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THE GOG BLOG- by Rory Spears. Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or friend him on Facebook at Rory Spears. With the World Series of Golf trophy at Firestone Country Club.
THE FIRESTONE Tire and Rubber Company has one of the best sets of tires on the highways these days. The award winning series of tires are called “Destination”.
Not far away from the home office of Firestone Tires, in the Northern Ohio town of Akron, is another part of the Firestone legacy, Firestone Country Club.
Firestone Country Club has been a golf destination for touring golf professionals for decades. Now the club can be a destination for you.
The great news for golfers is that you no longer have to be a member at Firestone Country Club to play golf there. Firestone Country Club is no longer owned by the tire company, but by ClubCorp who purchased the club in 1981.
Firestone Tire and Rubber company started the club’s history in 1929. But now the history continues to grow, and you have a chance to be part of the next chapter. Under ClubCorp, Firestone Country Club has introduced public “Stay & Play” golf packages based on availability.
The landmark Firestone water tower that stands tall over the club.
Only a few golf courses in the country have standout landmarks. That once seen, golfers can immediately identify the name of the golf course.
The water tower at Firestone Country Club is one of those places. The base of the water tower looks like an inverted golf tee, that is supporting a golf ball at the top of the structure.
The white globe at the top of the water tower carries the Firestone name, and leaves no doubt about where one is playing golf.
The Firestone Country Club clubhouse, is home to the pro shop, dining, and upstairs overnight rooms.
Firestone offers three golf course options. While major professional golf events over the years have been contested on both the North and South courses, there is another 18 holes that most people are not aware of.
Firestone Director of Golf Tommy Moore admits, that when he applied for his current position, he thought the club was a 36 hole facility. When he first visited the club he was surprised to find there was actually 54 holes.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Firestone Director of Golf Tommy Moore.
In fact the Firestone West Course might be one of the best golf courses that nobody really knows about. The West Course doesn’t get the television time or professional tournaments the other courses do, but that doesn’t mean the almost 20 year old golf course that was designed by Tom Fazio isn’t really good. In fact some visitors to Firestone might love the history of the North and South Courses, but they enjoy playing the West Course the most, with it’s wider fairways and lack of trees that come into play.
THE FIRST HOLE (L) on the West Course, while the bunker and drainage project work is ongoing over on the 18th hole. Renovation work is being done by the Fazio Group.
It’s expected when renovation work is completed on the West Course, it will be renamed for Fazio. The Fazio Course at Firestone is the front runner.
The 18th green on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.
The South Course is the best known course of the three at Firestone. It first opened in 1929 and was designed by Bert Way.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. did a redesign in time for the 1960 PGA Championship.
Currently the course is home to the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship, won this summer by Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly. Kelly needed a hole-in-one during the back nine on Sunday to win the title. Firestone will host the championship for two more years, and then anxiously awaits to see what’s next on the tee in terms of championship play.
The Arnold Palmer bridge sits on the 667 yard, par 5, 16th hole-nicknamed “The Monster” by Palmer.
The South Course has a great history of championship golf.
There are courses that are defined by who has won there. Winners on the South Course include, Jack, Arnie, Tiger and Tom, no last names are needed.
The clubs most famous hole is the 667 yard, par 5, 16th hole on the South Course. Nicknamed “The Monster” by Arnold Palmer, who won three times in 10 years at Firestone. Palmer has the bridge over the pond that fronts the green named after him. Jack Nicklaus has his own history at Firestone, in fact it’s where he started his historical run in professional golf. As his first PGA Tour tournament was the 1959 Rubber City Open on the clubs South Course.
The Par 3, 17th hole on the North Course. Hale Irwin made a hole-in-one here during the World Series of Golf using a 4-Iron.
The North Course is no stranger to championship play, as both the World Series of Golf, and the American Golf Classic have been held there.
While the South Course is the longest of the three courses at Firestone measuring 7,400 yards and playing to par of 70, the North Course at 7,125 yards is the clubs only par 72 course.
Spacious villas are part of the overnight accommodations at Firestone.
Firestone is about golf. If you are looking to play golf, hit balls, practice, take a lesson and work on your game Firestone is for you.
There are no tennis courts, spa’s, casino’s, hiking trails, pools, or horseback riding.
General Manager Jay Walkinshaw will tell you that,” Firestone is first and foremost a golf club, but there are plenty of frills within 45 minutes around the central and northern parts of Ohio.”
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Firestone General Manager Jay Walkinshaw.
Some of those options include the National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame in nearby Canton. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland. If your in need of more hiking before or after golf, there are nearby parks and state parks to enjoy.
While your Firestone you will enjoy the hospitality and what Walkinshaw calls the “Firestone Experience.” Hospitality at the club makes everyone feel both welcome and like they a member. Off the golf course there are both rooms upstairs in the clubhouse, or luxury villas for overnight stays. Dining takes place in the 1929 Grille or the 55th Hole Bar.
Groups can dine together in large common rooms in the villa buildings, that are complete with stocked bars, big screen televisions and pool tables. The pro shop carries a large inventory of golf apparel and golf supplies.
If your ready to host your own golf group, or golf tournament, and play where the pro’s play and best players in the history of the game have won. It’s time for you to call Firestone and book your visit. More information at Firestonecountryclub.com or by calling (330)-644-8441.