By Sam Johnson
As the cream of the world's golfing crop descend on the fabled Firestone Country Club for the World Golf Championships, here's a hint of what they will be facing.
Can you say long? The par-70, 7,283 yard South Course includes a series of menacing, long par-4 holes and one of the longest par 5's anywhere in the world. The 16th hole plays to a mind-boggling 667 yards. A pond in front of the green captures its share of errant shots. Usually, the casualties aren't the result of futile attempts to reach the green in two. They are third shots from players who hit errant tee shots and find the woods. A well-placed long tee shot does not guarantee the opportunity to get home in two. Players, however, have a birdie opportunity on the only other Par-5, the 497-yard second hole. The 18th hole, though, is all the par-4 anyone would ever want to play. At 464 yards, it is long, narrow and has a green defended by bunkers. It's not a place to expect to make a birdie to win.
The 16th hole doesn't have the market covered on length. Before you even get there, the par-3, 221 yard, 15th provides enough of a challenge. The flat green makes for a straight putt, but getting the ball close to the hole can be a problem. From the tee, bunkers on the left of the green are hidden and provide for unpleasant surprises. If a 221-yard par 3 isn't enough, try the 200-yard 5th hole. The small green can be reached with a 5- or 6- iron but you might need as much as a 3-iron when the wind is blowing. Strange as it may seem, it is not one of the toughest scoring holes. That honor goes to two of the par 4's. The 6th hole is 469 yards of heartburn. It has ranked as the second- and first-toughest challenge for professionals at Firestone year after year.
When Robert Trent Jones redesigned Firestone into "The Monster" in 1959, this hole made par a really good score. The 471-yard 4th hole is another test. All the hole asks a player to do is hit a long and straight tee shot followed by an approach shot that must come in high to hold the elevated green. Sometimes easier said than done. But then again, that's the best way to sum up Firestone Country Club's South Course.
Here's how the pros at Firestone recommend playing Firestone South hole-by-hole.
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Hole #1
Accuracy off the tee is more important than distance. Guard against the fairway bunkers protecting both sides of the landing area. The secret on your second shot is to leave the ball below the hole as the green slopes to the front. Avoid the long, shallow bunker on the right and a deep bunker to the left of the green.
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Hole #2
This dogleg left par five has definite birdie possibilities. However, the hanging trees on the left can put a quick damper on a birdie or a par. Keep it in the fairway, avoid the four bunkers surrounding the green and you will be off to a good start on the South Course.
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Hole #3
This dogleg right par four demands a tee shot that favors the left side of the fairway. Your second shot is to a fairly level putting service, with shallow bunkers lining both sides of the green. It's better to be long than short on your approach shot, where water protects the green in front, while there's no trouble directly behind the green.
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Hole #4
This long par four has a fairway that slopes right to left and is considered to be one of the most difficult holes on the course. You will have a mid to long iron into an elevated green which slopes from right to left, making it very difficult to hold your approach shot. Par is an excellent score.
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Hole #5
Wind can be a factor on this par three where you could be looking at anywhere from a three to a six iron off the tee. Good club selection is the key here. The undulating green is protected by three small bunkers lining the front and left side. Par is a good score.
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Hole #6
This long and narrow par four is the toughest hole on the course. The slight dogleg right hardly comes into play. Hit a big drive but keep it straight. Your long iron second shot is to a green that slopes back to front and is guarded by two bunkers on the left and a bunker on the right.
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Hole #7
There is nothing wrong with thinking birdie on this par three with your target being the largest green on the golf course. The huge green is guarded by bunkers on three sides. Avoid the deep and difficult front-right bunker, then fire away at the flag.
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Hole #8
This slight dogleg right par four has a fairway that slopes left to right. Aim your drive down the left side in order to get a good look in on your second shot to a narrow and deep green that is well bunkered on all sides except the front. Par is a good score.
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Hole #9
This straight away, back to the clubhouse beauty is the longest par four on the course. The landing area for your drive is guarded by bunkers on both sides, while the fairway slopes left to right. Wind can be a factor, especially on your downhill lie second shot to a small, uphill green. A level putting surface is protected by bunkers on both sides.
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Hole #10
Another difficult par four which demands accuracy off the tee due to a set of fairway bunkers protecting the landing area. Just like the opening hole on the front side, the key here is to leave your approach shot below the hole as the green slopes back to front. This fast and undulating putting surface has offered up many three putts.
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Hole #11
Believe it. The shortest par four on the golf course with no fairway bunkers! The smart play is to use a three wood off the tee leaving you a full wedge or nine iron to the green. This average-sized green and many favorable pin placements make this hole a super birdie opportunity.
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Hole #12
This par three represents the shortest hole on the South Course. However, there seems to be as many bogeys and double bogeys on this hole as there are birdies. The enticingly flat and picturesque green sits atop a ridge and is well guarded by deep and difficult bunkers in the front and either side.
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Hole #13
Yet again, accuracy is the key tee to green. This long, slight dogleg right par four is best played by favoring the left side off the tee to avoid a big oak tree that overhangs on the right corner of the dogleg. A long iron second shot is to a small green well-guarded on both sides by bunkers. The green slopes right to left. Par is a great score on this number two handicap hole.
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Hole #14
This relatively short par four is better served using a three wood off the tee. The landing area is lined with bunkers on both sides. Avoid them at all costs as your chances of reaching the green in two becomes slim due to a thick overhang of trees. Your second shot is to a shallow green also lined by three more bunkers.
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Hole #15
From the back tees, this par three plays 221 yards long! Fire away at a long and narrow green with a fairly level putting surface. Avoid the bunkers lining both sides of the green and your chances of making par, or maybe birdie, are very good.
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Hole #16
The experts say Firestone South's signature hole #16 is one of the finest championship holes in golf! Avoid the bunkers on your drive and second shot. For your lay-up second shot, consider a 3 or 4 iron leaving you a full shot into a shallow green with water on the right front and two small bunkers in the back. A front pin placement makes this hole all the more difficult.
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Hole #17
The careful play is a three wood off the tee. This will ensure a level lie on a landing area guarded by three bunkers on both sides of the fairway. Your second shot will be from a slight valley, where you may only see the top of the pin, to a multi-tiered green. Keep your approach shot below the hole. A large, deep bunker in front of the green makes this hole that much more difficult.
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Hole #18
This long dogleg left par four, with an elevated tee, is best played favoring the right side of the fairway, while avoiding the two fairway bunkers. The triangular shaped green is partially concealed by trees fronting it from the left on your second shot. Guard against the bunkers that take in many second shots around the green. Par is a great score as you finish your round on one of the great championship courses in the world.
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