The 16th Hole At TPC Scottsdale To Be Fully Enclosed For FBR Open

Expected Capacity To Be Between 15,000- 20,000 Spectators At 16th Hole For FBR Open

The par-3 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale "will become the PGA Tour's first-ever fully-enclosed 'stadium' golf hole when the 2009 FBR Open returns" January 29-February 1, according to the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The 16th hole is "now fully enclosed by bleachers and skyboxes, with expected capacity to be between 15,000 to 20,000 spectators." The Thunderbirds, the civic organization that organizes the FBR Open, "added about 3,000 new general admission bleacher seats behind and to the right of the green." Also, a tunnel "has been added underneath the new seats for the golfers to get from the 16th green to the 17th tee." A 51-by-19-foot video board display also was added to the west side of the 16th hole behind the tee box. Bleacher seats "will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis," and fans "will not need any special tickets to sit in the bleachers" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/6). Golf Channel's Brian Hewitt said, "We now have a hole that the Roman Coliseum would be proud of. ... In fact, I’m hearing that tournament officials may even insist that the hole name be changed to 'The Coliseum" (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 1/5).