The 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open is just around the corner, and there is already plenty of buzz at TPC Scottsdale to prepare for the 85th edition of “The People’s Open.” Construction began on September 16 and will continue for more than four months leading up to the tournament, which will tee it up January 27 – February 2 in Scottsdale.
“Each and every year we try to improve upon the previous year, and this year is no different,” said Tournament Chairman Tim Woods. “Everyone is aware of our iconic 16th hole and the various popular hospitality venues throughout the course, but our focus the last couple of years has been to enhance the overall experience for our general admission guests, something we are doing again for 2020.”
One of those new venues open to the public is the Kiva Club, a multi-level general admission venue located next to Bay Club that offers views of holes 10 and 17 and will provide food and beverage options for purchase. Kiva Club will feature a main viewing deck and a second-level platform with tables and seating across the rail, along with a large bar in the middle, making it a prime spot to watch the golf action. “The 17th hole has really grown over the last few years, but the majority of that growth was corporate hospitality,” Woods said. “It’s such a great hole, we wanted to create a venue for the public to be able to experience it in style and comfort as well.”
Another public hospitality venue, while not new, is being expanded for the fourth straight year. The area atop the hill overlooking hole No. 12, No. 6 green and No. 13 tee which started in 2016 as El Rancho will get yet another upgrade for the 2020 tournament. The extremely popular general-admission viewing area now named The Ridge presented by Taylor Morrison will double in size, providing a nearly 36,000-square-feet viewing platform featuring lounge style furniture as well as food and beverage options, along with drink rails on three sides.
Another major expansion will be found at the finishing 18th hole. Last year the new E18hteen venue was introduced and doubled in size; this year that venue will be matched by the new Scorekeeper suites that will sit directly across from E18hteen on the west side of the 18th Fairway and will feature a double-decker, arcum-style structure that will house 60 additional hospitality suites on the 442-yard, par-4 finishing hole.
Other changes for 2020 include the addition of four new loge suites near the tee box on the south side of the 16th hole that will include Aces Lounge, an exclusive bar for loge patrons aptly named to honor all of the players who have carded a hole-in-one on the famed 16th hole; five new loge suites at the Cove that will offer views of 17 green and 18 tee box; and newly refurbished Greenskeeper Suites.
