Accenture Match Play Championship 2010See the World's Best Golf Players Compete at Accenture Golf Tournament
Set in the saguaro cactus-dotted Tortolita Mountains just north of Tucson, the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Club became the host to the Match Play Tournament as of 2009.
This championship didn't start out in Arizona, however. As the story goes, the weather was not good for a few years running at the Accenture World Match Play's previous home at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. Tired of the soggy course and remembering his positive experience golfing in Tucson, Tiger Woods casually asked why the championship couldn't be played there. Tiger's suggestion set the wheels in motion and the tournament was moved to Tucson in 2007 to the Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain, in the growing suburb of Marana just outside of Tucson. As it turned out, Woods' Accenture Match Play change of venue suggestion was spot-on. While in Tucson, the Accenture golf tournament has enjoyed excellent weather and continued success at Dove Mountain. This popular, five day golf tournament became even better with its 2009 move to the new Ritz Carlton golf course, which offers a spectacular Jack Nicklaus-designed course and improved spectator amenities. Accenture Match Play Championship Tickets2010 Accenture Match Play Tickets general admission prices were:
With reduced ticket prices and redesigned club suites for Accenture Match Play, the PGA Tour officials drew in fans that had stayed away in previous years due to the high costs.
There were more affordable daily and weekly ticket packages and new pricing for the Walter Hagen Club. The luxurious Canyon Club, set at the highest point of the course in Wild Burro Canyon, also had lower prices. The premium spot is one of the 20 open-air Sky Suites at the 12th, 13th and 14th holes and includes an all-inclusive food and beverage service. About the Accenture Golf TournamentThe Accenture Match Play Championship is an opportunity to see the world's best golf players play in one of the world's best golf destinations - Arizona.The WGC Accenture Match Play 2010 Championship was held February 15 through February 21.
Accenture Match Play, had an $8 million purse and raised over $1 million for local and regional charities. Championship Match Play is one of four annual World Golf Championships events that debuted in 1999 and is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours. Only the top 64 golfers available from the Official World Golf Ranking can compete. Players are seeded 1 through 64 based on their Official World Golf Ranking. The tournament format is single-elimination match play. Therefore, the No. 1 seed plays the No. 64 seed, the No. 2 seed plays the No. 63 seed and so on. Players try to win single holes rather than have the lowest score as is the case with most golf games. A golfer has to win 6 matches including the Championship Match held on Sunday, the last day of the tournament, to win the competition. Past winners of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship include Jeff Maggert, Darren Clarke, Steve Stricker, Kevin Sutherland, David Toms, Geoff Ogilvy and Tiger Woods. Golfer Ian Poulter won the 2010 Match Play tournament. Accenture Match Play Dove Mountain Golf CourseMatch Play's new home at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Club has one of the most beautiful settings in all of southern Arizona.Designed by Jack Nicklaus, The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain features 27 holes of golf and a 50,000 square foot clubhouse.
Set in a one of the most scenic sections of the Sonoran Desert, the golf club is surrounded by stately saguaro cactus and mountains. Native plants and animals are plentiful. While walking around outside the clubhouse, a roadrunner ran right by us. With an elevation ranging from 2,300 to 3,000 feet, the setting has an expansive, wide-open feel and the views stretch as far as the eye can see. Since the Ritz Carlton Golf Club is some distance from the rest of the city of Marana and from Tucson, the entire area has a park-like atmosphere. The 850-acre Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Course has a well thought-out design with two looped nine-hole layouts. The course offers classic desert golf with canyons, elevation changes and fairways that wind through stands of cactus and desert washes. Only 150 acres of the total parcel has greens. The rest is native desert vegetation. The back nine runs along the base of the Tortolita Mountains through a thick stand of massive saguaros. At 7,849 yards, the two tournament nines at the Ritz -the Saguaro and Tortolita- are the longest in the PGA tour history. The addition of undulating greens tests the pro golfers by calling for very accurate approach shots where hitting the ball to the correct level or position is critical. Like other Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, players will also encounter his signature bunkering. The new course is spectator-friendly and has viewing areas along the tees, fairways and greens. Its "central hub" design allows for more golf viewing with its loops within loops and parallel fairways. All that space will allow up to 10,000 people a day to use the large tents and scaffolding that will be set up at the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th holes. The top three spots to watch the Accenture Championship Match Play are:
Cayton's Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf ClubYou don't have to be a golfer to enjoy the scenic views at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. Just stop in at Cayton's Restaurant for a good meal.
Cayton's offers wonderful views of the golf course and desert from both the indoor and outdoor patio dining. The menu features American cuisine with a Southwestern influence. The restaurant is open to the public, club members and guests. An all-day lunch menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches and soups. There is also a small children's menu. Cayton's has an extensive beer, cocktail and wines lists and happy hour specials from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Sundays they also serve a three-course Sunday brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended. There is live music during the brunch and on Friday evenings as well. The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Club is the beginning of the largest Ritz Carlton project in the continental United States. Completed in December 2009, the The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Accenture Match Play TV ViewingIf you can't make it to the Accenture Championship Match Play, you can watch it on TV.
Every day of the Accenture Match Play tournament will be shown on the Golf Channel. NBC will also carry Accenture Match Play TV broadcasts on the weekend. 2010 Accenture Match Play TV Broadcast Schedule: Golf Channel TV Schedule:
NBC TV Schedule:
Fast Facts: Accenture Match Play ChampionshipAccenture Match Play 2010 Dates: February 15 - 21, 2010Location: The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain development is in the city of Marana, just north of Tucson, Arizona. The southern edge of Dove Mountain borders the 2,400 acre Tortolita Preserve. The northern edge of Dove Mountain borders the 3,000 acre Tortolita Mountain Park. Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Address: 6501 Boulder Bridge Pass, Marana Arizona 85658 Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location. Accenture Match Play Phone: 520-207-0595 Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Club Phone: 520-572-3500 Cayton's Restaurant Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Cayton's Restaurant Phone: 520-572-3530 Parking: A 4,800 car parking lot will be available along Tangerine Road (exit 240 from I-10) approximately ½ mile east of Interstate 10 (I-10). Parking costs $5 per vehicle and includes a shuttle ride to the golf course. There is some parking on-site and at Dove Mountain Boulevard and Tangerine Road for sky box ticket holders only. Notes:
Note: This information was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the facility before making reservations and/or travel plans. Return to Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com Home Page from Accenture Match Play Legal Disclaimer: Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.
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