AKRON, Ohio — Golf legends will return to Firestone Country Club in July for the 2023 Kaulig Companies Championship.
The four-day, 72-hole, stroke-play competition will run from Wednesday, July 12, to Sunday, July 16, marking 70 years of professional golf at Firestone Country Club, event officials said in a release. Firestone Country Club is located at 452 E. Warner Rd. in Akron.
The Kaulig Companies Championship is one of five PGA Tour Championships held each year. The event is for professional golfers 50 and older and includes many World Golf Hall of Fame members, officials said.
This year, with 78 players competing for a $3.5 million purse, the championship features Jerry Kelly defending his title, while going for his third win in four years at Firestone, officials said. Kelly will compete against such World Golf Hall of Fame members as Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, John Daly, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and others.
With this championship event, Firestone will have played host to 93 professional golf events, beginning with the 1954 Rubber City Open won by Tommy Bolt, officials said. Champions of Firestone golf events include 19 World Golf Hall of Fame members and 42 major championship winners.
Firestone is the only club to have hosted three nationally televised professional events in one year — 1974 American Golf Classic, CBS Golf Championship and World Series of Golf, officials said. The facility also has hosted three PGA Championships and the Senior PGA Championship.
Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation, formerly Akron Golf Charities, is a volunteer organization of more than 800 members that has helped conduct professional golf tournaments at Firestone, helping raise more than $31 million for charitable causes since 1984, officials said. Last year’s tournament generated more than over $950,000 for area charities.
The Kaulig Companies Championship plans to enhance the fan experience this year through several new offerings:
- The Kaulig Infinity Zone — The Infinity Zone is a 15,000-square-foot interactive space where families can enjoy the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Stage, a NASCAR car hauler used by Kaulig Racing and food trucks, the company said. A video-game truck and a bounce house will be located behind the 16th green.
- Monster Deck presented by Westfield — The new Monster Deck will provide great views of the signature 16th hole, measuring 667 yards, which was nicknamed “the Monster” by Arnold Palmer. The deck area will feature a Michelob Ultra bar with special prices each time a birdie is made on the 16th green. The Bus Stop food truck will feature comfort foods, such as grilled cheese, gourmet PBJs and a variety of sausages and brats.
- Firestone Flats — In the middle of the course near the 13th green and 18th tee, the Flats area will feature Scott’s Fire & Ice food truck featuring wood-fired oven pizza, Italian-style Gelato, Firestone’s Back 9 BBQ and Tito’s Stillhouse.
- Legends Pavilion — Near the 9th green and 10th tee, Legends features a beer, hot dogs and burger dogs from Firestone Country Club.
- Barra De Taco — Veteran-owned Barra De Taco truck will serve tacos in the area near the driving range.
- 7/12 Grille — Firestone Country Club will feature its burger dog and hot dogs at the south end of the course near the 7th and 12th holes.
Additional highlights of the Kaulig Companies Championship event include:
Coffee with Legends
On Friday, July 14, from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., major championship winners Hale Irwin, Hal Sutton and Andy North will host a chat over coffee that’s open to all tournament ticket holders. The event will be on the front lawn at Firestone Country Club near the 9th green and 10th tee. Attendees will hear first-hand how the men believe golf has evolved and get their take on today’s game.
Bridgestone Golf driving range experience
A long-drive contest on Firestone’s tournament driving range used by the pros is back by popular demand, organizers said. The event is for all tournament attendees, who also are invited to experience Bridgestone Golf’s new OTTO golf ball fitting technology to see which golf ball best fits their game.
BigShots Golf
Fans are invited to try out the new BigShots Golf facility that opened last November near Firestone Country Club, and features on-site golf hitting bays with Trackman technology, organizers said.
For event and ticket information, visit the Kaulig Companies Championship website.
Correction: This story has been changed to clarify a video-game truck and a bounce house will be located behind the 16th green, not in the The Kaulig Infinity Zone. (June 26, 2023)