Spectators at next week’s AT&T Byron Nelson will experience an improved experience on the par-3 17th hole as the PGA Tour advances to TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. The Salesmanship Club of Dallas – the nonprofit organization that organizes the tournament – announced Thursday the launch of “Ranch17” on the 17th in an effort to create the environment of golf’s next premiere stadium.
Hotel tents were previously located along Hole 17 for the first two years Craig Ranch hosted the Nelsons, but changes for 2023 will greatly expand the pit’s audience capacity. Changes include the addition of stands behind the green area and 41 new hotel units, bringing the total to 145 units along the pit. Around 6,000 spectators will be able to watch the action on the 17th at any given time.
“At Ranch17, spectators will be able to experience all the excitement of the tournament, from the most coveted perspectives available,” reads a statement from the Salesmanship Club. “Nearly 6,000 fans will be able to watch at a given time, bringing electric power to a fan-favorite area.”
The Ranch17 title honors the late Byron Nelson, a 52-time Tournament winner and the name of the annual Dallas-area tournament. Nelson, as detailed in the Sales Skills Club release, aspired to own a farm before that dream came true. He bought the land outside of Dallas after taking a break from golf, where he resided until his death in 2006.
The reimagined 17 is not the first par 3 on the Tour to have a stadium-like atmosphere. The Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is best known for its 16th par-3, which is completely surrounded by hotel units and grandstands, creating the noisiest environment in professional golf. While not quite a “party hole” in the way Scottsdale ranks, the iconic par-3 island at TPC Sawgrass also creates a stadium-like setup that spectators flock to in the Player’s Championship held on the field.
Nelson this year marks his third year at Craig Ranch. KH Lee joins as a two-time defending champion, prevailing during each of the first two years of the event at the course. Nelson previously spent two years at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas from 2018-19 – the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic – after a lengthy stay at TPC Las Colinas in Irving .
