Golf has always been a sport of quiet concentration, hushed galleries, and strict etiquette. For decades, even the slightest disturbance—whether a camera click or a whispered conversation—could lead to an immediate reprimand, if not outright ejection.
And then there’s the 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open.
Dubbed the “Loudest Hole in Golf,” this stadium-style par-3 has completely flipped the script on traditional golf spectatorship. Here, silence is replaced by a full-throttle party atmosphere. Fans cheer (or boo) players based on performance, music blares, and the energy is more akin to a college football game than a PGA Tour event.
But how did we get here? And what does this shift mean for the future of golf?
Golf’s Legacy of Silence
For most of its history, golf was played in near-total silence. The game’s origins in 15th-century Scotland featured open courses where concentration was paramount. As the sport spread globally and professional tournaments emerged, so did an expectation of impeccable decorum.
For decades, courses like Augusta National enforced a near-mystical reverence, where even mild applause was measured, and an ill-timed cough could earn a glare from both players and patrons alike. Broadcasters whispered, and signs reading “Quiet, Please” became a staple at every major tournament.
A New Generation of Golf Fans
Then came a cultural shift. The rise of social media, reality TV-style sports coverage, and a younger, more diverse audience signaled that golf needed to evolve. The WM Phoenix Open—often called "The People's Open"—led that charge.
With its Scottsdale desert setting, corporate hospitality, and reputation as the biggest party on the PGA Tour, the tournament embraced change. And nowhere was that more evident than at the 16th hole.
The 16th Hole: Where Golf Meets Stadium Energy
The transformation of the 16th hole, known today as “The Coliseum,” wasn’t an overnight phenomenon. In the 1980s, fans began gathering around the hole, bringing an energy not often seen in golf. By the 1990s, tournament organizers leaned into it, constructing bleachers and encouraging player interaction.
Today, InProduction provides seating and hospitality areas for over 20,000 spectators surrounding the hole, creating a stadium within a golf course. Fans chant, sing, and even throw beer cans onto the green when a hole-in-one is made.
Danny Ellis, Senior Vice President of Sales & Business Development for InProduction and the company’s leader in the collaboration between InProduction, the PGA, and the WM Phoenix Open team, described the impact of this evolution.
“The place where the PGA and Waste Management stepped outside the box of history in spectator golf was by making sure that thousands of spectators could be right on top of the green action—close to it. Picking a par-3 hole, where from the first swing off the tee to the last putt, was part of the individual experience. We are talking general admission tickets combined with VIP suites, all feet from the action. It was a game-changer. Forgive the pun.”
And that game-changer has paid off.
Today, the 16th hole is the most sought-after ticket on the PGA Tour, drawing sports fans who may never have considered attending a golf event before. It has become a bucket-list experience, proving that golf can modernize and attract new audiences while still respecting the game’s traditions.
It’s golf, but not as we’ve always known it.
What This Means for the Future of Golf
The 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open has proven that golf can evolve without losing its core identity. While tradition will always have a place at the likes of Augusta National and St. Andrews, tournaments like this show that there’s room for different types of engagement.
For event providers like InProduction, it’s an exciting time. The demand for stadium-style golf experiences is growing, and the infrastructure to support them—whether through temporary seating, premium hospitality suites, or VIP experiences—is becoming a vital part of the modern golf landscape.
But it’s more than that. Our clients are pushing the envelope and trying new things that push us to find ways to make their vision come to life. Fast. Economically. Creatively. It’s an exciting time for events. As we look ahead, one thing is clear, golf will never be the same. And at the 16th hole, that’s exactly the point.
Learn more about our work with WM Phoenix and so many other golf tournaments around the country.
