TPC Sawgrass, Site of the Week athlete championshipis a public course in the same way that Virgin Galactic is public transportation. Anyone can play, just like anyone can reserve a seat on a flight to the stratosphere.
for the price.
Sawgrass’ peak season fee for 2023 is $600 per player ( Virgin Galactic Check with Richard Branson for fares). That’s lower than last year, when dynamic pricing jumped Sawgrass’ green fees to $820. But it’s still a far cry from the bargain prices of many of the courses we celebrate in this area.
It’s not that Munis can’t have high-end luster. bethpage black, which hosts Major. But it’s easy to forget a few other places like Sawgrass that serve as regular tour stops.
where are they? And what do they cost?
In keeping with the populist spirit of Muni Mondays, take a look at the 5 best municipal trucks in the world each year.
1 and 2. Torrey Pines — Farmers Insurance Open (San Diego, CA)
If you see hang gliders wafting in the background, chances are you’re watching coverage from Torrey Pines, the clifftop town of San Diego that has long hosted the Farmers Insurance Open, the cornerstone of the West Coast swing. . There are two of his courses here, North and South, designed by William Francis Bell in the late 1950s and undergoing major renovations by Tom Weiskopf and Reese Jones respectively. Farmers use both courses, but the South (the longer and tougher of the two) is billed alone for weekend rounds of the tournament. The South also hosted two of his memorable U.S. Opens. And in 2021, Jon Rahm rounded out Birdie Birdie in his first major.
In both the North and South, tee times can be booked up to 90 days in advance and tend to sell out quickly. But being locked out doesn’t mean all is lost. Because there is a local tradition of sending the group off between sunrise and the first formal teatime of the day. That’s good news. The bad news is it’s first come first served and these slots are the hardest to hook in the parking lot.
City Resident Fee:
South Course: $67-$83
North Course: $47-$62
Non-resident fee
South Course: $223-$278
North Course: $141-$176
3. Memorial Park — Houston Open (Houston, TX)
Houston, Markeemni. Located in the sprawling city park of the same name, His Memorial Park was born in 1923 as a 9-hole layout, but in 1936 it became an 18-hole all-turf layout. Between 1947 and his 1963, the Houston Open was held his 14th time. Jackie Burke Jr., Cary Middlekoff and Arnold Palmer all won Houston Open titles in that span. Dave Ma did not. But the PGA Championship winner-turned-golf broadcaster cut his teeth at Memorial Park as a kid and never lost that love. His ashes are scattered around the grounds.
In 1995, after a long period of neglect, Memorial Park underwent renovations. A more comprehensive facelift during the pandemic was completed when Tom Doak put the finishing touches on the overhaul and was ready for the Memorial Park Tour.
Reborn as host to the Houston Open, Memorial Park has much larger greens than your average Tour venue (small putting surfaces weren’t an option for a year-round intense course). Holes 13 to 17 also have a very interesting closing stretch with two driveable par 4s and two getable par 5s.
City Resident Fee: $30-$38
Non-Resident Fee: $120-$140
Four. TPC Scottsdale — WM Phoenix Open (Scottsdale)Arizona)
Each year, during Super Bowl week, tens of thousands of fans, some sober and fully clothed, take to the stadium course for the WM Phoenix Open, a tournament where the Ryder Cup seems mundane. rush. The atmosphere around the 16th hole is particularly evocative, as an otherwise unremarkable par 3 transforms into a gladiator’s arena surrounded by towering packed grandstands.
But you probably knew it all.
What you may not realize is that the Tom Weiskopf-Jay Morrish design is partly owned by the city. Fees often range from $329 to $525 per player.
5. TPC Harding Park — Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown (San Francisco, CA)
In a proud life that began in 1925, Harding has done many things to many people. Regular tour stop. A major championship venue. Stage of the Presidents Cup. Ken Venturi’s home course where his parents ran a pro shop. Few Muni have such a long resume. This May, the LPGA will host the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown. Every two years he competes in match play with his four-man teams from eight countries in a one-time event.
The course they play on was originally designed by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting (the same duo as the nearby Olympic Club) and was dramatically upgraded in the early 2000s. Its features include an innovative cinnamon roll he routing, with the front nine wrapped inside the back nine, and a sturdy closing stretch that curls along the edge of Lake Merced.
City Resident Fee: $65-$79
Non-resident fee: $180-$200
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