The South Course Featured in ‘Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.’ and ‘Top 200 Classic Courses’;
The South, North and Fazio Courses claim 1st, 2nd and 6th in Ohio
(AKRON, Ohio) – Firestone Country Club, renowned as one of North America’s most historic venues for championship golf, announces all three of its championship golf courses, the South, North and Fazio Courses, were recognized by Golfweek in their latest rankings of the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.”, “Top 200 Classic Courses” and “Best Courses You Can Play by State” rankings.
Presenting the top public access courses in each state, Golfweek’s ‘Best in Ohio’ list saw the South Course ranked No.1 for the third consecutive year since Firestone began offering non-member play in 2021. Meanwhile, the North Course ranked second and the Fazio Course sixth.
The South Course also received national acclaim in the publication’s “Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.” rankings, finishing 64th. The Bert Way / Robert Trent Jones layout also tied for 156th in the “Top 200 Classic Courses” rankings, which recognizes the best courses built before 1960. This showing placed the South Course in an elite class alongside courses such as Pine Needles in North Carolina and Olympia Fields C.C. (South) in Illinois.
Golfweek’s elite team of course raters determines the publication’s annual course ranking lists. Each year, the raters evaluate courses, grading each nominated layout on a 10-point basis based on Golfweek’s criteria.
“We are thrilled to see all of our courses held in such high regard by Golfweek’s course raters,” says Firestone Country Club General Manager Jay Walkinshaw. “We continue to set the bar high when it comes to our golf and guest experience, and these rankings prove that Firestone is a premier destination for members and guests.”
Since the 1950s, Firestone and its famed South Course have annually hosted the biggest names in professional golf. In addition to being the site of three PGA Championships, the club was the long-time venue for the PGA TOUR’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and its predecessor, the World Series of Golf. It currently hosts the Kaulig Companies Championship on the PGA TOUR Champions, which will occur July 13-16, 2023.
The North Course is a splendid Robert Trent Jones design that opened for member play in 1969. Marked by numerous lakes and streams, the North Course has played host to both the American Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf. Formerly known as the West Course, the Fazio Course continues to shine after a recent bunker renovation project that included the removal of 30 bunkers and the renovation of the remaining 41.
Along with the Kaulig Companies Championship, Firestone will play host to a Senior British Open qualifier on July 10 on the Fazio Course. The 2023 event marks the second Senior British Open qualifier for the Fazio Course – it also hosted the qualifier in 2021.
Non-members of Firestone can reserve a limited number of stay-and-play packages this season and experience the club’s celebrated offerings. Opened last fall, the Firestone golf experience now includes BigShots Golf Firestone, a 22,500‐square‐foot innovative golf, dining and entertainment venue that is open year-round and includes a two-story tee-line with 44 interactive tee boxes. Situated alongside the Raymond C. Firestone Public 9 Golf Course, BigShots Golf Firestone is open to the public.
Firestone is conveniently located less than an hour from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and 15 minutes from Akron-Canton Airport. It is also within easy driving distance of other major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Nearby off-course attractions include the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
For more information, www.firestonecountryclub.com.
About Firestone Country Club
Considered one of the most revered sites in professional golf – and now open to non-members through stay-and-play experiences – Firestone Country Club has welcomed legends of the game for decades. Its flagship layout, the South Course, was originally designed by Bert Way in 1929 and revamped by Robert Trent Jones in 1960. The South has hosted numerous PGA Championships and World Golf Championships, and is the current site of the Kaulig Companies Championship. The club’s other two championship-level courses are the venerable North Course, a Robert Trent Jones design and past site of professional tournaments, and the Fazio Course, a links-style Tom Fazio design that hosts the Ohio Senior Open. The world-class facility also boasts BigShots Golf at Firestone, a 22,500 square-foot innovative golf, dining and entertainment venue that operates year-round and includes a two-story tee-line with 44 interactive tee boxes. Situated next to BigShots Golf at Firestone is the Raymond C. Firestone Public 9, a well-manicured short course suitable for all golfers.
