Where would your shot end up on #16, at TPC Scottsdale?

If golf had a version of the Roman Colosseum, it would be the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. And if you’re not careful, you might just become its latest victim.

Nicknamed “The Coliseum,” this 163-yard par-3 at the WM Phoenix Open is unlike anything else in professional golf. 20,000 fans pack into towering grandstands, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a college football game than a PGA TOUR event. The pressure is real. The energy is unmatched. And if you miss the green, you better brace yourself for the kind of heckling that would make even the toughest Tour pros sweat.

But while the stadium seating and party atmosphere are legendary, the hole itself is deceptively simple. It’s a short-to-mid iron shot with a relatively straightforward green, yet it remains one of the most exciting and unpredictable holes in golf. Hitting a shot under normal circumstances is one thing—hitting one while 20,000 people are watching (and waiting to boo you) is something else entirely.

The 16th wasn’t always this wild. In the early days at TPC Scottsdale, it was just another par-3. But by the 1990s, it had become a gathering spot, and when Tiger Woods made a hole-in-one here in 1997, the crowd’s deafening roar cemented the hole’s legend.

Since then, the stadium has grown, the roars have gotten louder, and the chaos has become an expected part of the show. Players toss signed golf balls, wear jerseys, or even shed their polos after a great shot. But make no mistake—if you miss the green, you’re getting booed, no matter who you are.

Despite the sheer number of shots hit here, only 11 hole-in-ones have been recorded since 1987. That means even for the world’s best, an ace at 16 remains one of the rarest and most celebrated moments in golf. But that’s part of what makes this hole special—even an amateur can step up and hit a PGA TOUR-quality shot. Stick it close, and for a moment, you’re stacking up to some of the most elite players.

Last year, the hole played to a stroke average of 2.973, meaning TOUR pros were, on average, playing it just under par. From 163 yards, they hit the green nearly 80% of the time and leave themselves inside 25-30 feet.

Now, let’s talk about what happens when the average golfer steps up to that same shot.

For a 10-handicap, the numbers tell a very different story. A mid-handicapper’s dispersion pattern from this range is significantly wider, meaning there’s a much greater chance of missing short, long, left, or right. Instead of looking at a birdie putt, the average golfer is far more likely to be scrambling from a bunker, chipping from the fringe, or watching their ball sail into the grandstands.

For perspective, the average TOUR pro on 16 is thinking “birdie putt.”

The average 10-handicap is thinking “Do I owe that guy a beer?”

While most golfers will never face the pressure of 20,000 screaming fans, the 16th at TPC Scottsdale still provides an important lesson: Smart golf wins out.

Too often, amateurs step up to a par-3 and go directly at the pin without considering their tendencies. Whether you’re at TPC Scottsdale or your local course, here’s how to play smarter:

• Know Your Miss: If you tend to miss short and right, don’t aim at a tucked pin. Play to the safest part of the green, which on 16 means the center or left side.

• Take Enough Club: Most amateurs under-club from this distance, leading to short misses. Know your actual distances, not just your “best case” number.

• Ignore the Noise (Even if It’s in Your Head): Pressure comes in all forms—whether it’s a group watching or trying to clear a water hazard. Step up with a clear plan and trust it.

The 16th at TPC Scottsdale is golf’s greatest pressure cooker. It’s loud, unpredictable, and wildly entertaining. But behind the spectacle is a hole that rewards smart, strategic golf just as much as it does pure talent.

For the pros, hitting this green is routine. For amateurs, it’s a test of nerves. But every now and then, one of us sticks it close—or gets lucky enough to hear that deafening roar for a hole-in-one.

So the next time you step up to your next shot, ask yourself; Are you playing smart, or just hoping for the best?

Because in the Coliseum, there’s no hiding from the noise.