn't realize that you have to get separate tickets for the 16th. I know the tickets I'm getting are free and some are VIP but I'm not sure who is getting the VIP ones.

 

Booked my hotel in Old Scottsdale which I've heard is a popular place to hang around. Only going to the tournament on Sat/Sun. Playing golf on Friday right after we fly in.

 

You don't NEED tickets to 16, however there is becoming less and less general seating as the amount of sky boxes increases. If you don't have a ticket to a skybox you can still get a seat on 16 but I'd recommend going early on in the day as it becomes quite the line up later on in the day. Once your in you don't have to leave as they have bathrooms and beer for sale under the stands.

 

As for place to eat/drink I'd highly recommend getting tickets to the birds nest either Friday or Saturday to get the entire tournament party experience.

[drake47]

If you are planning on driving and parking, get a valet pass, they usually sell for around $ 50, Stubhub and others will have them. It will be the best $50 you ever spend.

[TravelingGolfSticks]

He is correct you don't need tickets to the 16th but after the remodel of the stands last year(5,000 general admission seats), you better be there when the gates open and move quickly towards the 16th or else you will be in line like the majority of people. Wasn't worth it to me. I'd rather pay 200-300 and sit in shade with complimentary food and adult beverages. You can also come and go from there so you don't have to sit there all day holding a seat. I would rather sit in a lawn chair someone else on the course. Just my take on it.

[MillerLowLife]

No driving on my end. Thanks for the info gents, trying to get the most out of my first PGA tournament.

[golfer912]

And scenic views

 

 

Try a place called twin peeks Coldest beer I've ever had 28 degrees! Great food to!

[poppyhillsguy]

There are so many great places to view the players on the course that I never wanted to stay in one place for the whole day. I'm in the minority though because I actually go to the Phoenix Open to watch the golf and not get drunk. (Don't get me wrong; I like a cold beer to wash down my overpriced lunch.)

[prsgtrman]

have a great time, i went a few years ago and got to the 16th super early and got my seat think around 9 am on sunday. i stayed at the 16th long enough to see a couple groups come through. just depends on what youre wanting to do and how to incorporate the 16th. if youre wanting to make a day of it, do it on saturday. its ridiculous. if your just wanting to see it go sunday and then walk the rest of the course.

 

oh and in my experience at other golf tournaments vip tickets really dont mean anything other than you may have access to a different set of rest rooms or a different cash bar. even if the tickets cost in the neighborhood of 500 bux each they generally dont include extras that i feel are worth paying for-dont sweat it if you dont get one.

[MillerLowLife]

Good to know! I'm definitely trying to see as much golf as I can for my first event. Doesn't seem like some of the big dogs will play in the event but definitely has a good group from what the website shows right now. Having said that, if it works out I want to be a part of the madness of 16 on Saturday.

 

Going to try and taking a lot of pictures and update here on my experience. Maybe I'll get lucky and get hit with a golf ball and get an autographed glove or yell "mash potatoes" on TV.... juuuust kidding.

[LouieLouie]

Anyone have any good ways to get cheap/discounted tickets?

[az2au]

Anyone have any good ways to get cheap/discounted tickets?

They are basically free outside the gate most times. I've picked them up for as low as $3.

 

FWIW, I'm no prude but I think the 16th on Saturday is pathetic. Both cheesy and directed at covering the lowest IQ there. It is embarrassing. Sunday is fine there but I'd be bored with only watching one hole.

 

Again, I'm a full supporter of the Crow's Nest and all of the other debauchery but the 16th is sad and pathetic.

[justwellsy]

I'll be there for Friday's round and will be at the 16th hole. By the way, for anyone wanting to actually play this course... it's not nearly the same without the stadium and grandstands set up. HOWEVER, for the next few weeks you can play the course with the setup already in place (not sure if it's set up yet, but they usually do it a couple weeks before.

 

What kind of nightlife are you into? Or are you just talking about going somewhere during the day? Old Town Scottsdale is a nightlife Mecca but can be very crowded. Mill Ave in Tempe is the college bar scene with many many bars on one street. Some of my favorite food places include:

 

- Grimaldi's Coal Fired Pizza

- Blanco Tacos & Tequila

- Old Town Tortilla Factory (great ambiance on the huge outdoor patio at night)

- DeFalco's Italian Grocery (best sandwiches in town, full Italian Deli)

- Snooze (this is a chain, but they have great breakfast)

- Culinary Dropout

- The Mission (real cool place, book a week before you go)

 

Bars:

- Dierk's Bentley's Whiskey Row (go during the day, way too packed at night)

- El Hefe (only if you like loud music and good tequila)

- Giligin's (this place is a true dive bar but awesome. Spin the drink wheel and get served at the midget bar)

- The Lodge (used to be in Scottsdale but moved to Tempe)

- Mill Cue Club (this place is long and skinny and often packed, but it's a rite of passage to have at least a few of the famous Long Island Iced Teas!)

- Rula Bula Irish Pub (good place to start on Mill Ave)

- Low Key Piano Bar (used to be called The Big Bang... great fun with dueling pianos and other artists)

 

If you're going to be out there for a couple days and not go to the tournament each day, try to book a round of golf at the Dinosaur Mountain Course at Gold Canyon. It's about a 45 min drive from town but it's so worth it! Whirlwind is another good golf option that shouldn't be too expensive and is closer than Gold Canyon. Also, there's a Top Golf just East of the 101 in Scottsdale that's a lot of fun if you've never been.

 

Hope that helps

[GDB02]

have a great time, i went a few years ago and got to the 16th super early and got my seat think around 9 am on sunday. i stayed at the 16th long enough to see a couple groups come through. just depends on what youre wanting to do and how to incorporate the 16th. if youre wanting to make a day of it, do it on saturday. its ridiculous. if your just wanting to see it go sunday and then walk the rest of the course.

 

oh and in my experience at other golf tournaments vip tickets really dont mean anything other than you may have access to a different set of rest rooms or a different cash bar. even if the tickets cost in the neighborhood of 500 bux each they generally dont include extras that i feel are worth paying for-dont sweat it if you dont get one.

 

Couldnt be more wrong here when talking phx open. VIP tickets are by far the way to go. They all include hospitality i.e. free food, drinks, and viewing areas. you will pay a couple hundred for them, but not $500. Greenskeeper or any other hospitality box tix bought on Craigslist will be well worth your spend, especially if you plan to drink

[prsgtrman]

have a great time, i went a few years ago and got to the 16th super early and got my seat think around 9 am on sunday. i stayed at the 16th long enough to see a couple groups come through. just depends on what youre wanting to do and how to incorporate the 16th. if youre wanting to make a day of it, do it on saturday. its ridiculous. if your just wanting to see it go sunday and then walk the rest of the course.

 

oh and in my experience at other golf tournaments vip tickets really dont mean anything other than you may have access to a different set of rest rooms or a different cash bar. even if the tickets cost in the neighborhood of 500 bux each they generally dont include extras that i feel are worth paying for-dont sweat it if you dont get one.

 

Couldnt be more wrong here when talking phx open. VIP tickets are by far the way to go. They all include hospitality i.e. free food, drinks, and viewing areas. you will pay a couple hundred for them, but not $500. Greenskeeper or any other hospitality box tix bought on Craigslist will be well worth your spend, especially if you plan to drink

 

thats good to know and certainly not the case at other events ive been to here on the east coast.

[MillerLowLife]

I'll be there for Friday's round and will be at the 16th hole. By the way, for anyone wanting to actually play this course... it's not nearly the same without the stadium and grandstands set up. HOWEVER, for the next few weeks you can play the course with the setup already in place (not sure if it's set up yet, but they usually do it a couple weeks before.

 

What kind of nightlife are you into? Or are you just talking about going somewhere during the day? Old Town Scottsdale is a nightlife Mecca but can be very crowded. Mill Ave in Tempe is the college bar scene with many many bars on one street. Some of my favorite food places include:

 

- Grimaldi's Coal Fired Pizza

- Blanco Tacos & Tequila

- Old Town Tortilla Factory (great ambiance on the huge outdoor patio at night)

- DeFalco's Italian Grocery (best sandwiches in town, full Italian Deli)

- Snooze (this is a chain, but they have great breakfast)

- Culinary Dropout

- The Mission (real cool place, book a week before you go)

 

Bars:

- Dierk's Bentley's Whiskey Row (go during the day, way too packed at night)

- El Hefe (only if you like loud music and good tequila)

- Giligin's (this place is a true dive bar but awesome. Spin the drink wheel and get served at the midget bar)

- The Lodge (used to be in Scottsdale but moved to Tempe)

- Mill Cue Club (this place is long and skinny and often packed, but it's a rite of passage to have at least a few of the famous Long Island Iced Teas!)

- Rula Bula Irish Pub (good place to start on Mill Ave)

- Low Key Piano Bar (used to be called The Big Bang... great fun with dueling pianos and other artists)

 

If you're going to be out there for a couple days and not go to the tournament each day, try to book a round of golf at the Dinosaur Mountain Course at Gold Canyon. It's about a 45 min drive from town but it's so worth it! Whirlwind is another good golf option that shouldn't be too expensive and is closer than Gold Canyon. Also, there's a Top Golf just East of the 101 in Scottsdale that's a lot of fun if you've never been.

 

Hope that helps

 

Thank you! Im going to take note of these places when I get out there. Im only golfing on Friday when I get in. As much as i love golfing in new places/courses, Im more focused and getting the most out of my first PGA tour event on Sat/Sun. I'll be with 8-10 guys so I'm sure some of them will be inebriated to the point of foolishness on Saturday but not I. Maybe hope for some Sunday drama. Does it clear out on Sunday because of the superbowl? Some of them are staying in Chandler compared to us in Old Scottsdale. I'm going to try and document my experience out there for anyone interested

[podwich]

As an add-on question-- I'm going to be down there for Sunday and I'm looking a getting a couple tickets for my wife and me. I've been looking at Members Club tickets on Craigslist, Razorgator, and Stubhub and the like and I've noticed that sometimes they list a badge and sometimes they list a ticket. On the official page for the package they say you get both badges and tickets.

 

Do I need both/ is there a difference between the badge and ticket or am I fine with either? I'm coming from Michigan as well so I'm going to have to have them ship them to me-- any serious concerns with counterfeits with Razorgator or Stubhub?

 

Thanks!

[GDB02]

You should just need one or the other. Hospitality passes are all good for admission also from what I recall. StubHub is garunteed, not sure about the other just check their policies

[podwich]

Thanks for the info! I just ordered a couple Members Club badges off of Stubhub. Thanks again!

[drvrwdge]

I noticed on StubHub you can purchase individual Skybox tics for 16 but on the WM Open site it can only be purchased as a corporate package. If you buy on individual ticket are you sitting in someone's box?

 

Think I am going to plan my bachelor party around the tourney next year so want to get the full experience.