If watching the pros take on the famously loud par-3 16th hole at this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open has you yearning for a chance to take your own grandstand-surrounded swipe off the tee, you’re in luck! The tournament venue, TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium course, is publicly accessible, so all you have to do is pay the green fee to experience the course for yourself. And if you time it right, you could even enjoy a round with the (albeit likely empty) grandstands.

Here’s how to take a golf trip to Scottsdale, Ariz. — and play three rounds (including both of TPC’s Scottsdale’s courses, the Stadium and the Champions) — for less than $2,400.

AIRFARE: ~$300

Direct flights to PHX are abundant from just about every major city around the country. A quick search on Expedia for a long weekend in late March revealed round-trip direct flights ranging from $281 (JFK) to $288 (BOS) to $339 (ORD) — not bad for the middle of the desert’s great-weather high season.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: $40

If you’re staying at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (see details below) it’s definitely worth it to Uber as opposed to renting a car, which can set you back a minimum of $245 for a long weekend in late March (according to Expedia). It’s only about $40 each way from the airport to North Scottsdale in an Uber, which you can split with your travel buddy.

TOTAL SPEND: $300 + $40 = $340  

LODGING AND GREEN FEES (3 NIGHTS AND 3 ROUNDS): $1,720.58

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is not only super luxe and fabulous, it’s also right onsite at TPC Scottsdale. With the resort’s Championship Golf Package, in addition to lodging, you also get one round of golf per adult per day at any of the resort’s preferred courses, which include the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course, and Grayhawk’s Talon or Raptor courses.

To top it off, you also get resort transportation to and from the courses and complimentary use of the practice facility during your round.

(As an aside, high-season green fees at TPC’s Stadium course on the weekend start at $332/person for morning times while the Champions course starts at $189.)

So, with the Fairmont’s deal, you’ll spend $3,441.15 once you include all the taxes and resort fees, which comes out to $1,720.58 per person — or approximately $573.53 per day for top-tier golf and lodging.

TOTAL SPEND: $340 + $1,720.58 = $2,060.58

DINING: ~$325

With four sumptuous restaurants onsite at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, keeping to a budget may be tough, but try this breakdown to stay on track:

Arrival dinner: $50

Day 1 golf course lunch: $25

Day 1 dinner: $50

Day 2 golf course lunch: $25

Day 2 dinner: $50

Day 3 golf course lunch: $25

Miscellaneous breakfasts and snacks: $100

Total dining: $325

TOTAL SPEND: $2,060.58 + $325 = $2,385.58

And there you have it! Three nights in one of Scottsdale’s most luxurious hotels and three rounds of golf at premier courses for less than $2,400! Ready to book? Happy travels!

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By almost any measure, Tim Woods is a tough guy — a Black­hawk helicopter pilot for the Army National Guard and a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq. But he’s also a man unafraid to show emotion, inclined, he says, to “blubber like a baby” at acts of kindness and generosity.

One of many moments that reduced him to tears came on his recent visit to the Phoenix Rescue Mission, an organization in the Arizona capital that offers shelter and support to men, women and children struggling with homelessness and addiction. “I couldn’t help it,” Woods says. “I just kind of lost it.”

Nor could he stop from snuffling earlier this summer when he rose to give a speech at a breakfast benefit for the Special Olympics Arizona. And don’t even get him started on his tour of a Boys and Girls Club in south Phoenix that offers a safe haven for kids with few other spots to turn.

“To see the obstacles some people are up against, and the positive impact you can have on their lives,” Woods says. “That’s when it really hits you … ”

Bottom line: He goes through a lot of Kleenex. He also hands out a lot of checks, adding to a tally that has been mounting for decades. All the money goes toward uplifting causes, and every cent of it comes courtesy of The Thunderbirds, the juggernaut of a charitable out­fit that Woods has been part of since 2010.

Recognized around the Phoenix area as a brotherhood of softhearted movers and shakers, the all-volunteer Thunderbirds are known to golf fans across the country as the pooh­bahs behind the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the best-attended stop on the PGA Tour. Famed for its raucous atmosphere, the event is a week of orches­trated bedlam. But even in the madness, The Thunder­birds are impossible to miss. Dressed in their signature blue velvet tunics and silver concho belts, with their namesake Native American emblem — a thunderbird­ draped as a pendant around their necks — they fan out on the grounds, tending to a litany of logistics at a tourna­ment they spend the whole year planning.

It’s no small task, with no small impact. In 2019 alone, the event raised $13.2 million for local charities, pushing the tournament’s all-time fundraising total to $147 million.

“Over the years, they’ve turned their tournament into a premier golf event,” says Shannon Clancy, associate exec­utive director of St. Vincent de Paul, a nonprofit devoted to serving the poor that has received more than $1.2 mil­lion from The Thunderbirds. “But really what they’ve done is transform it into a tremendous force for good.”

It’s a fitting evolution for two Arizona institutions whose histories are tightly intertwined. The Thunder­birds were born in 1937 as a five-man committee charged with promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. As their efforts expanded, so did their ranks. Each origi­nal member selected 10 recruits to create a roster of 55, the same number of active Thunderbirds that holds today. Then, as now, inductees were the cream of the community-minded crop. They included Bob Goldwa­ter, an avid golfer and brother of five-term U.S. senator, Barry. Goldwater urged The Thunderbirds to host a golf tournament. The Phoenix Open, which had started in 1932, made a natural choice.

In its early decades, the venue toggled between the Phoenix Country Club and the Arizona Country Club, until 1987, when it moved to newly opened TPC Scotts­dale, a project The Thunderbirds helped pay to com­plete. Replete with spacious corridors and sculpted amphitheaters, the course gave the tournament room for growth, which The Thunderbirds cultivated with their commitment and clout. The group’s member­ship is a high-desert who’s who, comprising the likes of Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo and Arizona governor Doug Ducey. Jim Nantz and Jack Nicklaus are honorary Thun­derbirds, as were Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

For all the prominent figures in their midst, The Thunderbirds main­tain a mostly understated profile. As with prestigious golf clubs, you don’t ask to join. You’re nominated, and your name is put to a closed-door vote. Most new Thunderbirds are chosen in their mid-to-late 30s. They remain active members until they turn 45, when they morph into life members, of which there are about 280. One measure of Thunderbird seniority and status is the number of silver and turquoise beads on their necklaces, each representing a charitable deed done. A Thunderbird whose necklace is bare is something like a young buck without antlers.

“You can always tell the newbies,” says Jerry Lewkowitz, 90, who became a Thunderbird in 1962 and remains a fixture at group meetings.

Once unadorned, Tim Woods’s necklace now hangs heavy with beads. His tournament responsibilities are weighty, too. He is the chairman of the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open (January 30 to February 2), a demanding role that grows near all-consuming as tournament week approaches, leaving Woods scant time for his paying gig in the insurance business. It’s okay, he says. Chopper pilots can handle pressure. So can most Thunderbirds, who self-select toward the Type A.

A defining trait of the organization is a culture of healthy competition. “There’s nothing I’d love more than to p–s off my tournament chair predecessor by raising more money than he did last year,” Woods says.

At this year’s event, expanded infrastructure, including new corporate boxes and blown-out concession areas, should help boost revenue. Every sponsorship deal sealed, every visor and vodka tonic sold, means more money toward worthy causes. Sometime after the final putt drops and the proceeds are tallied, The Thunderbirds will announce the sum and discuss the many lives that stand to benefit from it — the families without homes, the children needing health care, the services for seniors operating on a shoestring.

Tim Woods won’t be alone. There won’t be a dry eye in the house.

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Scottsdale’s plethora of world-class courses and ideal weather make it the perfect stage for the ultimate golf getaway. Courses like Troon North, TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa and Greyhawk are strong public options that cater to golfers of all handicaps, while the restaurant and nightlife scenes make it a fun spot for groups.

What’s more? Scottsdale is home to dozens of insane rental properties that will have you living like a king or queen throughout your stay. Whether you’re planning a buddies golf weekend, bachelor(ette) party, family vacation, or just looking for a place with its own putting green, we’ve rounded up the coolest rentals in the area for every budget.

The Mansion

This house has a giant pool with a lazy river—need we say more? While the price is hefty, the place can sleep 17 people (it has seven bedrooms) and includes a babysitter and an in-home chef.

Price: $1,947 per night

The Compound

This extravagant property in Scottsdale will have you feeling like you’re inside an episode of MTV’s Cribs. Bring the whole family and they’ll be so busy playing soccer, basketball, corn hole and mini-golf, they won’t even notice you snuck in another 18 holes. Plus, keep your eyes peeled and you’ll discover the game room hidden behind a bookcase.

Price: $1,207 per night

The Classic Desert Home

This 4,000-square-foot home has a modern interior, but its exterior offers major desert vibes. It has a luxurious pool and hot tub, outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and is located within 10 minutes of 12 golf courses.

Price: $787 per night

The Best Backyard

This lavish desert-style home has plenty to occupy your friends and family during your entire stay. You can settle your bets from the course on the backyard putting green, bocce court, pool table, or foosball table.

Price: $600 per night

The Waterfall Pool Home

This luxurious Airbnb Plus property can sleep up to 12 people and has a heated waterfall pool, hot tub, and putting green in the backyard. The outdoor landscaping—equipped with red rocks and cacti—won’t let you forget you’re vacationing in the Valley of the Sun.

Price: $395 per night

The Convenient Quarters

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom rental from VRBO is an ideal place to relax after a long day on the course. Just five minutes from Old Town, this property is ideally located by some of the best golf courses and restaurants in the area.

Price: $269 per night

The Private Escape

This home sits on an acre of property, offering the ultimate privacy in the heart of downtown Scottsdale. Aside from the pool, hot tub and putting green, this home also has an outdoor pool table and air-hockey table. The modern kitchen is a nice touch for guests who enjoy cooking as well.

Price: $238 per night

The Bocce Ball Backyard

This modest Scottsdale abode can sleep up to 16 guests and has a full-blown bocce court in the backyard. Only 10 minutes from the airport, this rental is easy to get to and close to Old Town.

Price: $149 per night

The Humble Abode

For less than $100 a night, you and 11 other buddies can book this quaint home in the heart of Scottdale without sacrificing any amenities. Despite the inexpensive price tag, this home offers a pool, putting green, pool table, and updated interior. It also has great reviews!

Price: $99 per night

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A whole new rules rollout, Tiger Woods’ 15th major title, two epic international events and so much more. Here’s a look back at some of the best moments of 2019.

Best of 2019: Amy Bockerstette drains the par of the year

On the day Amy Bockerstette silenced the loudest hole in golf, Joe Bockerstette was too focused on his daughter’s bunker play to be aware of the effect she was having.

As Amy sized up her second shot on the par-3 16th hole during a Waste Management Phoenix Open practice round earlier this year, Joe couldn’t help himself. He’s a warm and patient man, but after a single practice swing, he’d seen enough. He stopped parenting and started caddying.

“You need to take a harder swing,” he said. “The sand is fluffy!”

If Amy was rattled by the last-second encroachment, it didn’t show.

“I got this!” she yelled back, before delivering a short, punchy swing that splashed the ball out of the sand and over the edge of the bunker. The ball trundled onto the green, stopping 10 feet from the hole, its black Bridgestone logo specked with grains of white sand.

The crowd roared. Amy’s playing partners, including Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar, looked stunned. Joe exhaled for what felt like the first time in an hour.

In an instant, Amy’s star was born.

******

https://www.facebook.com/PGATour/videos/vb.10643196329/353801068549322/?type=2&theater

In the Down syndrome community, there’s a popular aphorism for new parents: “Welcome to Holland.” It’s a nod to Emily Perl Kingsley’s essay, which likens the birth of a developmentally disabled child to accidentally arriving in Holland after a long-awaited trip to Italy.

“After you’ve been there for a while and catch your breath, you look around and begin to notice that Holland has windmills and tulips. But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, lovely things about Holland.”

It’s a feeling etched into Joe Bockerstette’s memory. In October 1998, he and his wife Jenny found themselves in Holland, parents to a newborn girl with Down syndrome. They named her Amy. Silently, Joe was heartbroken. A lifelong athlete, he’d dreamt of edifying a father-daughter relationship through sports.

“One of my strongest feelings was grieving over ‘I’ll never get to experience those sports moments with her,’ to teach her, to root for her,” Joe said in a phone interview. “There wasn’t a lot of optimism out there about having a child with Down syndrome.”

Everything changed in 2010, when shortly after moving his family to Scottsdale, Joe attended a yard sale. He bought a 7-iron from a junior set, which inspired him to take Amy to a driving range.

“I came home and told my wife, ‘This kid can play golf!'” Joe said. “She just picked up a club and could hit.”

A decade later, Amy Bockerstette is a decorated golfer — a scholarship athlete on the golf team at Paradise Valley Community College in Scottsdale. And her caddie?

“We’re partners in her round, and trust me, I cost her more shots than she does with decisions I make,” Joe said, laughing. “I’m in the arena with my daughter playing competitive sports, it’s a dad’s dream.”

In January, Joe and Amy were preparing for a tournament when a representative from the PGA Tour called. The Tour wanted to surprise Amy during a practice round by having her play a hole with 2018 WMPO champion Gary Woodland.

On the morning of the surprise, Joe was restless. Amy would be playing the famed 16th hole — the so-called “loudest hole in golf” — without a warm-up or a warning.

Pressure? What pressure? As the crowd fell silent, Amy stepped on to the tee box and took a smooth, unfaltering swing that landed in the bunker left of the green. As she prepared for her next shot shot, the fans quieted again, which led to her gem of a bunker shot and a high-five from Woodland.

Over her 10-footer for par, Amy had to quiet herself. She found her line, rocked back her putter and drained it.

Joe yelled, Woodland screamed, and the loudest hole in golf did what it does best.

******

The video of Amy’s viral moment has been viewed 43 million times, making it the most-watched video in PGA Tour history. Her popularity multiplied again in June, when Woodland credited Amy with sparking his victory at the U.S. Open. Joe says she’s recognized in the street “almost daily,” while she and Woodland talk every few weeks.

Joe and Jenny are weary of amplifying their daughter’s fame. They prepare for the future during the school year while Amy plays golf, attends classes and works a part-time job at TJ Maxx. For now, their preparations have taken the form of the I Got This foundation, whose mission is to raise money for and awareness of the intellectually disabled community in golf.

Amy’s loved ones have a hard time comprehending her accomplishments and her newfound viral fame. Two decades ago, her father mourned the loss of her sports career. Today, he’s her caddie, playing partner and spokesman.

Life with Amy has rarely gone according to plan, but perhaps that’s why it’s gone so right.

“It’s a great lesson in not putting limitations on your child,” Joe said. “Amy’s opened up more opportunities than we could ever imagine. She’s changed our lives completely, and all for the better.”

Welcome to Holland.

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