Get ready for golf’s wildest party! The WM Phoenix Open’s iconic 16th hole is roaring back to life this February, and if you think it’s just another par-3, think again. This 163-yard shot has transformed into a gladiator-style arena where golf meets rock concert energy, with over 20,000 fans creating an atmosphere unlike anything else in professional sports.

While you might know about the rowdy crowds and flying beer cups, there’s so much more to this legendary hole that makes it the crown jewel of TPC Scottsdale. From record-breaking noise levels to million-dollar skyboxes, this isn’t your typical golf experience. As we gear up for another electric tournament at TPC Scottsdale, here are the 5 most incredible facts about golf’s rowdiest hole.

5. The loudest hole in golf

Move over, NFL stadiums! Recent measurements show the 16th hole regularly exceeds 100 decibels during peak moments—that’s louder than a jackhammer (95 decibels) and on par with a loud rock concert. While it might not quite match the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium record of 142.2 decibels set in 2014, what makes this truly remarkable is that it happens in an open-air setting. For context, the average NBA game hits around 90 decibels during crucial moments, and most golf tournaments mandate silence during shots. The three-story structure, built with 1,600 tons of steel, creates a natural amphitheater that amplifies every cheer and jeer, transforming golf’s whispered traditions into a pressure-packed stadium experience that players face nowhere else on tour.

4. The Skybox Empire

What started with just 11 modest corporate boxes in 1992 has exploded into one of golf’s most exclusive hospitality experiences. Today, 294 luxury skyboxes accommodate over 13,000 premium guests throughout tournament week. Want to secure your spot? Better join the five-year waiting list and be ready to shell out between $165,000-$195,000 for a tournament-week Skybox 16 Loge suite—a dramatic increase from the average corporate box price of $65,000 just a few years ago.

These aren’t just seats. Each skybox comes equipped with HD TVs, premium food and beverage service, and the most coveted views in golf. The demand is so high that even getting on the waiting list has become a status symbol in corporate America.

3. Birth of “The Coliseum”

This isn’t just a nickname—it’s a perfect description of golf’s only fully enclosed hole on the PGA Tour. The stadium setup emerged from humble beginnings in the early 1990s when Arizona State University students would gather on a small hillside to watch their hometown hero Phil Mickelson. What started as a simple gathering spot transformed into a phenomenon that would change golf forever.

From temporary bleachers that seated a few hundred, it now boasts a three-story marvel requiring four months of annual construction. Three strategic bunkers guard the green, adding to the drama as players face not just the shot but the wall of fans surrounding them. As Mickelson notes, the atmosphere here has “crowds second to none,” making it the most intimidating par-3 in golf despite its modest length.

2. Tiger’s 1997 Magic

When 21-year-old Tiger Woods stepped up to the tee during the third round in 1997, he was still establishing himself on tour, just five months into his professional career with three wins under his belt. His playing partner Omar Uresti had just stuck his shot within three feet of the pin, thinking, “Let’s see you hit it closer than that.” Woods responded by pulling his 9-iron, taking dead aim, and creating history. His perfect shot disappeared into the cup, unleashing a celebration unlike anything golf had ever seen—complete with Woods’s iconic “raising the roof” gesture and beer cups raining from the sky that transformed the 16th hole from a rowdy party into a legendary venue.

Golf’s cruelest irony would unfold right here 18 years later. In 2015, Woods returned to TPC Scottsdale only to card an 11-over-par 82—his second-worst round ever—going from stadium hero to missing the cut in spectacular fashion. This stark contrast between triumph and struggle only adds to the mystique of golf’s most dramatic stage.

1. Hole-in-One Heaven: 11 and Counting

Since TPC Scottsdale began hosting the tournament in 1987, the 16th hole has witnessed 11 remarkable holes-in-one. These aces haven’t just been random acts of brilliance; they’ve often come in pairs. The tournament has seen three different years with multiple aces: 1990, 1997, and most recently, 2022. Here’s the complete list of players who’ve achieved golf immortality on the 16th:

What makes these achievements even more remarkable? These 11 aces have come from roughly 15,000 tournament tee shots at the 16th hole. The statistics tell an interesting story too: seven of these aces have come during Saturday’s third round, while no left-handed player has ever achieved the feat. Each ace has created its own unique piece of Phoenix Open folklore.

As we look ahead to another chapter in the 16th hole’s storied history, one thing’s certain: this isn’t just a golf hole; it’s become golf’s ultimate proving ground. Who will be next to join the legendary list of players who’ve conquered The Coliseum? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!