Firestone Country Club

The South Course at Firestone Country Club opened in 1929, designed by Bertie Way on rolling terrain in Akron. Harvey Firestone commissioned the course as part of his estate, and the property's natural contours and mature tree-lined fairways give the layout a traditional parkland character. The course stretches over substantial acreage, with elevation changes that require thoughtful club selection and strategic positioning off the tee. Firestone South gained prominence through its long association with professional tournament golf. The course hosted the PGA Championship multiple times during the 1960s and 1970s, and later became a regular stop on the PGA Tour schedule through the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and its predecessor events. The par-5 16th hole, a lengthy and demanding three-shotter that plays uphill to a well-protected green, became one of the most recognized finishing holes in tournament golf. The closing stretch consistently tested the game's best players under competitive conditions. The course measures over 7,400 yards from the championship tees in its tournament configuration, with narrow landing areas framed by hardwoods and strategic bunkering that rewards precision. Firestone's membership has historically included prominent business and civic figures from the Akron region, and the club maintains multiple courses on the property. The South Course remains the centerpiece, known for its length, tree-lined character, and the exacting standard it has set for professional competition over several decades.