Inside the course: Colonial Country Club

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Colonial Country Club has been a staple on the PGA TOUR for six decades -- hosting this tournament since its inception in 1946.

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Host of this tournament since its inception in 1946, Colonial Country Club has been a staple on the PGA TOUR.

May. 25, 2010

The TOUR remains in the Lone Star State for the third and final leg of the Texas Swing. Learn more about this week's host, Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

Ed Brill, head instructor at the TOUR Academy in Hilton Head, analyzes the playing conditions this week:

Let's keep it going with the Texas theme and finish off the new Texas Trifecta. It's been a great two tournaments thus far, with Adam Scott reappearing and young Jason Day getting his first win. I know the 16-year-old amateur, Jordan Spieth, stole the show, but let's give Jason Day his due -- do you know how hard it is to win on the PGA TOUR?

Colonial is one of the players' favorite stops, as it is a traditional course that doesn't play favorites. The long hitters don't have a great advantage because of the tee shots that have to be fit into the turning fairways. Nos. 3-5 garner a lot of attention as the "Horrible Horseshoe", but many other holes will test the players' skills.

Phil Mickelson won two years ago with the memorable shot to the 18th from the trees on the left. Last year, Steve Stricker won in a playoff over Steve Marino and the relatively short hitting Tim Clark. Could Clark ride the wave of the PLAYERS win and play well here again?

Colonial is a lot like TPC Sawgrass and even Harbour Town in that the long hitters don't have the big advantage they might at other venues. I always like the hometown player, so look out for last weeks winner Jason Day to win again.

For more information about the PGA TOUR Academy golf schools, click here.

Fast facts

Course superintendent	Scott A. Ebers
Original architect	John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell (1936)
Par value	70
Number of TOUR events as host venue	63 (including 2010)
Course ranking	Ranked 34 (out of 51) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2009
Yardage history	7,054 (2004-'08, 2010)
	7,204 (2009)
	7,080 (2000-'03)
	7,010 (1996-'99)
	7,096 (1979-'95)
	7,142 (1969-'78)
	7,021 (1957-'68)
	7,035 (1946-'56)
Grass	Bermudagrass (tees, fairways, rough); Bentgrass (greens)
Tournament Stimpmeter	11.5 ft
Sand bunkers	84
Water hazards	3
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Keith Clearwater
Lee Janzen
Greg Kraft
Justin Leonard
Kenny Perry
Chad Campbell

Year
1993
1993
1999
2003
2003
2004

Round
2nd
4th
3rd
4th
3rd
3rd

Finish
T9
T11
T2
2nd
Won
2nd

Holes-in-one

There have been 17 aces recorded at Colonial Country Club

Player	Hole	Year
Dean Wilson	13	2009
Dustin Johnson	13	2008
Brian Gay	8	2007
Rod Pampling	16	2007
Shigeki Maruyama	8	2003
Hal Sutton	16	2003
Corey Pavin	13	2002
Stuart Appleby	13	2000
Jim Gallagher Jr.	13	1996
Brad Faxon	8	1996
Jeff Maggert	8	1995
Loren Roberts	16	1993
Chip Beck	8	1989
Chris Perry	16	1989
George Archer	8	1985
Larry Mize	8	1984
Jim Thorpe	16	1984

2009 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	This is the hardest hole, and the most famous, at Colonial and the last of the "Horrible Horseshoe." The tee shot must be precise -- there's a ditch to the left and a river on the right. Even a good tee shot leaves a long, narrow approach. 2009: 1 eagle, 25 birdies, 273 pars, 74 bogeys, 17 double bogeys, 7 others.
Easiest Hole
	This is a tempting par 5, but it's difficult to reach in two because of the bunkering. A sand wedge approach shot gives the best chance for birdie. 2009: 5 eagles, 199 birdies, 177 pars, 16 bogeys, 0 double bogeys and 0 others.

Colonial Country Club			2009 rankings		Last 24 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
1	5	565	4.514	18	4.621	18
2	4	389	3.798	17	3.879	16
3	4	483	3.995	9	4.067	6
4	3	247	3.108	2	3.164	2
5	4	481	4.259	1	4.259	1
6	4	406	3.844	15	3.918	15
7	4	440	3.942	11	4.014	11
8	3	194	2.952	10	3.049	8
9	4	407	4.02	6	4.159	3
10	4	408	4.005	7	4.048	9
11	5	635	4.821	16	4.806	17
12	4	445	4.048	5	4.054	7
13	3	190	3.055	4	3.046	10
14	4	464	3.884	14	4.104	4
15	4	430	4	8	4.082	5
16	3	192	3.086	3	3.012	12
17	4	387	3.929	12	3.961	13
18	4	441	3.924	13	3.940	14

Course origins

Built in 1936, the traditional layout -- designed by John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell -- has been acclaimed since its inception as a tough but fair challenge and always ranks high on top 100 lists. Colonial hosted the 1941 U.S. Open -- the first time the event was held south of the Mason-Dixon line -- and was won by Craig Wood. The event was such a success that the Colonial National Invitational Tournament was launched in 1946, starting the longest running event of the PGA TOUR on the same site.

Ben Hogan won the first two events and went on to win three more times over what is truly "Hogan's Alley." Another Colonial tradition is the Wall of Champions framing the No. 1 tee. Engraved with the name and score of each champion dating back to the 1941 U.S. Open, it represents a veritable who's who of golf history: Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Julius Boros, Billy Casper, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson all won here. Other unique Colonial traditions include the official, Scottish-tartan plaid jacket worn by past champions and the champions dinner hosted the night before the tournament. Colonial has also hosted the 1975 PLAYERS Championship and the 1991 U.S. Women's Open.

Last summer, Colonial underwent a significant renovation of its features, including all bunkers, greens and tees. Native stone walls were installed on two of the water features, and trees were repositioned in a few strategic areas. The tournament yardage was increased to 7,204 yards, and the green on No. 13 was rebuilt to reflect the intent of the original green construction. --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America

Tournament course history

Course	Location	Years
Colonial Country Club	Fort Worth, Texas	1946-present*

*The tournament was not played in 1949 due to World War II

This week's Kodak Challenge hole

HOLE: The par-3, 171-yard 13th at Colonial CC
LAST YEAR: The 13th played to a stroke average of 3.055, with players recording 1 ace, 50 birdies, 284 pars, 52 bogeys, 9 double bogeys and 1 other.
DESCRIPTION: The 13th hole is a risk-reward par 3. You face a tee shot with total carry over water to this narrow, two-tiered green. Winds that average 15-18 miles per hour can make this hole very difficult. However, with a pinpoint tee shot, you could have a birdie opportunity. (Click here for Colonial tour)