(Photo by Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon-Journal)
ClubCorp CEO David Pillsbury confirmed that the management firm has “made it known to all the appropriate people of our interest and desire” to bring the PGA Championship back to the Akron, Ohio property’s South Course. Firestone has hosted three PGAs in its history, the last in 1975. “All you can do is put your best foot forward, which we’ve done,” Pillsbury said in proposing that Firestone be the replacement site, now that the 2022 event has been pulled from Trump National GC in New Jersey.
Officials of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio have made the PGA of America aware of their desire to host the 2022 PGA Championship, David Pillsbury, CEO of Firestone owner ClubCorp, told the Akron Beacon-Journal.
The 2022 PGA was to be held May 19-22 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. But the PGA voted to strip the club of the major championship four days after supporters of President Donald Trump staged a violent riot at the U.S. Capitol while Congress was certifying the election victory of President-elect Joe Biden (https://clubandresortbusiness.com/pga-ra-wont-have-major-tournaments-at-trump-properties/).
That set off immediate speculation about what club would be named as the replacement site, even leading to betting odds being set (https://clubandresortbusiness.com/betting-odds-established-for-which-club-will-land-2022-pga/). And clubs such as Sahamee CC in Washington state have made public their interest in being considered to host the event (https://clubandresortbusiness.com/the-concession-gc-lands-world-championships-moved-from-mexico-sahamee-cc-makes-pitch-for-2020-pga/).
“We have made it known to all the appropriate people of our interest and desire to bring the PGA Championship back to Firestone and that we would bend over backwards as a club and an organization to make it an amazing championship,” Pillsbury told the Beacon-Journal.
A spokesman at the PGA of America gave no update about the organization’s timeline for its decision on a replacement site for 2022 and declined an interview request to discuss the factors being considered, the Beacon-Journal reported.
Pillsbury said he doesn’t know the PGA’s deadline for making an announcement, but understands what goes into staging the event, the Beacon-Journal reported. He worked for the PGA Tour for 11 years and served as President of championship management, which runs World Golf Championship (WGC) events, and was at Firestone for nine of those.
The PGA process does not require Firestone to make a formal proposal or pitch, the Beacon-Journalreported.
“All you can do is put your best foot forward, which we’ve done,” Pillsbury said. “We stand on our great history at Firestone of the best players in the world competing year in and year out in three major championships and the WGCs for all those years. It’s certainly a proven venue, there’s no question about that.
“I’m sure they have no shortage of terrific options,” Pillsbury added.
Pillsbury pointed out that Firestone has a large base of volunteers, and that Ohioans and residents of the Midwest are strong supporters of professional golf, the Beacon-Journal reported.
After the departure of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2018, Bridgestone Tire made a four-year commitment to sponsor the Senior Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour Champions majors, at Firestone CC, the Beacon-Journal reported. That deal runs through 2022.
Asked about the difficulty of hosting two events in one year, Pillsbury said, “We’ll figure that out if in fact we’re selected as the host for the PGA Championship. We will not let that be a problem as it relates to hosting a major championship.”
As for the condition of the course being compromised, he said, “We wouldn’t, and I don’t think we would need to. I don’t think that would be an issue.”
In 1966, the Beacon-Journal reported, Firestone CC hosted three professional golf events — the PGA Championship, the CBS Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf. In 1975, the PGA and the World Series of Golf, in its last year as a 36-hole exhibition, were both held there.
“It’s one of the great, iconic clubs in the United States and the players love the South Course,” Pillsbury said. “It would be a thrill for all of us to host another major championship. We would make it amazing, and so would everybody in Akron and Northeast Ohio. They would all pull out the stops. It would be incredible.”
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.