How to plan a trip to the WM Phoenix Open on a budget
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — General admission prices for the WM Phoenix Open have gone up this year, but it doesn’t mean it’s unaffordable.
You just have to do it the smart way.
“You know, we really pride ourselves on being the People’s Open,” said Matt Mooney, tournament chairman for the WM Phoenix Open.
He says keeping affordable options for fans has been a priority for The Thunderbirds.
For starters, admission is free on Monday and Tuesday. You can even hang out at the famous 16th hole on those days.
“Those are practice round days,” Mooney said. “Some of my favorite days on the course, honestly, because you can get up close and personal with the players and sometimes have some interaction there. You’re watching them kind of sharpen the tools for the week.”
Once the tournament starts, there are free tickets for first responders and veterans. You just have to register on the website in advance.
And you’ll have your own spot to watch the action.
“So we have our (Birdies for the Brave) Patriots Outpost for active military and veterans, which is a pretty incredible venue right on the 18th hole,” Mooney said. “We actually moved it down the fairway this year, so the view is even better than it was last year.”
How about food?
Tournament veterans say there’s a clear answer there -- you’ve gotta have a Thunderdog, which sells for $8.
“It’s just, well, it’s served with flair,” Mooney said. “I think it’s the history of how they serve it. You’ve got to make sure you get it with peppers and onions and, it’s great.
“And I will tell you right now, you won’t need anything else for a while if you get a Thunderdog,” he added.
Bring a water bottle. There are free water refilling stations along the course.
Getting to the course is cheap too.
“We’re proud to be able to offer free parking,” Mooney said. “We have free shuttles. People should just go out and check out our website. All of the information is there.”
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