Inside the course: Muirfield Village Golf Club

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The fifth green at Muirfield Village during the final round in 2008, when Kenny Perry was the eventual champion
Condon/PGA TOUR
The fifth green at Muirfield Village during the final round in 2008, when Kenny Perry was the eventual champion
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May. 31, 2009

After three weeks in Texas, The TOUR heads to Ohio for the Memorial Tournament -- otherwise known as Jack's place. Learn more about this week's host, Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Fast facts
Course superintendent Jake Gargasz
Original architect Jack Nicklaus and Desmond Muirhead (1974)
Par value 72
Number of TOUR events as host venue 34 (including 2009)
Course ranking Ranked 5 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Yardage history 7,265 (2009)
  7,366 (2007-'08)
  7,337 (2006)
  7,300 (2005)
  7,265 (2003-'04)
  7,224 (2002)
  7,221 (2001)
  7,193 (2000)
  7,163 (1997-'99)
  7,104 (1987-'96)
  7,106 (1985-'86)
  7,116 (1980-'84)
  7,101 (1977-'79)
  7,027 (1976)
Grass Bentgrass, Poa annua (tees); Bentgrass, zoysiagrass (fairways); Bentgrass (greens); Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue (rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter 13 ft
Sand bunkers 73
Water hazards 13
Course tour Click here
Course record
Player
John Huston
Year
1996
Round
3rd
Finish
5th
Holes-in-one
There have been 13 aces recorded at Muirfield Village Golf Club
Player Hole Year
David Toms 4 2005
Tom Pernice Jr. 12 2004
Jim Furyk 4 2002
Hal Sutton 12 2001
Steve Flesch 12 2000
Justin Leonard 8 2000
Joe Ozaki 16 1996
Bob Tway 8 1994
Bob Tway 12 1994
Lanny Wadkins 4 1993
Kenny Perry 16 1991
Loren Roberts 16 1990
Fred Wadsworth 4 1987
Clarence Rose 4 1986
2008 Rankings
Most Difficult Hole
A revamped par 4 and one of Muirfield's toughest tests. Trees to the right can cause a blind approach from that side of the fairway. The rolling green is small and heavily bunkered and is fronted by a deep, rough-filled valley that can threaten the second shot off a short drive
2008: 0 eagle, 34 birdies, 206 pars, 127 bogeys, 22 double bogeys, 1 other.
Easiest Hole
An exposed, elevated, bunker-lined, double-dogleg hole, reachable in two by only the longest hitters. A rough-grassed swale sweeps from the right side across in front of the green. Bunkers guard the front left and right, and rear right of the putting surface, which breaks severely off to the left towards a wooded ravine. Not an easy hole to birdie, but the farther left the conservative player is on his second shot, the easier his third becomes.
2008: 7 eagles, 130 birdies, 188 pars, 57 bogeys, 8 double bogeys and 0 others.
Muirfield Village Golf Club 2008 rankings Last 23 years
Hole Par Yards Avg. Score Rank Avg. Score Rank
1 4 470 4.144 10 4.102 8
2 4 455 4.138 11 4.130 6
3 4 401 4.064 14 4.022 14
4 3 200 3.228 4 3.149 4
5 5 527 4.908 17 4.725 17
6 4 447 4.151 8 4.096 9
7 5 563 4.818 18 4.775 16
8 3 185 3.195 6 3.061 11
9 4 412 4.192 7 4.052 13
10 4 471 4.315 2 4.156 3
11 5 567 5.044 15 4.914 15
12 3 184 3.215 5 3.138 5
13 4 455 4.151 8 4.112 7
14 4 363 4.113 13 4.059 12
15 5 529 4.928 16 4.649 18
16 3 215 3.136 12 3.087 10
17 4 478 4.359 1 4.173 2
18 4 444 4.297 3 4.213 1
Course origins
Muirfield Village Golf Club was the dream and work of Jack Nicklaus. The land was acquired in 1966, but construction did not begin until July 28, 1972. The golf course is situated on 220 acres, which includes an 11-acre driving range. The course was officially dedicated on Memorial Day -- May 27, 1974 -- with an exhibition match between Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. Nicklaus scored a 6-under 66, which stood as the course record until 1979.
The 18-hole layout, selected by Golf Digest as No. 16 among "America's 100 Greatest Courses," played at 6,978 yards in its original form, but is 7,265 at present. It had 77 bunkers, now 73, and water can be a hazard on 13 holes. A Columbus Pro-Am on Aug. 11, 1975, was the first event held at Muirfield, and the first Memorial Tournament was played in May 1976. The course has also hosted the 1986 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 1987 Ryder Cup Matches, the USGA's 1992 United States Amateur Championship, the 1995 Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge and the 1998 Solheim Cup.
Tournament host Jack Nicklaus was the recipient of the 2005 GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award, GCSAA's highest honor. Nicklaus received the award at the GCSAA Educational Conference and Inaugural Golf Industry Show in Orlando Feb. 7-12, 2005. --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America
Tournament course history
Course Location Years
Muirfield Village Golf Club Dublin, Ohio 1976-present
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