Firestone 2, South Course Review

[theebdk]

On our second day of the Firestone weekend, we played the famed South Course. Our tee time was in the afternoon so we had a lot of time to enjoy the range and practice facilities. It is adjacent to the clubhouse and South Course. There really are four areas; long game range, short game range, bunkers (closed while we were there) and the putting green. The practice facility is first rate with newer golf balls; bridgestone of course. The short game range is really next to the full range and offers wedge targets. After our warm up in this awesome facility we proceeded to the South Course 10th tee.

 

We checked in with the starter a little early and he explained the course was wide open on the back nine. We were about to tee off and the caddiemaster offered us a forecaddie. His explanation was the rough was getting a bit long due to the upcoming Champions Tour event during July. And it was cart path only. Ok, then let's have the real experience.

 

First off the South Course has a reputation as being long and a bit boring. Yes, most of the holes are relatively straight and for me the course was long. From the white tees it was almost 6,500 yards. I am a short hitter, perhaps average, whereby my son can hit it 300 yards. The rough was very deep and the trees really kept you into tight corridors. Perhaps the reason so many great pro players have won here is if you bring an accurate driver you can do well. But if the balls strays too much; rough and trees.

 

It was clear that taking the forecaddie was a good call. He found every single ball and we did venture into the rough and trees frequently. And while we were still in our carts he would yell the yardage and some advice. Everything he said was spot on.

 

One comment is that since it was long, I often had to take one of my hybrids. Thank goodness my hybrid was on that day. And hitting out of the rough was much better with this club.

 

The greens were not the fastest, perhaps because of the recent rains and getting the course in shape for the professional event. They were also relatively flat for a championship course. Maybe I am use to more undulating greens.

 

We completed our round in about 3 hours and a half. And for cart path golf on an unfamiliar course with deep rough and a ton of trees, that was awesome. We did see a group in front of us on the final hole.

 

Overall this was one of my favorite golf experiences. All members should try it out. Yes, it can be expensive but it is worth it. They charge you a premium for the South Course and you need an overnite stay but it was worth every penny. Perhaps it was not the favorite course I have every played. I prefer courses with a lot of variety, playing every club in the bag and plenty of dog legs. But this will go down as one of my favorite golf experiences.

 

 

[george49]

It’s cool playing and hanging in the locker room where the best in world have played and had few cocktails. Shame Bridgestone Inv. Is no longer there. Lot of history