I camped out at the 16th hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open to see if it really is the biggest party in golf

Tyler LaulettaFeb 16, 2023, 03:01 IST

The blogger enjoys a beer at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

I attended the Waste Management Phoenix Open for the first time in my life.
On Thursday, I camped out around the infamous No. 16 for hours to see if it really was the loudest hole on Earth.

The 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open has earned quite a reputation.

The 16th green at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Last year, fans cheered on Sam Ryder’s ace by throwing beer bottles across the green.

As players walk to enter the stadium, they are greeted with a reminder: This is "The Loudest Hole on Earth."

No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open advertises itself as 'the loudest hole on Earth.'Tyler Lauletta / Insider

On Thursday of the 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open, I decided to check out No. 16 for myself.

The blogger makes some friends at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The stadium hole is split into different seating sections. The majority of the hole is surrounded by a three-story club complex.

The club level fills up at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The other, more infamous section of No. 16 is the general admission area, where any fan can get a seat as long as they get there early enough.

The view from the general admission section of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

I started my day on the club level, taking a tour around all three floors before the first groups arrived at No. 16.

Club level at No. 16 of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The place is filled with a comical amount of bars.

One of many bars in the club area of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Even just past noon on Thursday, liquor was making itself available.

A fully stocked bar on the club level of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Bloody Marys were a popular early morning choice for those in the more exclusive area.

Bloody Marys are prepared to be served at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

There were also food stations around the club complex.

A sign advertises food at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

I grabbed a solid pulled pork sandwich.

A pulled pork sandwich from the club area of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

But mostly there were bars.

One of many bars at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The signs on the bars were comically hilarious.

A sign reminds fans not to throw anything onto the course at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

In the club area, signs showed the history of No. 16.

A poster in the club section at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Obviously, it took a while for the hole to become what it is today.

A sign tells the history of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The Golf Channel produced some of its studio shows from the first floor.

Golf Network sets up shop at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

From behind the tee box, you can see just how daunting the shot is into the green.

The view from the tee box at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

And behind the green, there was an angle outside where fans could watch tee shots from another hole.

The view of another tee box from the No. 16 club area at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Seeing the area fairly empty before the golfers reached the hole left me in awe of the infrastructure of the stadium-like construct.

The club area of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

All three levels were a marvel of engineering.

The club level of the 16th hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The bars were nice too.

A bar is action at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

While some views are better than others, I legitimately don't think there is a bad seat in the house.

The view of the No. 16 green from one vantage point at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

This angle gives a great perspective of how close the fans must feel to the players on the green.

Players walk the green at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

After touring the club area, it was time to head to the real party.

A panoramic view of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The line to get into the general admission area was long, even in the early afternoon of the first round.

The line to get into the general admission area of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Nearing the front of the line, fans said they had been waiting for close to an hour to get into the stands.

The line to get into the general admission area of No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

For fans hoping to skip the line, the only option besides an expensive box in the club area, is the early morning "Run for 16."

Unsurprisingly, the Waste Management Open takes the management of waste pretty seriously.

A compost and recycling bit at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Given the long wait to get into the public area, I was ready to suggest that fans go elsewhere to enjoy the course.

The top of the crowd at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

But the atmosphere of No. 16 is undeniable.

The view from the crowd at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Even in the early afternoon of Thursday, the crowd came ready to party.

The crowd assembles at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Volunteers' efforts to quiet the crowd were fruitless.

A volunteer attempts to quiet the crowd ahead of a shot at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Beer snakes were a common sight.

A beer snake is constructed at No. 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

A very common sight.

A beer snake is constructed at No. 16 of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Eventually, I decided I needed to join the party.