The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is unlike any other stop in professional golf, a weeklong February party built around a tournament that happens to break attendance records. The famous stadium par-3 sixteenth hole packs thousands of fans into grandstands that roar and groan with every shot, and the surrounding course fills with hospitality tents, viewing decks, and concession rows. Visitors fly in from every corner of the country, which means tournament week brings the busiest roads of the year to the Scottsdale corridor. Groups that sort out tickets and rides before landing enjoy the week; groups that wing it spend it in traffic.
When the tournament week runs
The tournament anchors a full week of activity, with practice rounds and qualifying events early in the week building toward the four competitive rounds Thursday through Sunday. Wednesday brings the popular pro-am and trick-shot atmosphere, while Saturday is traditionally the biggest crowd day, when the sixteenth-hole grandstands reach their loudest. Gates open early each morning and the course stays full until late afternoon, so plan on a full-day outing rather than a quick stop. Downtown Scottsdale and the surrounding resort corridor host concerts and fan events through the week, which means evenings are part of the experience too. Visitors staying multiple days should pace themselves, because four straight full days in February sun wear out even seasoned travelers.
Tickets and entry basics
General admission tickets cover the grounds with access to open viewing areas, the fan village, and most concession zones, while upgraded hospitality and suite packages add shaded seating, food, and bar service at much higher price points. The sixteenth-hole grandstand seats are the most coveted spots on the course and sell through early, so groups set on that experience should buy as soon as sales open. Tickets are mobile, and cell service around the course slows under the Saturday crowd load, so screenshot tickets and parking details before leaving the hotel. Bag policies are strict, with size limits and prohibited-item lists enforced at every gate, which means checking the current rules the night before saves a long walk back to the car. Re-entry policies vary by day, so assume that once you leave, you are done until the next session.
Getting to TPC Scottsdale
Tournament traffic reshapes the roads around the course every year, with dedicated rideshare zones, shuttle bus staging areas, and road closures that confuse even locals. General parking sits in large off-site lots with shuttle buses running to the gates, and the ride from lot to entrance adds real time on peak days. Rideshare pickups and drop-offs use assigned zones that shift with crowd flow, and Saturday afternoon pickup waits run long. The smoothest approach for a group is a single prearranged ride with a set pickup time on both ends of the day, avoiding the parking lots and the curbside scramble entirely. A Scottsdale shuttle pickup works for resort-area stays, while arriving visitors can step off the plane into a Sky Harbor airport shuttle and reach Scottsdale without touching a rental counter during the busiest driving week of the year.
What to bring and wear
February in the Valley is usually mild and sunny, with cool mornings warming into comfortable afternoons, so layers are the right call. A light jacket or fleece for the morning session, sunscreen and a hat for midday, and comfortable walking shoes for miles of cart paths cover nearly every scenario. The course involves serious walking, with viewing mounds, grandstand stairs, and long loops between holes, so broken-in shoes matter more than style. Bring a portable phone charger, because a full day of photos and mobile tickets drains batteries fast. Outside food and drink are restricted, so plan on concession stands and budget accordingly. Ear protection is worth considering for kids assigned to the sixteenth hole, where the crowd noise genuinely rattles.
Watching golf the smart way
Arrive early to claim a spot on a viewing mound near a featured pairing, then rotate holes through the middle of the day rather than camping one spot all afternoon. The sixteenth hole is the showpiece, but the seventeenth and eighteenth closing stretch offers excellent drama with thinner crowds. Leaderboards around the course track the action, and the fan village between sessions gives feet a rest with food, shade, and exhibits. Groups split naturally across different holes, so set a meeting time and place before separating, because finding each other by phone in a crowd of tens of thousands is harder than it sounds. Mid-afternoon is the best window for autographs near practice areas, when players finish rounds and pass through on their way out.
Evenings and the rest of the week
Tournament week extends well beyond the ropes, with Scottsdale restaurants, bars, and resorts running at full energy every night. Old Town Scottsdale fills with golf crowds after the gates close, and reservations at popular dinner spots go fast during tournament week. Visitors with an extra day can pair the tournament with spring training baseball, desert hiking, or a resort spa morning to round out the trip. A Phoenix shuttle service ride links the course, Old Town dinners, and day trips without anyone in the group drawing driving duty. For the flight home, build in extra time, because Sunday departures stack up and the airport runs at peak volume through Monday morning.
Frequently asked questions
- Which day is best for the WM Phoenix Open?
- Saturday brings the biggest crowds and the loudest sixteenth hole, while Thursday and Friday offer easier viewing with thinner galleries. Pick Saturday for atmosphere or a weekday round for actual golf watching.
- How do you get to TPC Scottsdale during the tournament?
- General parking uses off-site lots with shuttle buses to the gates. A prearranged group ride with set pickup times avoids the lots and the curbside scramble on peak days.
- What should you bring to the tournament?
- Layers for cool mornings, sunscreen and a hat, broken-in walking shoes, a phone charger, and screenshot tickets. Check the current bag policy the night before, since size limits are enforced at every gate.
- Is the sixteenth hole worth it?
- Yes, it is the signature experience, a stadium setting no other tournament matches. Arrive early for grandstand seats and consider ear protection for kids, because the crowd noise is genuinely loud.
- Can you fly in just for the day?
- Many visitors do. Morning flights into Sky Harbor connect to the course by midday with a prebooked airport pickup, and evening flights home work after the final round with a scheduled return ride.
