Sol Saguaro’s Guide to Waste Management Phoenix Open

We attended the 2025 WM Phoenix Open on Saturday and Sunday, and here are our tips and tricks for getting the best view. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we found the best way to people-watch and watch golf was by finding a cozy spot on a grassy hill to sit. Below is what worked best for us.

Merchandise Tips:

One of the first things we did on Saturday morning was visit the merchandise tent, and it was massive! By Saturday, it was already picked over, and they had run out of sizes M and L in several styles. If you’re planning to buy souvenirs, the earlier, the better. Plenty of people were walking around with shopping bags, and it’s a safe environment, so there was never a moment when we thought our bags might get stolen.

The best thing we did was purchase two golf towels to take around with us for the weekend. We used them every time we sat on the grass to keep our clothes clean and dry. Highly recommend this!

A big plus on Sunday is that ALL glasses (beer mugs, coffee mugs, wine glasses, whiskey glasses) were on sale for $1. These sell out quickly once the word spreads, so if you want to buy glasses, wait until Sunday morning and head there early!

Best Places to Watch Golf:

1. Between Holes 2 and 3: There’s a spot between holes 2 and 3 where you can watch golfers putt at hole 2, and then immediately take a few steps to see them tee off at hole 3. This is a good area to watch at the beginning of the day, but it gets crowded as the day goes on, making it harder to go back and forth between the two holes.

2. Fairway of Hole 4: There’s a knoll where you can sit to watch golfers approach and putt. It’s a great place to hang out and people-watch in between golfers. The sidewalk on the other side of the fairway is one of the main paths into the course from the Princess Entrance, so it’s a high-traffic area.

3. Grass Between Holes 6 and 12: The hill by the green of hole 6 is a great spot to sit and watch golfers putt. There are picnic tables at the top of the hill, and on the other side of the green is the 12th tee box, offering a great view of hole 11 and the par-3 12th. The bonus is that there are several concession stands and a large bathroom tent nearby, so you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere for a long time.

4. Hole 10 Green: There’s a little valley by the green of hole 10 that’s perfect for sitting and watching golfers approach and putt. It’s right outside the 16th-hole general stadium seating exit, so you’ll hear lots of cheering from the crowd. This is a great spot to visit right after leaving hole 16 to collect yourself and appreciate the ongoing golf.

5. Fairway of Hole 18: There’s a hill on the back side of hole 18 (opposite the entrance). This is the perfect place to watch golfers finish their round. It offers a beautiful view of the mountains and is a large area where plenty of people can sit. It’s also near the Fan Zone, where you can refill on drinks and snacks, with bathrooms close by.

The Famous Hole 16 - General Stadium Seating:

Hole 16 was packed on Saturday; the line to get in was already forming at 8 AM when we arrived. If you want to go to hole 16 on Saturday, you’ll need to get there early. We visited hole 16 on Sunday morning and recommend Sunday as the best day to go. We strolled up around 8:45 AM just to check it out. There was no line, and plenty of seats were open. We found some great spots in the bottom section of the stands.

The energy in the stands was everything we expected and more—shotgun competitions, heckling of sponsored box attendees, impromptu renditions of “The National Anthem,” and the Eagle vs. Chiefs debates. There are also concession stands and bathrooms nearby, so we understand how people could stay there all day. We, however, left before it got too wild, wanting to avoid beer showers and be ready for our flight the next morning.

All in all, we recommend spending at least a few hours at hole 16 if you’re attending the tournament—it’s the quintessential embodiment of the Phoenix Open.

Food:

• Desert Oasis BBQ & Beer Garden: This place has good BBQ (though not quite up to Texas standards). There aren't many other food options nearby, but there are plenty of alcohol booths and tables with shade, making it a good spot to escape the sun.

• Concession Stands: These mostly offer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hot dogs, so it works for a quick snack, but if you want a full meal, look elsewhere.

• Fan Zone: This area had the best food and drink options, though it was the most crowded.

Alcohol:

The tournament was very strict with alcohol sales after the 2023 incident. We saw several minors get their fake IDs taken and arrested over the weekend. To purchase alcohol, you’ll need to visit a stand each day to get a 21+ wristband (the color changes daily). The wristband is supposed to prevent the need for ID checks at the concession stands, but we were still asked to show ID every time, even with the wristband.

You can buy beer and seltzers at most concession stands, but for mixed drinks, you’ll need to visit the larger food and beverage stands.

• The Fairway House: A popular place to get cocktails. It gets crowded, so get there early if you want a seat.

• Concession Stand Between Holes 6 and 12: This stand offers delicious specialty cocktails.

• Fan Zone: This area has alot of different bar with different cocktails and can drinks.
  

Kiva Club:

On Sunday, we splurged and got the only general admission club seats. It was an extra $50 per ticket—worth it? Maybe not. The Kiva Club sits between the fairways of holes 10 and 17. It has its own bar, food stand, bathrooms, and comfy bar chairs facing hole 10, with stand seating facing hole 17. The downside is that it’s positioned a bit too far out to get a good view of either hole. The 17th tee box is about 200 yards away, and the best time to see golfers is when they’re walking toward the green. On the other side of the club, for hole 10’s green, it’s about 150 yards away, so you can see the golfers but the ball is hard to follow. We brought binoculars, which were a lifesaver.

If you’re going to the tournament just to hang out, the Kiva Club is a great option because it’s not overcrowded and offers shade with all the amenities. However, if you’re there to watch golf, we recommend saving your money and finding a good grassy spot for a better view.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was a trip of a lifetime. We had so much fun experiencing our first WM Phoenix Open. We will definitely be back next year, so keep an eye out for us in 2026!