Holes To Watch (click on map to download PDF)

By Wade Dunagan

Many articles are written on the players to watch at a particular golf event. With the Accenture Match Play Championship, I would suggest watching them all. We have the best players in the world coming to Southern Arizona this February, and in match play, anything can happen.

Rather than discuss “who” to watch, we should really consider “where” to watch. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain was designed with the Accenture Match Play Championship in mind, and there are no bad places to view the action. This is a golf tournament, and there will be some walking, but the Practice Range, one of my favorite places, is just 150 yards from the front gate. If you can walk a couple of holes from there, you will easily reach all of the viewing locations outlined below. Following a single match for the entire round is a great way to not miss a single shot, but you certainly don’t have to walk that far to see great golf if you don’t want to.

For starters, I would highly recommend spending at least a little time at the Practice Range. Bleachers will be set up at both sides of the tee, and there is viewing from behind the players as well. There is no better place to watch all of the different shots that these touring professionals can hit, or learn about their swings while visualizing yours. (on second thought… let’s just watch them) it is extremely interesting to watch various players go through their rituals and routines before play. Watch how they warm-up, working from short shots to long, and then back down the ladder to short. See how many of them go to the short game area, or estimate how much time they spend putting before they tee off. I think that all of us can learn something from the best players warm-up and practice strategies. The Practice Range is where I will be.

Once on the course, there are several locations that I would highly recommend. On the front nine, there is a high point for viewing a convergence of holes. If you can make your way down to hole #2 green and a few steps further, you will be in the epicenter of viewing perfection for the front nine. You can see shots played into hole #2, tee shots on hole #3, most of hole #4, tee shots on hole #5, approach shots on hole #7 and tee shots on hole #8; all within 100 steps or so of eachother. You can watch almost a majority of shots on the opening nine holes by the different matches, then follow the match you choose down hole #8 to the center of the course.

At the center of the course is one of this year’s enhancements for our spectators. Located across the road from #8 green and adjacent to #10 green is our food court; the perfect place to grab a drink or snack while your favorite players play holes # 9 & #10. You can pick up the action at #10 green, rested and refreshed for the back nine.

The back nine offers several viewing areas that have been fan favorites. Hole #13 is a reachable par five at a critical point in most matches. The possibility of eagles provides excitement, and a challenging second shot plays well into the “risk vs reward” strategy that is Match Play. While the average length match is 16.1 holes, players who win the 13th hole are sure to have a leg up on their opponent.
Another fan favorite location for watching the Accenture Match Play Championship are the grass mounds that separate the 14th and 17th fairways. A comfortable place to sit, these mounds offer terrific views of the 14th and 17th holes, and are only a short walk from the center of the course. You can pick up your favorite match on the 14th tee and walk the 15th and 16th holes with the group, returning to the mounds to rest while you wait for the next exciting match to come through. This late in the round, all of the holes are critical, and you will be right in the heart of the shotmaking that means the difference between winning or losing.

So whether you choose to follow an individual match, or would rather select a great spot to let the action come to you, I hope you will come out to see the best players in the world at the 2010 Accenture Match Play Championship, February 15th – 21st.

Wade Dunagan is the Executive Director of the World Golf Championships - Accenture World Golf Championship.