Inside the course: TPC Summerlin

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Badz/PGA TOUR
A view of third fairway at TPC Summerlin, the host course for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
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Oct. 11, 2008

The PGA TOUR will play the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, Nev., at TPC Summerlin. Learn more about this course:

Fast facts
Original architect Bobby Weed and Fuzzy Zoeller (1992)
Course superintendent Dale L. Hahn
Number of PGA TOUR events as host venue 16 (including 2008)
Course ranking Ranked 44 (out of 55) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2007
Par value 72
Yardage history 7,243 (1992-present)
Grass Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass (tees); Bermudagrass (fairways, rough); Bentgrass (greens)
Tournament Stimpmeter 11 ft
Sand bunkers 105
Water hazards 4
Course tour Click here
Course record
Player
Davis Love III
Year
2001
Round
5th
Finish
T4
Holes-in-one
There have been 9 aces recorded at TPC Summerlin.
Player Hole Year
Kevin Stadler 14 2005
Dan Forsman 5 2003
Robert Allenby 17 2001
Jonathan Kaye 17 1999
Jim Carter 14 1998
Scott Simpson 14 1997
Mike Hulbert 14 1996
Bill Glasson 17 1995
Clark Dennis 14 1994
2007 Rankings
Most Difficult Hole
The par-3 239-yard eighth
The longest par-3 on the course, this hole plays left to right with a wash spanning the right side. A large green with bail-out left awaits tee shots that, if they are hit short and right, will invariably wind up in one of four front bunkers. How to watch: A berm surrounding the green offers a great place to sit, relax and watch as players hit to this par-3. This is the longest par-3 on the course, so many players face a tricky chip into the putting surface. Hole history: Fred Couples, who tied for 10th in 1999, played the hole without a par during the weekend. He double-bogeyed Saturday, then birdied it Sunday. In 1999's final round, there were only five birdies on the day, compared with 57 pars and nine bogeys. Bob May parred the hole both days in 1999 en route to trying for 13th.
2007: 0 eagles, 14 birdies, 178 pars, 109 bogeys, 7 double bogeys, 2 others
Easiest hole in 2007
The par-5 492-yard third
After playing the longest par 4 on the course, players tee off at the shortest par-5. A double fairway leads to the green, which is perched above a desert wash. The hole played slightly uphill and into the prevailing wind. How to watch: This hole annually gives up bunches of eagles and birdies, providing plenty of action. Your best bet is to sit above the green and watch as the players attempt to reach the green in two. Hole history: Harrison Frazar made a 10-foot eagle putt to help put him in a three-way tie for the lead on Friday in 1999's tournament. Jonathan Kaye birdied the first three holes on Sunday to pull within two of 1999 winner Jim Furyk. In 1996, champion Tiger Woods eagled the hole twice, including in the final round.
2007: 31 eagles, 176 birdies, 89 pars, 13 bogeys, 1 double bogeys, 0 others
TPC Summerlin 2007 rankings Last 15 years
Hole Par Yards Avg. Score Rank Avg. Score Rank
1 4 408 3.884 13 3.843 12
2 4 469 4.158 4 4.052 5
3 5 492 4.281 18 4.310 18
4 4 450 3.997 10 4.000 8
5 3 197 3.213 3 3.077 3
6 4 430 4.123 6 4.000 9
7 4 382 3.894 12 3.810 13
8 3 239 3.371 1 3.197 1
9 5 563 4.648 16 4.602 17
10 4 420 4.016 9 3.993 10
11 4 448 4.119 7 4.029 7
12 4 442 4.226 2 4.030 6
13 5 606 4.61 17 4.734 15
14 3 156 2.974 11 2.858 11
15 4 341 3.748 14 3.761 14
16 5 560 4.677 15 4.627 16
17 3 196 3.142 5 3.157 2
18 4 444 4.087 8 4.054 4
Course origins
The signature hole at TPC Summerlin is the short 341-yard par four 15th hole. The hole entices the player to shoot for the elevated green which is guarded with numerous bunkers. TPC Summerlin has many sand bunkers incorporated into its design, and water hazards come into play at least four times. Golf Digest rated this as the fourth "Best in State" course for 1995-96, and the fifth best for 1997-98. In addition, GOLFWEEK awarded it 98th in the category of "America's 100 Best Modern Courses" for 1997.
The host course for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, the Tournament Players Club Summerlin offers golfers a 7,243-yard stadium course layout that has gained a reputation as one of the country's most splendid golfing experiences.
The final two rounds of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open will be played exclusively at the TPC Summerlin course. The TPC, which opened for play in November 1991, was built in the heart of Summerlin, a 22,000-acre master-planned community on the western-most edge of Las Vegas. The community is currently home to more than 100,000 residents.
As a stadium course, the TPC Summerlin was built to accommodate golfing fans with unrestricted views of tee shots, fairway approaches and putting through strategically placed spectator mounds and natural amphitheaters. Still, the integrity of the course remains.
The TPC Summerlin is one of two TPC Network members in Nevada. The TPC network currently encompasses 25 courses in 10 states and, with the addition of non-domestic TPCs, three foreign countries. The TPC network is designed and managed by subsidiaries of the PGA TOUR. At present, the TPC Summerlin is owned by the PGA TOUR.
PGA TOUR Investments design architect Bobby Weed was assisted in the course design by player-consultant Fuzzy Zoeller, winner of the first Frys.com Open in 1983. Zoeller was committed to designing a course which could accommodate a major tournament and appeal to the average golfer.
-- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and PGATOUR.COM
Tournament course history
Course Location Years
Las Vegas CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1983-1995; 1998-1999
Desert Inn CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1983-1993; 1996-2000
Dunes CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1983
Showboat CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1983-1984
Tropicana CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1984-1985
Spanish Trail G&CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1986-1990
Sunrise GC Las Vegas, Nev. 1991
TPC Summerlin Las Vegas, Nev. 1992-2007
Las Vegas Hilton CC Las Vegas, Nev. 1994-1997
Southern Highlands GC Las Vegas, Nev. 2000-2003
TPC Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nev. 2001-2007
Bears Best GC Las Vegas, Nev. 2004
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