Tiger Woods 99 PGA Tour Golf/The TPC Courses

The TPC Courses is an add-on pack for PGA Tour Pro and Tiger Woods 99 PGA Tour Golf (the latter of which alongside it was released) that adds three TPC courses: Scottsdale, Southwind, and Las Colinas. In Tiger Woods 99, the announcer often comments on the hole being played. This article documents the announcer's hole-specific comments. TPC at Scottsdale Hole 1 Not a difficult opening tee shot at all. There are a few mounds on the left side of the fairway, but they can be flown by a driver that's hit on the sweet spot. It's a straightaway tee shot, although the right side should probably be favoured. There are some awkward lies in the mounds on the left side of this fairway. Hitting this to an enormous green. Some severe undulations on this huge green that can really make long putts interesting. Hole 2 The wind conditions often dictate the shot that he'll play from this tee. Crosswinds are especially difficult. This tee shot is just a matter of keeping it between the bunkers, or when conditions warrant, hitting it over them. Playing this shot to a large green guarded on the right by a deep bunker. Won't find many straight putts on this hole. Some putts on this hole can be so fast, they're hard to keep on the putting surface. He wants to keep this under the cup. Hole 3 He can just hit this drive straight over the bush in front of the tee box and end up in great position. What's most important from this tee is staying away from the right side, where it drops off to the water. The right edge of the bunker is a pretty good line with a slight fade. Left side is the place to lay this up, in between all the bunkers. Another gargantuan green, but this one drops more than three feet in elevation from back to front. There are some putts on this hole where the flat blade just isn't enough club. It's not that hard to hit this green. It's more than 50 yards deep. The water is in play to the left, but the difficulty is in controlling the distance and staying around the pin, at least on the same tier. Hole 4 This shot from the tee is just short and sweet. A good chance to hit it close and make the birdie. A perfect lie. A short iron in their hands most of the time. This is a money shot, and one they can expect to hit pretty close. Hole 5 He'll hit this to a generous landing area with the only real trouble on the right. Pretty standard fare on this tee. There's no reason to get creative with this tee shot. It's a long hole, but this fairway's pretty wide. It'd take a very poor shot to reach the O.B. This shot will feed to the right once it clears the water and hits the green. Some water to keep in mind in front of the green and a bunker left. They'll play this ball to move to the right once it finds the putting surface. Hole 6 Those bunkers are like two buoys for this tee shot. Just hit it between them and everything will be looking good here at the 6th. It's mighty tempting to try and cut a little off and take it over the bunker on the left. Problem is, there are two more little sandpits waiting to gobble up most of those balls. There are some devilish pin positions on this hole. Spinning shots can back right off the front edge, while mis-hits to the left typically find the bunker. Usually, hitting the ball pin-high shows great distance control on an approach shot. On this green, though, it often means a putt that will snap in one direction or the other. Hole 7 Playing this tee shot on the longest and most difficult par 3 at the TPC at Scottsdale's Stadium course. Since the players are often hitting long irons or fairway woods into the green on this par 3, we see a lot of second shots played from the greenside bunkers. We're on the tee at the 7th hole. Hole 8 The fairway bunker on the right can only be reached when the wind's behind these players, and there's a lot of room over there. The two fairway bunkers are a perfect frame for this tee shot, but many players will take it just inside the left bunker to shorten up this long hole. It's wide open in front of this green, but short approaches can catch the slope and head left. This green falls away to the back-right and brings the only greenside bunker into play when a shot's hit a little long. Hole 9 The greenside bunker is an excellent target for this tee shot. It's very difficult to see the fairway bunkers from this tee at the 9th hole, but there are four of them, two on each side, waiting to collect errant drives. This green is shallow on the right side, but deeper to the back-left, where it falls away from the player. There aren't many easy pin positions here. A lot of the hole positions at the 9th are best approached with a fade, since the ball will typically come in a little higher and land softer. Let's check out this shot selection. Hole 10 That tree on the left is a pretty good line with a fade. This hole doglegs to the right, and the approach shot opens up from that side, but there's O.B. on the practice range to the right and a bunker over there, too. Let's see whether he attacks this or not. Approach shots into this green will feed to the right if they come in right of centre. The back-left side of this green is elevated, and most shots will feed to the right. A lot of players will bring it in from right to left. Hole 11 With water on the left, the only smart shot is to take this drive down the right side of the fairway. Anything hit to the right side of this fairway leaves the best shot into the green. With water on the left, that's the line most players will pick here at the 11th. With all that water on the left, it's easy to see where not to hit an approach to this green. This green's a little elevated on the back-left, but most balls hit to it will still head toward the water. Hole 12 All of the trouble is long and left on this par 3. The water curls around behind this deep green, and it's downhill from the middle of the putting surface to the back. Tough shot on this par 3. Hole 13 He won't even consider hitting it to the fairway left of the waste area. There's too much chance of being blocked out by the trees over there. Hitting this drive to a tight landing area to the right of the waste area. We'll see a lot of players pulling out fairway woods on this tee. Accuracy is the key here. There's a lot of fairway between the two bunkers, but there isn't any reason to try and knock an approach between them from this position. It's better to just stay back and play a full shot to the green. A lot of break from the back of the putting surface to the front. We'll see some three-putts when players hit their approaches long. A front pin position is especially treacherous on this green, because it's harder to keep the ball below the cup, and that's where you want every putt at the 13th. Hole 14 This hole sets up nicely for a draw that ends up the right side and flies to the top of the ridge. It's the ideal position for an approach from there. This par 4 is pretty long, and they really want these tee shots to carry past the ridge to avoid uphill lies in the fairway. Driver's usually the club of choice on this hole. Another large green at the 14th. Distance control is the key to taking three putts out of the picture. Typical of many greens here at the TPC at Scottsdale, this one slopes from the back-left to the front. When the wind permits, drawing the ball to the hole allows players to slide the shot between the bunkers. Hole 15 Making par on this hole is like giving a stroke away to the field. It's short, with a daunting second shot to an island green, but there are a lot of ways to make birdie here. If this drive is hit long and stays in the fairway, hitting the green in two is a real possibility. He just has to guard against pulling it left, since there's water bordering the hole from tee to green. The edge of the water is 50 yards from the centre of the green, but not many players are going to try and lay up that close. Yep, that's an island green. There's just no room for error, although the green is very deep. Water and bunkers short, and there's a back tier that's about two feet higher than the front edge. Balls will hold on this green. Hole 16 Short of middle, this green slopes back to front, but it runs away from the tee on the back side and can be hard to hold, especially with a following wind. There used to be ladders to help players climb into the bunkers on the left side of the green here at 16. The ladders might be gone, but the bunkers are still plenty deep. Hole 17 thumb|right It's hard to resist the temptation to go for the green on this short par 4. There isn't any trouble in front, so even shots that land short have a chance to get there. Walk away with a 4 on this hole, and most of the pros think they've dropped a stroke. It can be reached with a solid drive, but it only takes a mid-to-long iron to find excellent position in this fairway. Hitting this one to an elevated green with a hazard to the left and rear. Doesn't want to catch any of the slope around this green, either. Almost always a wedge to this green, unless somebody cold-tops one off the tee. The slope falls away on all sides of this elevated green, and the water curls around behind the putting surface. Hole 18 Players are definitely rewarded for drives that hug the left side, but it takes a lot of confidence to hit it over there. The greenside bunkers are hardly a factor when you can hit the approach from the left. This tee shot at 18 looks intimidating from the back tee, but it's not that difficult a golf shot. A smooth swing with a driver, and balls will fly the bunkers on the near side and end up in the middle of the fairway. All the trouble's left from here. Most shots into this green feed toward the two greenside bunkers. If this approach lands right of centre, it could roll right off the green. TPC at Southwind Hole 1 Shots will feed to the left on this zoysia grass fairway, so the line is down the right side for this drive at the first hole. A gorgeous starting hole here at the TPC at Southwind. With the fairway sloping from right to left, most will play their tee shots at the tree just left of the fairway bunker. The middle of this elevated green is the lowest section. It's tiered at the back and on the left side. It will take precision shot-making to get this near the pin. Like many holes at the TPC at Southwind, this small green is fronted by a ribbon of rough that will eat up shots hit short. Has to fly this one to the putting surface. Hole 2 Those two trees that stand alone at the end of the dogleg are excellent reference points for this tee shot. Just wants to split it with this shot. A gaping bunker on the left side of this hole that can cause all kinds of problems. This is a short hole, so a fairway wood or a long iron is enough from this tee box. Most approach shots hit to this green will feed to the front-right. It's not often an approach is hit from a level lie on this hole, and that can affect the way the player tries to approach a pin on this green. Looking to avoid the bunkers with this one. Hole 3 We'll see some players scratching their heads after this tee shot. That last tree can block an approach to the green or the lay-up area if they don't steer clear of it. There's more room between those trees on the left than players can see from the tee. Golfers on this tee can try to draw one just inside the last tree or hang one out to the right of it for a clear shot. This is a deep but narrow green that can't be missed on the right side. Most shots that hit the putting surface will move toward the water, so look for this to be aimed to the left side. Can't flub this shot, unless his caddie's carrying a snorkel. There are a couple of bunkers on the right to catch shots that slightly miss, but water's the most likely outcome. This should start out on the left edge of the green. Hole 4 The slope on the green on this par 3 runs from back-left to the front-right, and there are some surprising kicks off the small mound located on the front-middle of the green. We're on the 4th tee at the TPC at Southwind and looking at a beautiful par 3. This hole plays just a little downhill with some extremely difficult recoveries from anywhere behind the green. Those mounds are great for spectators, but not for golf balls. Hole 5 He can just aim this one at the right side of the condos, let it rip, and be in great position to reach this green in two. Has to hit it solid, though, or it will stay in the rough. It's safer to play this drive right down the middle, but the corner of the dogleg can be cut be the long hitters. Of course, we'll find some of those long hitters playing out of the trees, too. This hole plays to a stroke average well under 5 for the professionals, and one of the reasons is the putting surface. It's relatively flat, and a lot of putts are made here. Playing this shot to a green that's only 22 yards wide and protected by bunkers on the left. Unless this shot comes in low and hard, it will have to fly over the rough in front to reach the pin. Hole 6 thumb|right That tree with the beautiful orange leaves is a great line from the tee here at the 6th. It's pretty tempting to try and play one off the spectator mounds that line the left side of the fairway. They're covered with thick grass, though, and it's a lucky golfer that caroms into the fairway from there. If he can keep this shot between the bunkers, he'll find the putting surface. The predominant slope is from back to front, so shots will hold here. Some difficult pin positions on the 6th hole. On Tour, the Thursday and Sunday pins are usually on the back left tier, while Friday's on the right is also in an elevated position. On Saturday, the hole's cut in front and plays the easiest. Hole 7 Looking over this tee shot, there's just a hint of the large fairway bunker on the left side visible to the players. They'll just try to stay right of it on this straight hole. Length helps on this long par 4. There's no real advantage to playing down either side of the fairway on this straight hole, but hitting it in the short grass is a real plus. Unusual at the TPC at Southwind, this green is totally open in the front, with the fairway running right up to the fringe. Shots hit short can run onto the putting surface. This green is only 29 yards deep with a back tier that starts about 18 yards from the front edge. It's very difficult to get it up and down from the back bunker or the mounds behind this green. Hole 8 Playing this to a small green that kind of flows out of the spectator mounds on the right. It really falls away left and behind this green. A depression to the left side of this tiny green will often feed shots into the trees. With the putting surface sloping from back to front, anything long is a real sweaty-palms kind of shot. Hole 9 They can't hold back on this drive at the 9th. This shot has to pass the tree on the right side of the fairway to have an opening to the green. Needs length and accuracy with this tee shot. Right at the large tree down the middle is A1 position, but the fairway is narrow and hard to find. The largest green on the golf course, and one of the flattest, but he has to guard against hitting it short and left. Easily the deepest green on the course, but the 9th sits at an angle so that only a shot moving from right to left can take advantage of its size. Shots played to the middle can feed to a right pin position... if they catch the slope. Hole 10 The gap in the trees is a fine target, and turning this drive over is the shot of choice. A lot of players hit a 3-wood to the narrow landing area. An exacting tee shot on this dogleg left par 4. There's water around the corner, only reachable from the back tees with a following wind, and a hidden bunker on the right side. Needs to hit a perfect drive here. Left and short on an approach will find the bunker, but the trees right can cause even more problems with an errant approach. Needs a good swing from here. According to the yardage book, this green is 34 yards deep, but that's pretty misleading, since it's much shallower on the right and left sides. Needs to control the distance on this approach. Hole 11 Luckily, they're usually hitting short irons to this island green. It's sloped from back to front, so shots will hold. It's a good thing this hole is a short one. Hitting this to a small green only 25 yards deep and about 17 yards wide, and there aren't many places to miss, since it's surrounded by water. Hole 12 It's really just a matter of keeping this tee shot to the left while avoiding the fairway bunkers. The 12th is a short par 4, so fairway woods and long irons are often the prudent play here. With a fairway that slopes from left to right, the end of the bunkers is an excellent line. It's possible to get it really close to this green, but it takes a lot of nerve to hit that shot and a lot of skill to keep it out of the rough or water. They can't see it from the fairway, but there's water behind this green. Wouldn't want to skull one from here and find a wet lie. From most approach positions, this green slopes from back to front. We'll see some wedge shots do a little moonwalking back off the front edge if they don't carry far enough. Hole 13 A great angle for the approach if he can knock a driver over the bunkers on the left. Actually an extremely wide landing area, even though it's hard to see from this tee at the 13th hole. The best line is right between the two small bunkers on the left side. All the spectator mounds behind the holes make some of these approach shots look more inviting than they really are. This shot's to another small green. Trying to avoid the five bunkers surrounding the sides of this green, a lot of players will face downhill chips from mounds in the rear. Those aren't percentage shots, either. Hole 14 It's a long way to this undulating green on the most difficult par 3 on the PGA Tour. Everyone's more than happy to walk away with a 3 at the 14th. This is the toughest hole on the golf course. In Tour events, they average as many bogeys here as pars. They have to take the water out of play, but hitting it long here almost guarantees a bogey. Hole 15 Not much room at all for this tee shot. If it goes left, even shots from the fairway can be blocked by the trees. The fairway's a little wider past the corner of the dogleg, and down the right side leaves the only decent approach to the putting surface. Just one bunker at the back of this green, but that's all this hole needs with the creek crossing in front. They don't want to hang one up on the side of the mound to the left of this green. It's a tough shot in any circumstances, but absolutely scary hitting from a downhill lie toward the green. Hole 16 Straight uphill on this tee shot, but it's possible to reach the green in two if the drive's hit long and right at the opening in the trees. This hole swings a little left once they get to the top of the hill, but the right side is the best approach to this well-bunkered green. He will probably go after this one. Staring at a lot of sand around this 16th green. It slopes from back-left to front-right. Hitting this to a green that's surrounded by five bunkers. The sand will see a lot of play today. Hole 17 From the back tees, the creek isn't really in play unless someone hits a cannon shot with a howling wind from behind. Little advantage to hitting it left, middle, or right, as long as it's in the fairway. The 17th is dead straight. The real trick to this drive is not hitting it so far that the ball ends on the severe downhill lies, as the fairway slopes to the creek. It's an easier approach from 190 out than from 170. This might be the most severely sloping green on the golf course. Putts from behind the hole on this green are pretty frisky. Fly one to the front edge of this green, and it might just back off the putting surface. A difficult shot here, and one that's often played from a downhill lie that brings the three right-side bunkers into play. Hole 18 A fantastic finishing hole. This dogleg left can be downright mean from the tee, particularly with the wind blowing. Most will play this tee shot left of the bunker and just try to tag it. It's almost impossible to cut any of this dogleg, so why bother? This morning, I talked with a few players on the practice tee, who said they just aim at the bunker and try to hit it straight. It's hard to reach the sand from the back tee box. We'll probably aim this to the right side. There's just no reason to fool with the water on the left. On the putting surface is the only way to shift the odds of making par in the golfer's favour. Water left, bunkers right, and mounds behind here. TPC at Las Colinas Hole 1 It's only 235 yards to the turn in the dogleg from the back tee, so a long iron down the right is the shot of choice. Playing downhill and with a prevailing wind, this hole's been driven before, but most players select a long iron for this tee shot. The putting surface slopes back to front, so it's important to keep approach shots below this hole. Jay Morrish, with the assistance of Ben Crenshaw and Byron Nelson, designed this course and provided an opening in front of each green to provide plenty of shot options. You don't have to fly it into every green here. Hole 2 Plenty of room in front of this green and left. Miss to the left and the recovery isn't too difficult, but hit it right and the downhill chips are treacherous. Hole 3 A demon of a par 4, and the most difficult on the course with all the water down the right side. The first bunker on the left comes into play from every tee, but it's a better position than the hazard on the right. Designed to play with a prevailing wind, in the first round of the 1990 Byron Nelson, it didn't, and only 16 players hit the green in regulation. A deadly pot bunker behind this two-tiered green. Open in the front, they can run one onto this green without any problems. Hole 4 Right side is preferable for this tee shot, since everything will kick to the left. Aim away from the fairway bunkers, because a shot hit to the short grass will roll to the left. With water left and O.B. on the right, accuracy has to take precedence over distance on this tee shot. A steep drop-off behind this green. Hitting to a shallow green, so distance control is critical. Hole 5 This double green is shared with the 9th hole. Yank one left, and you'll have a gargantuan putt. The water really only comes into play with a front pin placement, but anything short of the green will roll backwards unless it catches sand. Hole 6 This fairway opens up past the trees on the right, so playing a fade provides a little more margin for error here. Hitting this drive through a chute of trees, it really looks narrow, but actually opens up a bit on the right side. Some deep grass bunkers to the left that can deliver some brutal lies. A tiny green: less from 30 yards from front to back. Short-side this one, and bogey might be an acceptable score. Hole 7 The bunkers on the left do a great job of stopping anyone from cutting this dogleg. Drill one down the middle and it's reachable, but you'll be hitting straight uphill to the green. Not a tough lay-up if you just keep it right and avoid problems with the bunkers. Probably try to lay this up to the right side of the fairway for the best shot into this three-tiered green. Hole 8 Left side of this fairway is definitely the prudent shot. Just don't wanna bring those trees on the right into play from this tee. A tough approach to a green that's only 22 yards wide. Long grass and bunkers on the right side of this green. A little more room to work with left. Hole 9 There's nowhere to miss this tee shot. Trees left and water right. Hitting it in the fairway is always important, but on this hole, it's just about the only way to make a birdie. Just like the tee shot from here. Water to the right and trees left. It's almost impossible to knock it over this green. It's shared with the 5th hole, and about a 7-iron from front to back. Hole 10 Has to hit this one down to the corner and left of the bunker. About 255 to the bunker from the back tee, but you want to take it to the left side. Needs to get this into a position where he can spin the ball. That means hitting the fairway and using a short iron for the approach. It's really hard to hold this shallow green, and a large bunker's waiting for anything long. This green's only 24 yards deep, so it takes a precision shot with spin to hold it on the putting surface. Hole 11 This is the shortest par 4 on the course, and a mid-to-long iron on this side of the bunker is all you want. Not much reason to gamble on this hole, since birdies are there for the taking if you can get it in the fairway. Need to feel really confident with the driver to go for this green, but it's been driven before. About a 290-yard carry over water to get there. Hole 12 thumb|right This dogleg right sets up perfectly for a left-to-right shot. The fairway side of the first bunker on the left is a great target for a fading tee shot. Another approach to a shallow green. Try to leave it short of the pin for the uphill putt. With a pretty good slope from back to front, they really want to keep their approach shots short of the pin on this small green. Hole 13 Hitting to a three-tiered green with a front edge that just stops balls cold. Just have to hit it on the correct tier for any real chance at birdie. Controlling distance is the key. Hole 14 It's such a critical second shot that you have to get the tee shot into the short grass. May be the best hole on the golf course, and definitely one where walking away with a par feels pretty good. Anything in the fairway and inside 150 is a good shot. There's some room short and right, but anything left will end up wet. From the bunkers behind the green, it's a downhill shot toward the water. Definitely not the way to score on this hole. Hole 15 An ample landing area, but trees on both sides. Needs to catch this one solid with a little draw. Jay Morrish converted this hole from a par 5. It takes a long drive to have a straight-in approach to the green. The fairway bunker's a good target. Not a bit of trouble around this green, unless you hit one up on the spectator mounds and leave a downhill chip. Looks like the green's built into a natural amphitheatre. He can run this one up or try and fly it to the hole. A closely mown chipping area awaits on the right side. Hole 16 Plenty of room to the right of the bunkers. The tee shot's not the problem on this hole. Just has to play this right of the first three bunkers. Wants to take the pot bunkers out of play with the club selection from here. He doesn't want to challenge those pot bunkers in the middle of the fairway on this lay-up. If he can't fly them easily, it's best to stay at least 120 yards from the green. Hole 17 The lake was added in 1993, and really changes the strategy of this hole. He'll probably just play this to the centre of the green. There isn't any trouble behind the green, but plenty in front and to the right. Front pin positions can make this hole very interesting. Hole 18 A solid finishing hole that rewards a shot that favours the right side of the fairway. Don't have to work the ball here, even though the hole doglegs to the left. Just keep it right to avoid having to negotiate any trees on the approach. Just has to thread one between the bunkers to hit this green. A big green, with three-putt possibilities when the adrenaline's pumping. Category:1998 video games Category:Golf video games