Inside the course: Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club

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A scenic view of the par-3 17th hole at Warwick Hills GCC, this week's Kodak Challenge hole.

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A scenic view of the par-3 17th at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, this week's Kodak Challenge hole.

Jul. 24, 2009
By PGA TOUR Staff

The TOUR heads about four hours west and scoots back under the border to Grand Blanc, Mich., for this week's Buick Open. Here's all you need to know about the host course -- Warwick Hills GCC.

Fast facts

Course Superintendent	Philip D. Owen
Original architect	James Gilmore Harrison (1956)
Course remodel	Joe Lee (1967)
Number of TOUR events as host venue	44 (including 2009)
Course ranking	Ranked 46th (out of 54 courses) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Yardage history	7,014 yards (1958-1995)
	7,105 yards (1996-2001)
	7,127 yards (2002-present)
Grass	Bentgrass, Poa annua (tees, fairways, greens); Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fescue (rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter	11-12 feet
Sand bunkers	86
Water hazards	3
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Billy Mayfair
Tiger Woods

Year
2001
2005

Round
4th
2nd

Finish
T14
T2

Holes-in-one

There have been 13 aces recorded at Warwick Hills GCC

Player	Hole	Year
Stephen Leaney	8	2008
Bubba Dickerson	8	2007
John Cook	17	2006
Robert Allenby	11	2005
Briny Baird	3	2004
Ronnie Black	3	2000
Chris DiMarco	17	1998
Justin Leonard	11	1996
Jeff Hart	8	1996
John Inman	11	1993
Charles Bolling	17	1987
Jim Colbert	3	1986
Ron Streck	17	1985

2008 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	Water, out of bounds, trees, and bunkers characterize the finishing hole of Warwick Hills. The landing area is canted from right to left, lending some protection from the bunkers down the right side. However, if a player misses the fairway to the right he will have some serious tree trouble. Out of bounds tightly hugs the left side of the fairway, as does a large tree that lays claim to many pulled tee shots. If one is able to find the fairway with his drive. The second shot calls for a long to middle iron into a deceptively undulating green with a traditional Sunday pin placement of back right. 2008: 0 eagles, 46 birdies, 294 pars, 107 bogeys, 16 double bogeys, 3 others.
Easiest Hole
	If the tees are up, this hole presents a very good birdie opportunity for players. Fairway bunkers guard the landing area, and the second shot must be carefully played so as to avoid the dense chute of trees that appears within 200 yards of the green. The green has two shelves and is severely sloped, making it difficult to play from above the hole. Overall, it is the last legitimate birdie hole on the course. No. 16 played as the easiest hole in the 2000 Buick Open. 2008: 5 eagles, 236 birdies, 199 pars, 26 bogeys, 0 double bogeys and 0 others.

Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club			2008 rankings		Other 23 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. score	Rank
1	5	567	4.749	14	4.798	13
2	4	431	4.021	7	4.063	4
3	3	187	3.056	6	3.034	6
4	4	401	4.069	5	3.965	10
5	4	437	4.12	3	4.054	5
6	4	421	4	9	3.929	11
7	5	584	4.633	16	4.712	16
8	3	199	2.974	11	3.005	9
9	4	434	4.116	4	4.068	3
10	4	401	3.865	12	3.910	12
11	3	190	3.015	8	3.013	8
12	4	340	3.68	15	3.722	15
13	5	544	4.813	13	4.777	14
14	4	322	3.597	17	3.692	17
15	4	457	4.165	2	4.157	1
16	5	580	4.528	18	4.639	18
17	3	197	2.985	10	3.031	7
18	4	435	4.219	1	4.110	2

Course origins

Warwick Hills is an excellent spectator golf course. The two nines run parallel to one another, making it easy to hear and get to the nearest spectator roar. The par-3 17th hole has become the most popular spectator hole. Easy visibility from tee to green and close proximity to vendor stands have contributed to its popularity. Crowds are loud and appropriately respond to good and bad shots. The course is known for its smooth greens, giving the advantage to the player with the hot putter. Rarely is the tournament decided prior to the last seven holes of the final round, where players can easily pick up four or five strokes on par. As a result, most tournaments end with an exciting finish to reward the crowds that stick it out until the end.

Warwick Hills is one of the highest rated courses in Michigan. The condition of the course is exceptional. The greens are large, and the fairways are wide and heavily bunkered. Golf Digest rated this course as the 20th "Best in State" course for 1997-1998. Warwick Hills GCC has a rich history dating back to 1956. In 1956, 320 acres of farmland was purchased south of downtown Grand Blanc with the idea of creating a community of suburban homes. A realty company was formed, and the acreage was divided into lots. Waldo E. McNaught, Buick public relations director at the time, brought the idea of a golf course to the prospective members, who purchased the lots. More than 70 people replied, enclosing checks for the initiation fee. McNaught was elected president of the club, and organization meetings were held to begin the planning of the L-shaped, 16-acre course. In June 1957, the course was ready for play with the first foursome teeing off on what is now the 10th hole. -- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Tournament course history

Course	Location	Years
Warwick Hills	Grand Blanc, Mich.	1958-1969, 1978-present
Flint Elks	Flint, Mich	1972, 1974-1977
Benton Harbor Elks	Benton Harbor, Mich.	1973

Note: There was no tournament played from 1970-71.

This week's Kodak Challenge hole

HOLE: The par-3, 197-yard 17th at Warwick Hills GCC
LAST YEAR: The 17th played to a stroke average of 2.985, with players recording no aces, 57 birdies, 361 pars, 48 bogeys and 1 double bogey.
DESCRIPTION: The 17th is perhaps the most picturesque hole on the course and traditionally plays as one of the most difficult par 3s in the Buick Open. It is also where the most enthusiastic crowds can be found at Warwick. The front bunker has been lengthened for 2001, capturing shots that come up short of the green. From the tee, the player must hit a middle iron to a green that subtly slopes toward the water hazard. Missing the green left is particularly bad, as the ball will tend to kick into the woods if it misses both of the bunkers. (Click here for Warwick Hills GCC tour)