TPC Craig Ranch - The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43

TPC Craig Ranch 8000 Collin McKinney Pkwy McKinney, TX 75070

TPC Craig Ranch website

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson website

---

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

There are two PGA stops in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in the month of May. The older of the two tournaments began in 1944 with the event’s namesake, Byron Nelson from Fort Worth, Texas, winning the inaugural event at Dallas’ Lakewood Country Club. The tournament has been played at various courses throughout the Dallas area.

In 2018 the tournament celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the opening of a new course at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Southeast Dallas. However, the links course in Southeast Dallas wasn’t a good match for the players or the fans, so after only three years at Trinity, the tournament moved to its current location at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

TPC Craig Ranch is located 30 miles north-northeast of downtown Dallas. The course is located within the Craig Ranch Community and was designed by Tom Weiskopf, a major champion and a member of the TPC network, which is operated by the PGA.

Food & Beverage   4

There are plenty of food and drink options throughout the course, either in the built-up suites or in the public concession tents; most tents are operated by local groups as fundraisers. The concession menu here has variety, but lacks the overall wow factor that has been a staple at sports venues. The various menu items are as follows: smoked chopped brisket sandwiches, smoked link sausage sandwiches, cheeseburgers, jumbo hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, deli hoagies, classic club subs, chicken Caesar salad wraps, Bavarian pretzels, and peanuts.

The one wow concession stand would be the Korean BBQ stand called Bibigo – this concession tent serves shrimp kimchi bao, sweet and spicy chicken skewers, jap-chae (noodles with beef and vegetables), and bibi-cones (ice cream cones filled with bulgogi or kimchi rice).

Pepsi is the beverage sponsor of The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and sodas cost $7 for 16oz, with Smart Water at $7.50 and Dasani bottled water or Powerade at $6.50 if you want something besides soda. There are also plenty of alcoholic beverages throughout the course – Michelob Ultra is a proud sponsor of the event and is readily available, along with Estrella Jalisco, Texas’ own Ziegenbock, and Houston’s brewery Karbach Love Street. These beers are $15, while a glass of wine is $18.

Atmosphere   4

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson has always been a go-and-be-seen type of event for North Texas, with most people’s idea being to attend the golf tournament as a large social event. All ages and backgrounds from all over the area can be seen walking the course throughout the weekend.

From the moment patrons step off the shuttles, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson atmosphere begins. The main entrances have photo ops for fans to start their day, and the box office, will call, and volunteer headquarters are all near the shuttle drop-off. All patrons are shuttled in and walk through the main entrance, to arrive on the course at the driving, putting, and chipping ranges in the front nine of the course. To get to the middle of the course and clubhouse you will walk on a path under a neighborhood road.

Fan options are to either find a golfer and be part of the gallery around the course, or set up in an area that not only has one green, but offers multiple greens and tees – this set up provides fans with more action, and allows them to get more involved in the action being played around the course. In addition, the course provides numerous activities along the 18th fairway, especially the CJ Zone, the tournament’s merchandise shop, as well as other interactive displays. There are also plenty of photo spots and course information signage, creating more of an event here than just golf.

Neighborhood   3

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson is played at TPC Craig Ranch Golf Course in McKinney, Texas. The course is the center point of the Craig Ranch community. The community is 30 miles from downtown Dallas and lies between McKinney and Frisco, off the Sam Rayburn Tollway where the tollway meets North Central Expressway (75) in Allen, Texas.

There isn’t much outside the course except apartments and houses, except a couple of hotels nearby, as well as the general parking lot at McKinney ISD Stadium. The best bet is to look at Frisco, McKinney, or Allen where you have an abundant number of choices for lodging, restaurants, and activities. Each city is about 8 miles in the opposite direction of each other, with McKinney and Allen being neighbors.

The McKinney side has a nice historic downtown with restaurants and breweries. The Yard is one of the restaurants you will find in this area; there isn’t anything fancy about The Yard, but the vibe is pleasant and the food and drinks are perfect after being out on the golf course. Allen has premium outlets and other restaurants along with lodging, with Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Allen across from each other off the North Central Expressway.

The Frisco side of TPC Craig Ranch has numerous restaurants, lodging, and a mall area next to Dr Pepper Ballpark (Frisco Roughriders), and just south of The Star in Frisco (headquarters to the Dallas Cowboys). Frisco also has the National Soccer Hall of Fame inside Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, which is in Frisco’s historic downtown. Golfers may have already heard of Frisco, Texas as home to the PGA’s newest championship golf course – Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa will be the site of the 2027 PGA Championship.

Overall, there are plenty of places to eat, sleep, and visit while attending the CJ Cup, so the best idea would be to plan your trip around which side of TPC Craig Ranch is perfect for you.

Fans   5

Last year’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson welcomed 181,000 fans filling the grounds, a record-setting attendance since the tournament moved to Craig Ranch in 2021. The CJ Cup Byron Nelson has one of the highest attendances on the PGA tour, and North Texas golf fans have embraced this tournament for 55 years. These fans will also welcome back the PGA Championship in 2027.

While The PGA Championship will be just up the road in Frisco, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson will remain at TPC Craig Ranch through 2030, ensuring years of world-class golf for North Texas golf fans, and unforgettable moments still to come. In general, though, the golf fans here are passionate – the calls of “Get in the hole!” on the greens are impressive, while the same calls as the players hit off the tee are just silly. But there are plenty of lively moments on the course that television just can’t duplicate, such as the roar of a massive golf crowd when an athlete sinks a long putt or aces a hole-in-one during the tournament.

In general golf fans have a kind demeanor, as there is not the my-team-versus-your-team attitude that other sports tend to engender; golf fans just like to enjoy the day on the course while watching some amazing professional golfers make some incredible shots.

Access   3

TPC Craig Ranch is in the surrounding Craig Ranch Community of McKinney, Texas, about twenty-five miles from the airports in Dallas. The course is just off the Sam Rayburn Tollway, with a physical address of 8000 Collin McKinney Parkway. There is signage on the tollway for parking, including the corporate parking lots near the course – the few lots within walking distance to the main entrance will cost $106, while general parking is located at McKinney ISD Stadium and costs $26 to $30, with a 10-minute shuttle ride to the golf course.

For patrons wanting to use Uber/Lyft, spectators will be dropped off and picked up in a designated lot at 8043 Henneman Way in McKinney, a short walk from the TPC course main entrance. When you are ready to leave for the day, request your ride upon leaving the tournament from the same spot where you were dropped off, as Ubers/Lyfts trying to get to main entrance itself will face a nightmare.

Once at the gates to the tournament, access flows through with little wait. Spectators can bring in items such as umbrellas (without sleeves), binoculars, and collapsible chairs (without bags). Bags larger than 6” x 6” will not be allowed in, and mobile devices must always be kept on silent.

The course clubhouse splits the course, as it is on the sixth and eighteenth greens, and most of the fan amenities are around the clubhouse. The course is not flat, but only has subtle terrain changes, so is highly walkable, although the Texas weather may take a toll if the weather is hot.

Return on Investment   3

Daily Grounds tickets are based on the day you attend. Ticket prices for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson start at $50 for the Wednesday Pro-Am, are $75 for Thursday and Sunday, and reach $90 for Friday and Saturday. There are also two single-day hospitality club tickets to choose from: $400 to $550 for Champions Club on the 17th hole (with full food and bar) or Choctaw Club (climate-controlled) views of the 13th tee and 16th green. The tournament also offers free daily tickets to military personnel, first responders, and youth (15 years and under).

Public parking is under $30, and concession prices are typical of events like this, so there aren’t any savings when it comes to food and drinks. Overall, the cost to attend this event is on par with other PGA tour events, but is much cheaper than the PGA major event.

Extras   2

TPC Craig Ranch is a walkable course with places you can find shade. The natural terrain of the course is relaxing, and if you get out on the course away from the large galleries, you can get lost in its beauty.

The Byron Nelson golf tournament has had a few sponsorships and been played at a few courses over the years, but the one constant is the “Red Pants” of the tournament. There isn’t anyone that can do fundraising better than the Salesmanship Club of Dallas; this club is the chief fundraiser for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and has been the heart and soul of the tournament since 1968. Since that time the event has raised over $160 million and transformed more than 100,000 lives, making it the most successful charity event on the PGA Tour.

Final Thoughts

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson is a popular stop on the PGA Tour. The large crowds for this event show that North Texas loves this annual tour stop. Although many wish the tournament was back at TPC Las Colinas, TPC Craig Ranch is a wonderful course to see some of the top golfers in the world.