http://www.dovemountain.com/ritz/
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain will host the Accenture Match Play Championship.
Feb. 16, 2010
The TOUR leaves California and heads to Arizona for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, which will be played at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain for the second time.
| Expert's Overview |
| John Stahlschmidt, Head Instructor for The PGA TOUR Golf Academy at TPC Scottsdale, analyzes this week's course: |
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain is the site of this year's first World Golf Championships event, the Accenture Match Play Championship. This year marks the second time the event will be played at Dove Mountain, where Geoff Ogilvy hopes to defend his crown.
This tournament is unique for a couple of reasons. In the PGA TOUR Regular Season, this is the only event with a match play format. Plus, it's the longest course at 7,833 total yards -- though it doesn't play quite that long thanks to 3,000 feet of elevation -- that the TOUR will compete on this year.
Even with the immense length to be negotiated, watch for the winner to have an amazing week on the greens. This might sound a bit odd, but what I didn't mention is that these greens are simply treacherous. Even the best players in the world can three-putt any one of these monsters if they land their approach on the wrong portion of the green. While the Saguaro cacti don't really come into play for the pros, it can still turn into a prickly week if the players don't keep their approach shots below the hole and in the proper quadrant of each green.
To learn more about the TOUR Academy, please click here. |
|
| Fast facts |
| Class A Director of Golf Grounds |
James A. Ervine |
| Original architect |
Jack Nicklaus (2008) | LISTEN: Nicklaus talks about the course |
| Par value |
72 |
| Number of TOUR events as host venue |
2 (including 2010) |
| Course ranking |
Not ranked |
| Yardage history |
7,833 (2008-present) |
| Grass |
Bermuda with Perennial rye overseed (tees, rough, fairways); Bentgrass (greens) |
| Tournament Stimpmeter |
10.5 ft |
| Sand bunkers |
89 |
| Water hazards |
1 |
| Course tour |
Click here |
|
| 2009 Rankings |
| Most Difficult Hole |
 |
The par-3 219-yard 12th Teeing off from the highest point on course, a huge bunker runs all along right side with a pot bunker short of the sloping green that drops off in the front left and back right. Another blind bunker sits in the back left.
2009: 0 eagles, 14 birdies, 76 pars, 26 bogeys, 8 double bogeys, 4 other. |
| Easiest hole |
 |
The par-5 583-yard 13th Gently bending right, the landing areas are bordered by bunkers and desert. A centered pot bunker 80 yards short of green creates a choice: ignore it, or lay up. Four more bunkers dominate the final 70 yards to the green.
2009: 19 eagles, 58 birdies, 43 pars, 4 bogeys, 0 double bogeys and 0 others. |
|
|
| Dove Mountain |
2009 rankings |
| 1 |
4 |
460 |
3.902 |
11 |
| 2 |
5 |
574 |
4.306 |
17 |
| 3 |
3 |
208 |
3.262 |
3 |
| 4 |
4 |
393 |
3.836 |
12 |
| 5 |
4 |
536 |
4.105 |
4 |
| 6 |
3 |
185 |
3.281 |
2 |
| 7 |
4 |
486 |
3.922 |
10 |
| 8 |
5 |
576 |
4.453 |
16 |
| 9 |
4 |
476 |
4.078 |
5 |
| 10 |
4 |
493 |
4.071 |
6 |
| 11 |
5 |
659 |
4.788 |
13 |
| 12 |
3 |
219 |
3.313 |
1 |
| 13 |
5 |
583 |
4.25 |
18 |
| 14 |
4 |
449 |
4.025 |
8 |
| 15 |
4 |
343 |
3.534 |
15 |
| 16 |
3 |
247 |
3.019 |
9 |
| 17 |
4 |
482 |
3.778 |
14 |
| 18 |
4 |
480 |
4.04 |
7 |
|
| Tournament course history |
| Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain |
Marana, Ariz. |
2009-present |
| The Gallery at Dove Mountain |
Marana, Ariz. |
2007-2008 |
| La Costa Resort and Spa |
Carlsbad, Calif. |
2002-2006, 1990-2000 |
| The Metropolitan Club |
South Oakleigh, Australia |
2001 |
|
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network