March Opening of Golf Courses, Stay-and-Play Golf Packages, Professional Events with Major Implications Highlight Exciting Year at Venerable Club
(AKRON, Ohio) – Firestone Country Club, renowned as one of North America’s most historic venues for championship golf, announces the start of its 2023 golf season with the March openings of the club’s spectacular layouts – the famed South Course, the challenging North Course and the superb Fazio Course.
The North and South Courses will open on March 24, while play on the Fazio Course will commence on March 31.
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. Several publications have listed the North Course among the “Top 100 Modern Courses.” 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 renovation of the remaining 41.
To commemorate the start of the 2023 golf season, Firestone has unveiled three unique stay-and-play golf packages that showcase the club’s fabulous amenities and offerings:
Available for groups of up to eight players, the Buddies Stay & Play Package includes three rounds of golf (one on each course) and accommodations for two nights in Firestone’s club rooms or villas.
The Ultimate Buddies Stay & Play Package suits groups of up to eight players, and boasts four rounds of golf (one per course) and a replay round, dinner one night at the club’s Italian-style chophouse, La Vetta, and accommodations for three nights.
Considered the champagne of destination golf, the Champions Stay & Play Package is ideal for groups with 9-12 players, and includes four rounds of golf (one per course) and a replay round, dinner at La Vetta, a three-course catered dining experience and accommodations for three nights.
For more information and pricing, call 330-644-8441 or visit www.firestonecountryclub.com.
“The spring and summer are the perfect times to enjoy our incredible courses and fantastic accommodations,” says Jay Walkinshaw, General Manager at Firestone. “We can host groups of any size, and our Club Concierge Team is dedicated to sharing the best of Firestone with everyone. We invite golfers to take advantage of these exclusive stay-and-play packages and discover firsthand why we’re a bucket-list golf destination.”
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.
On July 8, Firestone will host the 2023 Ambassador of Golf Award event presented by the FirstEnergy Foundation honoring this year’s recipient, professional basketball player Stephen Curry. The award – which benefits the Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation – honors a person who has fostered the ideals of the game on an international level and whose concern for others extends beyond the golf course.
In addition to Curry being named the 2023 Ambassador of Golf, PGA TOUR Champions has partnered with UNDERRATED Golf to host an event at Firestone featuring 96 junior golfers that include 48 boys and 48 girls ages 12 to 18 from across the country. This event will occur July 6-8, 2023 on the South Course – the same course where the Kaulig Companies Championship will be contested the following week.
Since 1929, membership at Firestone has been built around enduring relationships and social camaraderie among friends and associates. The club offers corporate and individual memberships, with different categories built within each. Each membership provides full access to the club, all three golf courses, practice facilities, overnight accommodations, upscale dining and other complimentary perks.
A year ago, Firestone unveiled updates made throughout the club that include the renovation of its on-site accommodations and the addition of a new upscale Italian chophouse, a fitness center and an on-course halfway house.
“The events surrounding the Ambassador of Golf award and the Kaulig Companies Championship highlight an incredible 2023 schedule at Firestone,” Walkinshaw adds. ”Our memberships offer a unique opportunity to enjoy our award-winning golf courses and amenities, all at one locale. At Firestone, we are committed to providing current and prospective members a dynamic experience that aligns with their passion for golf and life.”
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.
