West Coast Swings Starts Golf in 2016

Posted By Dave Wells on Jan 1, 2016

Golf’s West Coast Swing includes the Waste Management Phoenix Open at Scottsdale TPC.

With January, 2016, upon us, let’s talk about golf and the ‘West Coast Swing’ as the PGA Tour goes west in January, actually starting in Hawaii. The “Swing” passes through Scottsdale in February and finishes in Pacific Palisades, California later that month.

Some great golf courses will be showcased on your TV screen, so here are some personal experiences and historical facts about the West Coast golf courses in play. They’re some of the best. Let’s start with the two PGA Tournaments in Hawaii.

#1. The PGA Hyundai Tournament of Champions features the champions of the PGA Tour playing the number one golf course in Hawaii, The Plantation Course, at Kapulua. The course is located on the slopes of the mountains in Maui with dramatic ocean views from virtually every hole. You’ll never get tired of playing it. Plus, when you stand on the 18th tee facing a dramatic downhill slope, you will be assured of hitting your longest drive ever. As they say in Hawaii, “Here Today And Gone To Maui.” Visit PGA Website

West Coast Swing begins at Plantations Course in Kapahua, Maui.

#2. The second PGA tournament (Sony Open) in Hawaii takes you back to Oahu and the prestigious Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, which has been hosting a PGA Tournament for 50 years. It’s a great golf course. Several of the golf holes are designed after historic golf holes in Europe. The Waialae nines are flip-flopped for the P-floppGA Tournament to provide scenic ocean views on the back nine, actually finishing on the par five dogleg number nine. Remember that famous golf shot by Isao Aoki in 1983 when he holed out his third shot for an a winning eagle on the final hole. This is the hole. Visit PGA Website

#3. Now back to the West Coast mainland and La Quinta, California and the historic Bob Hope Desert Classic, now the CareerBuilder Challenge. The tournament features play on some of the toughest golf courses: – the PGA West (TPC Stadium Course) along with the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, and the La Quinta Country Club. In the Bob Hope days, the famed Bermuda Dunes Country Club and the Indian Wells Golf Course were part of the overall tournament rotation that featured the highest celebrity participation. The toughest par three that I ever played was the 255 yard number six on the PGA West-TPC Stadium Course. It’s a lengthy par three with water to the right and a limited landing area on the left. It’s similar to number 14 at TPC-Southwind, just a little longer. Arnold Palmer won the first Palm Springs Desert Classic in 1960, but it doesn’t seem like 55 years ago. Visit PGA Website

#4. Then on to the San Diego area and the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines where the PGA Tour play two golf courses, the North and the South. Both are outstanding golf courses with the South being recognized as the most difficult course. Both golf courses are very scenic and have fantastic Pacific Ocean views. The Torrey Pines South golf course was the site of a recent U. S. Open and has provided many exciting finishes on the par five 18th hole. By the way, dinners are very special in nearby La Jolla. Visit PGA Website

16th Hole, Waste Management Phoenix Open, Scottsdale TPC

#5. Arizona is next on the golfing agenda as the PGA Tour moves into Scottsdale and TPC – Scottsdale (Waste Management Phoenix Open). This stadium golf course certainly starts with conversation about the 16th par three hole. It looks to some like a baseball stadium sitting there with thousands of spectators celebrating the game of golf. I’ve been there many times, and there is nothing in the game of golf that duplicates this “Celebration Of pros join in the fun. In addition, the 16th tee provides a vista for all to enjoy with Pinnacle Peak and the McDowell Mountains in the background. One real funny happening occurred in the 1990s when PGA golfer Scott Gump walked up on the boisterous 16th tee, and a group of Arizona State students shouted out, “Run Forrest Run.” You really don’t know what to expect. Visit PGA Website

#6. The next week takes us to probably the most scenic week of all on the West Coast Swing,that being at the AT & T Pebble Beach ProAm. It’s a very special stop on the PGA Tour, now being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill, and the shore course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Weather is always a factor, sometimes sunny and perfect, and other times windy and wet. You never know. One of my favorite holes at Pebble Beach will always be the par five number 18 beside the Pacific Ocean as it works its way back to The Lodge at Pebble Beach. And check out the short par three number seven on the ocean side that can be played with a three iron or a wedge, depending on the direction of the wind. It’s a beautiful golf course that has been the site of many U.S. Opens.
Most golf pros will tell you that Spyglass Hill is one of the toughest golf course on the tour. It also has special ocean views on many difficult holes. Be sure to check out the Hog’s Breath Inn in nearby Carmel. It’s a fun place and Clint Eastwood’s hangout for comfort foods and cocktails. Visit PGA Website

Last tournament in the West Coast Swing is played at Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades, CA.

#7. The finish of the West Coast Swing in February is special. It’s at Riviera Country Club (Northern Trust Open) in Pacific Palisades, California. It’s one of the best on the Swing and a golf course with a lot of history. It has been the site of several major golf tournaments, including both the U.S. Open (nicknamed “Hogan’s Alley”) and the PGA Championship. It’s quite special to stand on the first tee at Riviera. It’s a par 5 hole, right next to the clubhouse that presents a giant downhill slope before you. And of course, the famous 18th hole working its way back up the hill to a demanding par 4 hole is memorable. And, don’t forget the unusual number 6 par 3 with a sand trap in the middle of the green. Riviera is full of history not only in golf, but with the many movie stars being in attendance year after year. One of the most recognizable actors from the past was Humphrey Bogart, always sitting to the left of the number 12 fairway amongst the trees, actually under a sycamore tree, later named “The Bogart Tree.” Visit PGA Website

Holing Out

While writing this article, two names and success stories came to mind. The first is Johnny Miller who won 14 of his 25 career wins on the West Coast. The other is Scottsdale’s own Phil Mickelson who has won 16 out of his 42 career wins out west.

The West Coast Swing gets the PGA Tour started in 2016. For folks who live in the east, it provides wonderful scenic TV viewing time during the winter months. And then in late February, back east to Florida, The Masters in April, and The Players Championship in May. with the FedEx St. Jude Classic in early June, followed the next week by the U.S. Open at Oakmont, Pennsylvania. For golfer’s like me, it’s a bonanza providing weekly professional golfing excitement.

ENJOY 2016 GOLF – IT’S HERE!!!

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