Frys.com Open back at Grayhawk in Scottsdale

Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale has only been around for 14 years, but it’s already carving a nice tournament history for itself. Recently it was announced that the Frys.com Open will return for its third straight year in 2009 as part of the Fall Series, Oct. 22-25.

Both of Grayhawk’s courses – the Talon and the Raptor, have been perennial sites for pro-ams of the FBR Open, played early in the season at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. And Grayhawk also has hosted the Accenture Match Play 1995, ‘97 and ‘98) as well as the Target World Challenge (2000).

Cameron Beckman this year’s Frys.com Open, edging Kevin Sutherland in a two-hole playoff to capture the $900,000 first place winner’s check. More than 35,000 fans attended the 2008 tournament, which raised $600,000 for charity.

Having recently played the Raptor Course, which hosts the Frys.com Open, it’s easy to understand the appeal. The course has a number of interesting holes and greens complexes, which even the pros have difficulty on from time to time. A couple of weeks ago I was playing with a couple of regulars who pointed out the par-5 fifth, nicknamed “Peek-A-Boo,” gave the tour guys fits because its difficult undulating greens. A few walked away with double bogeys. And then there are holes like the 332-yard, par-4 15th, “Wee-One,” a great risk reward hole that many were able to drive, while many made bogey or worse from the desert. Fans love that and Fans like holes like the 521-yard par-5 18th, another great risk-reward possibility to decide a tournament.

Being a fall event with a short history, the Frys.com Open will never be the attendance juggernaut that FBR Open is. But for one city to have two PGA Tour events a year says a lot for the golf community of Scottsdale.