You just walked through the gates at TPC Twin Cities and are ready to consume hours of golf from some of the world’s best golfers at the 3M Open this week in Blaine.
Now what? There are 18 holes spread out over the 235-acre property, and 156 players in the field. How do you decide what to watch?
It can be a little daunting. You’re not exactly sure where you can go between roped off areas and cabins and grandstands dedicated to folks who bought premium packages. On a hot day, you can only handle so much aimless walking before simply looking for a place to sit down.
After walking the entire course Monday, we found a few spots we liked more than others, All of them are close to food and amenities and, perhaps more important, restrooms, But the primary initiative here was to locate the best places to watch golf.
Let’s start with our three multi-hole view points:
No. 1: On top of the front nine
So many of the best spots on the course are sold off as premium spots either with grandstands or air-conditioned buildings you had to pay to enter. But the tournament has done spectators a solid on the front nine — and this is the best spot on the course by sheer volume of viewable holes.
Atop a mound in the middle of most of the action sits a concession stand, public restrooms and a covered outdoor dining area. Walk 50 steps in any direction from that area and you can look down on the approach shots and the putts on No. 3, the entire par-3 fourth, the approach shots and putts on the par-5 sixth and the entire hole on No. 7.
If you’re following a marquee group, the third hole marks a good time to go up to this mound — located just behind the third green — and park for a bit to recharge and still watch a lot of the action.
No. 2: The woods
You can tell the 3M Open organizers knew where the bulk of their fans would set up shop. It’s traditionally quite hot this time of year in this part of the country, and this week will be no exception. So, the ample shade provided by the mini forest of trees off the fairway on the 18th hole is where various drink, dining and seating spots are set up.
It also happens to be one of the best places to watch golf.
From there, you can get an A-plus view of players on the famous par-5 18th attempting their approach shots over the pond and onto the green, and you can see how they finish up from afar.
But turn around and walk 100 yards in the other direction and you can choose whether you want to watch the conclusion of another par 5, the 12th hole, or the tee shots on the par-3 13th. While no two of the holes are viewable at one time, it’s easy to toggle between the three exciting options with the well-shaded, well-stocked area in the woods serving as your home base.
No. 3: The 14th fairway
The 14th and 17th holes at TPC Twin Cities are two of the more exciting, consequential holes on the course. And you can view them both at the same time.
The 14th is either a birdie hole or a potential disaster, depending on whether you hit the fairway off the tee. Find one of the fairway bunkers and your second shot is treacherous and, potentially, tournament ending with water lurking down the entire left side of the hole.
You can camp just feet away from those bunkers and get a great view of not only that action, but the entire par-3 17th hole from across the pond. If you’re looking for shade, there’s a nice tree closer to the 14th green from which you can get a better look at the action there, while still seeing everything happening around the green on No. 17, especially if you bring a set of binoculars.
One downside to parking on No. 14: There isn’t much for food options right around there, so maybe grab a bite to eat on your walk over there (A pro tip: There is a convenient water refill station directly behind the 14th green).
Ranking each hole, from best to worst individual viewing:
1. The par-5, 18th
A majestic hole thanks to the large water hazard and the fun of the risk/reward shots of “going for the green in two.’ Numerous good spots from which to watch the approach, both just off the fairway and from behind the green. The latter gives a good perspective on just how big and sloping the green can be, and a great view of incoming balls flying through the air toward the pin.
We’re not usually fans of watching non par-3 holes from tee boxes, but the 18th hole does have a nice, public grandstand that gives a great view of the consequential drives that frequently determine your fate on the hole. The top of the grandstand provides Instagram-worthy photo ops. Just don’t go up there thinking you’re going to catch a good view of No. 17; the green is blocked off by the grandstands surrounding that hole.
No. 2: The par-4, 14th
For all the reasons mentioned above. The water-lined hole is consequential and fun, and most views from the fairway to the green are good.
No. 3: The par-4, 2nd
The highest ranking Par-4 on the list, No. 2 doesn’t have great food or bathroom amenities, though there usually is a family that lives along the hole that sells cheap water and Gatorade over its fence. Tell ’em Jace sent you (NOTE: this will not give you a discount, but rather a puzzled look).
But the view from behind the greenside bunkers is perfect. The hole has a majestic feel, with a pond alongside the fairway and one in front of the green that requires a walking bridge for the golfers to cross. The green is well bunkered, and you can see the entire hole, from tee shot to putt, from behind it all.
No. 4: The par-4, 16th
The hole is at its best when the tee is moved up to make it a drivable Par-4. But it’s a fun watch any day, particularly from around the green with the various run-off areas that lead to some tricky chips.
No. 5: The par-3, 13th
A par 3 that doesn’t allow you to get too close to the green, but roughly 50 yards down from the tee box is a spot where you can see the tee shot, be relatively close to players as they walk by and still see the action on the green.
And there’s a nice spot roughly 20 yards away from the green where you get a good look at that action, and can turn around, and get a solid look at what’s happening on No. 14.
No. 6: The par-4, 9th
This hole is often getting baked by the sun, but the tournament has provided a resource that should be utilized. “The lookout” is a covered patio bar with a prime view of the hole from behind the green. And there are some tricky chips from around the green that make the hole’s finish fun to watch.
No. 7: The par-5, 12th
A par 5 that can really only be viewed from behind the green, which does provide a decent angle of incoming approach shots. But the turn of the fairway and the heavy allotment of trees blocks most good vantage points from the fairway rough.
No. 8: The par-3, 8th
A ho-hum par-3 that earns a spot in the top-half of this list because it’s the one par-3 on the entire course where spectators camp behind the green to get the best vantage point of incoming shots.
No. 9: The par-4, 11th
A par-4 that is fun to watch from the fairway to get the best idea of the changes in elevation on the hole, and a greenside view shows the varying slopes that can leave golfers in trouble if they hit it into the wrong spots.
No. 10: The par-4, 10th
A straight-forward par 4 that provides plenty of birdie chances and has a nice shade tree by a bunker approximately 60 yards out from the green that provides a great view of the entire hole. Amenities of all kinds surround this hole.
No. 11: The par-3, 17th
One of the more popular holes on the course, but the green is engulfed with premium-seating grandstands. Views leave much to be desired for general admission course goers. But if you want to stand roughly 50 yards away from the green, you can certainly catch all the action.
No. 12: The par-4, 1st
Could be higher, frankly, as the behind-the-green view gives a good view of the approach shots and allows for a strong appreciation of what’s greenside for golfers to contend with.
No. 13: The par-4, 7th
A decent par 4 that simply doesn’t offer much for up-close viewing unless someone goes wayward off the tee. But if you hang out as close as you can to the green, it is another good spot for food, drink and bathroom amenities.
No. 14: The par-3, 4th
A par 3 that is a little difficult to get a good look at. The bunkers and slopes of the green always leave at least part of the putting surface hidden from, frankly, anywhere you try to get a look.
No. 15: The par-5, 6th
The first half of the par 5 offers little in terms of good views, though a couple of the houses that run alongside the fairway have some excellent poolside patio/bar setups you can admire. The closer you get to the green, the more that gets hidden by hills and bunker lips.
The best place to watch the action is 100-125 yards away from the green along the fairway, or from the house porches on the other side of the pond.
No. 16: The par-4, 3rd
Nothing distinct on this long par-4, though if you’re hoping for a wayward drive to dive into the spectator area, this is another good candidate along the fairway. Best watched from the aforementioned mound as part of the multi-view approach.
No. 17: The par-4, 5th
Tough hole to see much from beyond the green with the elevation changes. The one positive: You can get very close to the pin if the hole is on the backside of the green. Probably worth skipping the lengthy walk that is holes No. 5-6 and just cut from No. 4 to No. 7.
No. 18: The par-4, 15th
It’s a straightforward par 4 with no distinct features and no amenities. Skip it and go right from No. 14 to No. 16 green if you’re walking the course.
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