Historic Golf Getaway: Firestone Country Club

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The 16th hole at the North Course at Firestone Country Club
The 16th hole at the North Course at Firestone Country Club. (Photo Courtesy Buffalo Groupe)

Firestone Country Club has a great tournament history. The South Course has been around for nearly a century, and for the majority of those years, it has played host to all kinds of high-profile tournaments. It started with the Rubber City Open in the ’50s, then there were three PGA Championships, and the World Golf Championships, and now the Kaulig Companies (Senior Players) Championship on the PGA Tour Champions.

It was a moment in 2000, however, that had very little to do with the eventual outcome of that year’s WGC NEC Invitational, but rather a moment in time. That was when Tiger Woods hit his famous “Shot in the Dark,” when the final group elected to play the 18th hole in almost total darkness Sunday evening rather than return for a Monday finish.

There was no doubt about the final outcome — since Woods won by double digits — but it was just the way it all finished. Woods nailed an 8-iron to a back left pin for his approach to close it out. And today, there’s a plaque on the right side of the hole where Woods struck the ball. Quite naturally, recreational golfers love to recreate that shot themselves, whether they are trying to hit in the dark (which we got to do at my recent visit there) or in broad daylight. Either way, it’s anything but easy.

Here’s the really cool part. Whether you know a member or not, you can book a package and plan a future visit to the very private Firestone Country Club, and try this yourself. Of course, the experience at Firestone (which is owned and operated by Invited Clubs, formerly ClubCorp, since 1981) is so much more than Tiger’s Shot in the Dark. There are two other outstanding courses there, all of them in pristine condition and fairly challenging, but not as hard as the South, which was nicknamed The Monster by Arnold Palmer because of how difficult and long the par-5 16th is (667 yards).

The South Course at Firestone Country Club
The South Course at Firestone Country Club. (Photo Courtesy Buffalo Groupe)

While these packages are certainly on the premium price side, it’s a special experience. You can stay in one of the property’s outstanding golf villas, which are spacious and comfortable and very close to the aforementioned 18th hole on the South. There’s a common room with all sorts of goodies, like a full bar and pool table, and there’s also a really cool putting course that’s lighted so you can play in the middle of the night if you like.

The other stay-and-play option is to spend the night in one of the Champions Rooms, which are adjacent to the men’s locker room on the second floor of Firestone’s magnificent clubhouse. The rooms are named for former champions, and my room honored Lanny Wadkins, who won the World Series golf Golf at Firestone in 1977. The room is adorned with photos commemorating Wadkins’ victory.

As for the rest of the clubhouse, there’s a large golf shop offering great apparel and accessories, and the dining is exceptional, and includes the La Vetta Italian Chophouse and the more casual 1929 Grille and Legacy Pavilion, which serves up the outstanding Water Tower IPA, brewed exclusively for Firestone at nearby Missing Mountain Brewery. At both of these venues, you’ll want to sample the club’s famous Crunchy Cream Pie, which Nicklaus supposedly loved so much that he once sent a private jet to pick them up for him and his guests back home.

North Course at Firestone Country
The North Course at Firestone Country Club. (Photo Courtesy Buffalo Groupe)

There’s also the 55th Hole Bar, which sits above the ninth green of the South Course. Here, you might encounter a local legend named “Fuzz,” who runs the place and specializes in good natured ribbing. (You’ll want to get on his good side, but don’t try too hard.)

As for the golf courses, all three are exceptional. The South is tight and long with difficult rough, a real championship test. Originally designed by Bert Way and opened in 1929, the course got a major facelift from Robert Trent Jones in 1960 in preparation for the PGA Championship as fifty bunkers, two ponds, and several hundred yards of length were added. Another renovation in 2007 brought the course to its current yardage.

Even though it’s difficult, any avid golfer would want to play it. You just have to lower your expectations perhaps when it comes to score. The 7,400-yard layout requires accuracy, length, and the ability to work the ball around corners and mature hardwood trees.

The other two courses there are no slouches either. In fact many of the members prefer playing the North and the West because they are that good.

The West Course at Firestone Country Club
The West Course at Firestone Country Club. (Photo Courtesy Buffalo Groupe)

The North, with its doglegs and water holes, is considered the most scenic of the three. Also designed by Jones, it opened in 1969, and is nearly 7,200 yards from the tips. The last two holes include a peninsula green on the par-3 17th, and two carries over water on the par-5 18th.

The West is now known as the Fazio Course. Opened in 1969, it was originally designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva. In 2002, Tom Fazio improved it with better bunkering and greens. It’s a par 70 that plays a little more than 6,900 yards from the tips.

Also worth mentioning is the nine-hole Raymond C. Firestone Course next door to Firestone, which since 1981 has been owned and operated by Invited (formerly Club Corp). It’s actually open to the public, but was built by the Firestone Co. It takes just a couple hours to play and is a great value. And there’s also a Big Shots facility next door. Also owned by Invited, it’s similar to Topgolf on a smaller scale, though. There’s lots of tasty food and drink there, so it’s a great spot to hang out.

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