Where to Watch

July 2009 Special Advertising Section

Above and beyond its stature as a great golf course, Hazeltine National ranks as a terrific fans’ venue. There will be dozens of outstanding perches from which to watch the action at the 2009 PGA Championship. These are our favorites.

Top-right corner of the bleacher on No. 3 will offer a great view of the entire fourth hole as well.

Photo courtesy of Hazeltine National

Top of the hill on No. 10, where you can see players hit drives and approaches, with Hazeltine Lake as a backdrop.

Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGAof America

Practice range. Plop down in the bleachers for a spell and be amazed at the machine-like precision with which the world’s best players strike the ball.

Greenside bleachers on No. 7 (par 5) and No. 8 (par 3). With approaches over water on each hole, risk-reward drama is certain. “Some will be going for the green on 7 with their second shot and some won’t like where they end up,” predicts longtime Hazeltine member Tom Brakke.

   
Photos courtesy of Hazeltine National

Anywhere behind the green on No. 13, the monster 248-yard par 3 with water alongside. Tension will be palpable here in Sunday’s final round, and the tournament could swing on a ball in the drink.

Bleachers near No. 18 green, but here’s a massive asterisk: Getting a seat could require an hours-long stakeout, especially for Sunday’s concluding drama. The adjacent No. 9 offers more views. “With the greens close together,” Brakke says, “most of the spots on the grandstands on No. 9 and No. 18 give you views of what’s happening on both greens. The best views down the fairway on No. 18 will come from the grandstands by that green though.”

Anywhere alongside the par-4 No. 5 or No. 6. Far from the crowds because of their location at the far end of the course, these are probably the best holes to get a good look at on-course shotmaking. “No. 6 is a great bleacher spot if you can get it,” Brakke says. “At No. 5, there are no bleachers there and usually not many people. It’s one of the members’ favorite holes and deceptively hard.”

No. 6
Photo courtesy of Hazeltine National

Greenside bleachers on No. 16. The signature viewing spot on Minnesota’s signature golf hole. Beauty and the beast in 402 lakeside yards. There are 1,600 seats, but these will be in high demand. “To see the tee and the landing area well, you might favor the right side of the bleachers, a bit away from the green,” says Brakke.

Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America