Firestone Country Club is a private

golf club A golf club is a club used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety o ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, located in

Akron, Ohio Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...

. It was a regular stop on the

PGA Tour The PGA Tour (stylized as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also known as the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champion ...

and has hosted the

PGA Championship The PGA Championship (often referred to as the US PGA Championship or USPGA outside the United States) is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. The PGA is one of the four men's major golf champi ...

three times. It is the current home of the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship through 2026. The club comprises three coursesthose of the North, South, and West. In

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...

the club hosted three

televised Television (TV) is a telecommunications, telecommunication media (communication), medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of signal transmission, ...

golf events: the

American Golf Classic The American Golf Classic was a tournament on the PGA Tour from 1961 to 1976 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the third event at the storied South course, after the Rubber City Open Invitational (1954–1959) and the PGA Champio ...

, the CBS Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf. No other club has hosted three televised golf events in the same calendar year. One of four

World Golf Championships The World Golf Championships (WGC) were a group of annual professional golf tournaments played from 1999 through 2023 created by the International Federation of PGA Tours as a means of gathering the best players in the world together more freque ...

constituent events, the

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The WGC Invitational was a professional golf tournament that was held in the United States. Established in 1999 as a successor to the World Series of Golf, it was one of three or four annual World Golf Championships (WGC) until 2021, when the nu ...

, directed by the

International Federation of PGA Tours Professional golf tours are the means by which otherwise unconnected professional golf tournaments are organized into a regular schedule. There are separate tours for men and women; most are based in a specific geographical region, although some to ...

and sanctioned on the PGA and

European Tour The European Tour, currently titled as the DP World Tour for sponsorship reasons, and legally the PGA European Tour or the European Tour Group, is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe. The organisation also operates the European ...

s, was contested at the club with the final event at the club held in 2018. The North and West courses also serve as the home course for the

University of Akron The University of Akron is a public university, public research university in Akron, Ohio, United States. It is part of the University System of Ohio. As a STEM fields, STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advance ...

Zips Zips (also ''Siggies'' or ''Geeps'') is a slang term in the United States that was especially in use in the mid-20th century. It was often used as a derogatory slur by Italian-American mobsters in reference to newer immigrant Sicilian mafiosi. ...

golf team.

History

Harvey S. Firestone commissioned the club in 1929 as a park for employees of the

Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey S. Firestone (18681938) in 1900 initially to supply solid rubber side-wire tires for fire apparatus, and later, pneumatic tires for wagons, carriages, and other form ...

. Its first course, the South, was designed by Bert Way and opened on August 10, 1929, with Firestone driving the first ball. For the sixth and final Rubber City Open Invitational in 1959, the course was at par 71. A major redesign by Robert Trent Jones in

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...

for the

added over fifty bunkers and two ponds, and extended the course to at par 70. The course was renovated by Golforce in 2007 and played at for the WGC event in

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

. The North course was designed by Jones and opened in 1969. Firestone's West was the last course to be added, opening in 1989. First conceived by Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva, it went through a redesign in 2002 by Tom Fazio. Firestone Country Club was acquired by ClubCorp in 1981, purchased from the Firestone family. A

driving range A driving range is a facility or area where golfers can practice their golf swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range ...

was added in 1994 and was the first area of the club open to the public. A ninehole course, the Raymond C. Firestone, was opened for public play in 1995.

Tournaments

The Rubber City Open was the first tournament held at Firestone, from 1954 through 1959. The

has been held at the South Course three times:

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

, and

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

. This exposure led to a new event, the

, which ran from

1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...

through

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

. Since

1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...

, the World Series of Golf, now known as the

, has been held at Firestone, usually on the South course. An unofficial fourman event over 36 holes through

, it became a limited field event over 72 holes in

. During the third round of the PGA Championship in

Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus (; born January 21, 1940), nicknamed "the Golden Bear", is an American retired professional golfer and List of golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, golf course designer. He is widely considered to be one of the greate ...

pulled out a remarkable par on the 16th hole, considered to be the hardest hole on Firestone's courses. Trailing

Bruce Crampton Bruce Crampton (born 28 September 1935) is an Australian professional golfer. Early life and amateur career Crampton was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and attended Kogarah High School from 1948 to 1950. In August 1953 he reached final of th ...

by four strokes after two rounds, Nicklaus gained eight shots on Saturday to lead by four after 54 holes and won his fourth PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins, PGA Tour wins, ranks second in List of men's major championships winning golfers, men's m ...

also had a memorable moment on the South course when his "shot in the dark" on the 72nd hole at the WGC event in

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

ensured victory by eleven strokes. He had won the

the previous week for his third consecutive major championship that season. The North course is used less frequently in televised events, but hosted the American Golf Classic in

and the World Series of Golf in

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

. Starting in 2023, Firestone Country Club's South Course has been host to the Kaulig Companies Championship.

Holes

Tee boxes

* 1. Championship slope: 128, rating: 75.1, * 2. Member slope: 122, rating: 71.2, * 3. Ladies' slope: 127, rating: 72.8,

South Course The Monster

This course was designed from the start to be championship level and has been the host of over 70 professional tournaments. After a triplebogey at the 16th hole in the third round of the PGA Championship in

Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer (September 10, 1929 – September 25, 2016) was an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport's history. Since embarking on a professional career in ...

called it a "monster." The name stayed and struck such a chord with frustrated golfers that the entire South course is now known fondly as "The Monster." * 1st Hole, 399 yard, par4 * 2nd Hole, 526 yard, par5 * 3rd Hole, 442 yard, par4 * 4th Hole, 471 yard, par4 Another long par 4, the second shot is where golfers get themselves into trouble; the height of the green requires quite a bit of lift. * 5th Hole, 200 yard, par3 While still a good length, this par 3 is considered to be one of the easier holes on the course. However, until 1987 NEC World Series of Golf, the full length from championship tee was 234 yards, which was the longest and toughest par 3 in this course. * 6th Hole, 469 yard, par4 Length alone adds a great deal of difficulty to this par 4, often noted to be the most difficult hole on the course. *7 th Hole, 219 yard, par3 * 8th Hole, 482 yard, par4 * 9th Hole, 494 yard, par4 * 10th Hole, 410 yard, par4 * 11th Hole, 418 yard, par4 * 12th Hole, 180 yard, par3 * 13th Hole, 471 yard, par4 * 14th Hole, 467 yard, par4 * 15th Hole, 221 yard, par3 A long par 3 is difficult enough, but the hidden left bunker proves fatal for many a golfer. * 16th Hole, 667 yard, par5 One of the longest par 5s in existence, its pond in front of the green adds more than its fair share of difficulty to the hole. * 17th Hole, 400 yard, par4 * 18th Hole, 464 yard, par4 With a long narrow profile and a green surrounded by bunkers, this is a difficult par 4 to birdie.

North Course

A championship level course, the North is famous for its many lakes and streams. While considered the most scenic course of the three, it has only been host to two tournaments. * 1st Hole, 398 yard, par4 * 2nd Hole, 387 yard, par4 * 3rd Hole, 449 yard, par4 * 4th Hole, 423 yard, par4 * 5th Hole, 533 yard, par5 * 6th Hole, 214 yard, par3 * 7th Hole, 534 yard, par5 Water comes into play if approach shot is hit too long. * 8th Hole, 178 yard, par3 * 9th Hole, 431 yard, par4 * 10th Hole, 364 yard, par4 * 11th Hole, 201 yard, par3 Almost an island green with water surrounding 3 sides of the green. * 12th Hole, 427 yard, par4 * 13th Hole, 441 yard, par4 * 14th Hole, 441 yard, par4 * 15th Hole, 341 yard, par4 * 16th Hole, 560 yard, par5 Water comes into play if approach shot is hit too long. * 17th Hole, 218 yard, par3 Another hole with water surrounding 3 sides of the green. * 18th Hole, 520 yard, par5

West Course

The final championship course on the grounds and host to the annual Ohio Senior Open. * 1st Hole, 444 yard, par4 * 2nd Hole, 392 yard, par4 * 3rd Hole, 211 yard, par3 * 4th Hole, 324 yard, par4 * 5th Hole, 356 yard, par4 * 6th Hole, 467 yard, par4 * 7th Hole, 191 yard, par3 * 8th Hole, 484 yard, par4 * 9th Hole, 625 yard, par5 * 10th Hole, 426 yard, par4 * 11th Hole, 448 yard, par4 * 12th Hole, 170 yard, par3 * 13th Hole, 492 yard, par5 * 14th Hole, 147 yard, par3 * 15th Hole, 476 yard, par4 * 16th Hole, 244 yard, par3 * 17th Hole, 525 yard, par5 * 18th Hole, 482 yard, par4

References

External links

* {{Bridgestone Corporation Golf clubs and courses in Ohio Golf clubs and courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sports venues in Akron, Ohio College golf clubs and courses in the United States 1929 establishments in Ohio Sports venues completed in 1929 Akron Zips sports venues Akron Zips golf