A scenic view of No. 16, this week's Kodak Challenge hole at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.
Aug. 2, 2010
By PGA TOUR Staff
The TOUR heads to Akron, Ohio for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Here's all you need to know about the host course -- Firestone Country Club.
| Fast facts |
| Course Superintendent |
John A. DiMascio |
| Original architect |
Bert Wray (1928) |
| Course remodel |
Robert Trent Jones (1960) |
| Number of TOUR events as host venue |
34 (including 2010) |
| Course ranking |
Ranked 11th (out of 51 courses) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2009 |
| Yardage history |
7,149 (1976-1993, 1995-96) |
| |
6,918 (1994) |
| |
7,189 (1997-98) |
| |
7,139 (1999-2001) |
| |
6,949 (2002) |
| |
7,230 (2003) |
| |
7,360 (2004-06) |
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7,400 (2007-present) |
| Grass |
Pencross bentgrass, Poa annua (tees, fairways, greens); Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass (rough) |
| Tournament Stimpmeter |
13 feet |
| Sand bunkers |
82 |
| Water hazards |
3 |
| Course tour |
Click here |
|
| Course record |
|
Player
Jose Maria Olazabal
Tiger Woods |
Year
1990
2000 |
Round
1st
2nd |
Finish
WON
WON |
|
| Holes-in-one |
| There have been six aces recorded at Firestone CC |
| Jim Furyk |
15 |
2006 |
| Hal Sutton |
12 |
2000 |
| Retief Goosen |
7 |
2000 |
| Stewart Cink |
15 |
2000 |
| Nick Price |
5 |
1997 |
| Bob Tway |
5 |
1986 |
|
| 2009 Rankings |
| Most Difficult Hole |
 |
The fourth is the most difficult hole on the course. An accurate tee shot is required to hit the right-to-left, sloping fairway. The second shot must come in high to hold the elevated green. Par is always a good score.
2009: 0 eagles, 16 birdies, 187 pars, 105 bogeys, 8 double bogeys |
| Easiest Hole |
 |
This narrow dogleg left is reachable in two shots. Overhanging trees make a high, right-to-left ball flight on the tee shot a must. A series of bunkers protect this undulating green that features a false front.
2009: 6 eagles, 147 birdies, 148 pars, 14 bogeys, 1 double bogey. |
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| Firestone Country Club |
2009 rankings | Last 25 years |
| 1 |
4 |
399 |
3.991 |
15 |
4.044 |
12 |
| 2 |
5 |
526 |
4.547 |
18 |
4.556 |
18 |
| 3 |
4 |
442 |
4 |
14 |
4.071 |
10 |
| 04* |
4 |
471 |
4.332 |
1 |
4.330 |
1 |
| 5 |
3 |
200 |
3.006 |
13 |
3.016 |
14 |
| 6 |
4 |
469 |
4.114 |
5 |
4.168 |
5 |
| 7 |
3 |
219 |
3.07 |
10 |
3.077 |
9 |
| 8 |
4 |
482 |
4.092 |
6 |
4.063 |
11 |
| 9 |
4 |
494 |
4.237 |
2 |
4.245 |
2 |
| 10 |
4 |
410 |
3.934 |
17 |
4.021 |
13 |
| 11 |
4 |
418 |
4.079 |
9 |
3.953 |
17 |
| 12 |
3 |
180 |
3.009 |
12 |
2.993 |
16 |
| 13 |
4 |
471 |
4.123 |
4 |
4.204 |
3 |
| 14 |
4 |
467 |
4.085 |
8 |
4.103 |
6 |
| 15 |
3 |
221 |
3.092 |
6 |
3.088 |
8 |
| 16 |
5 |
667 |
5.044 |
11 |
5.089 |
7 |
| 17 |
4 |
400 |
3.975 |
16 |
4.013 |
15 |
| 18 |
4 |
464 |
4.13 |
3 |
4.204 |
4 |
|
| Course origins |
| Established in 1929 by Harvey Firestone and later acquired by ClubCorp in 1981, Firestone Country Club remains a one of a kind golf facility. It is the only course in the world to have held three televised golf events in one calendar year -- The American Golf Classic, The CBS Golf Classic, and The World Series of Golf. With its three championship level courses, Firestone Country Club is as unique today as it has ever been. |
| The words Firestone South can conjure up fond memories for many golf fans. Few will forget Jack Nicklaus' magnificent comeback in the 1975 PGA Championship. Down by 5 strokes to Bruce Crampton, Nicklaus made an unbelievable par on "The Monster" 16th hole. He continued his comeback to win by four strokes, collecting his fourth PGA Championship. A more recent memory might be from the 2000 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, where Tiger Woods hit the now famous "shot in the dark" on the 18th hole to secure his victory in the event. |
| The North Course at Firestone, with its beautiful lakes and streams, played host to the 1976 American Golf Classic and the 1994 World Series of Golf. The latest addition to the Firestone was the West Course. Opened in 1989 and redesigned by Tom Fazio in 2002, this course together with the North and South courses make the Firestone Country Club family complete. |
| Noted for its length, the par-70, 7,360-yard South Course includes a series of intimidating, long par 4 holes and one of the longest par 5s anywhere, with the 16th hole playing to 667 yards. Firestone Country Club was ranked as the No. 4 Private Facilities in Golf World's "Readers Choice Awards" for 2009. -- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America |
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| Tournament course history |
| Firestone CC |
Akron, Ohio |
1976-present |
|
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| This week's Kodak Challenge hole |
HOLE: The par-5, 667-yard 16th at Firestone CC
LAST YEAR: The 16th played to a stroke average of 5.044, with players recording no eagles, 66 birdies, 191 pars, 46 bogeys, 7 double bogeys and 6 others.
DESCRIPTION: The 16th is the signature hole at Firestone. The extension of the tee now brings the bunkers into play, which are approximately 280 to 290 yards away. A long iron second shot down the hill must avoid a creek on the right and stay short of the pond that guards this small green. The front right pin is the most challenging.(Click here for Firestone CC tour) |
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