Inside the course: Redstone Golf Club (PGATOUR.com)

March 29, 2010

Waialae Country Club, in the heart of Hawaiis state capital — Honolulu, paints the perfect picture of the islands.

The TOUR heads west for the Shell Houston Open in Humble, Texas. Learn more about the Redstone GC (Tournament Course).

Fast facts Course Superintendent Randy Samoff Original architect Rees Jones with player consultant David Toms (2004) Par value 72 Number of TOUR events as host venue 5 (including 2010) Course ranking Ranked 22 (out of 51) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2009 Yardage history 7,457 (2006-present) Grass Bermudagrass overseeded with perennial ryegrass (tees, fairways, rough); Bentgrass; bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass all overseeded w/ Poa trivialis; ryegrass (greens) Tournament Stimpmeter 13 ft Sand bunkers 60 Water hazards 13 Course tour Click here Course record PlayerAdam Scott Year2008 Round1st FinishWithdrew Holes-in-one recorded at Redstone GCThere have been no aces 2009 RankingsMost Difficult Hole The par-4 488-yard 18th A challenging and dramatic finishing hole. With a lake bordering the entire left side of the hole, the tee shot challenges the golfer to carry as much water as possible, while also avoiding the large sculptured bunker along the left of the fairway landing area. The approach leaves little margin for error, with water on the left and a sand bunker on the right. With the tournament on the line, attacking the left-back hole location is a gutsy proposition. 2009: 0 eagles, 50 birdies, 243 pars, 110 bogeys, 28 double bogeys, 9 others.Easiest hole The par-5 590-yard 13th Precise placement of each successive shot on this hole becomes increasingly more critical, in order to secure a birdie. A series of sand bunkers parallel the generous first landing area. Flirting with the bunkers on the left of the second landing area, provides the ideal angle to access the smallish, back-right position of the green. 2009: 8 eagles, 179 birdies, 214 pars, 33 bogeys, 5 double bogeys and 1 others. Redstone GC2009 rankings Last 4 years Hole Par Yards Avg. Score Rank Avg. Score Rank 1 4 397 3.934 12 3.890 13 2 4 429 4.064 8 4.040 10 3 4 398 4.023 11 4.038 11 4 5 566 4.825 14 4.832 15 05* 4 480 4.282 2 4.243 2 06* 4 464 4.275 3 4.232 3 7 3 174 3.084 7 3.059 8 8 5 557 4.764 17 4.682 18 9 3 238 3.141 5 3.146 5 10 4 380 3.841 13 3.925 12 11 4 441 4.059 9 4.044 9 12 4 338 3.766 16 3.757 16 13 5 590 4.661 18 4.714 17 14 3 216 3.164 4 3.169 4 15 5 608 4.825 14 4.851 14 16 3 204 3.032 10 3.065 7 17 4 489 4.127 6 4.112 6 18* 4 488 4.336 1 4.353 1 Course origins Redstone Golf Club is a relatively new course with a history, since it’s located on the site of the former El Dorado Country Club. Designed by Jay Riviere, El Dorado Country Club opened in the 1960s, but was closed in the early 1990s as a victim of a suffering Houston economy following the oil bust. Redstone Golf Club is located just 16 miles from downtown Houston, 5 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, in a natural wooded terrain surrounded by wetlands, lakes and native wildlife. Redstone Golf Club is the proud home of Houston’s only PGA TOUR stop, the Shell Houston Open. The first Course (The Member Course) is private, designed by Jacobsen Hardy Golf Design and opened December 2002. The second course (The Tournament Course) was designed by Rees Jones with PGA TOUR player David Toms as course consultant, is now open to the public and has served as the home to the Shell Houston Open since April 2006. The facility has a state-of-the-art practice range with a 100,000 square foot double-ended teeing area with seven target greens ranging from 100-300 yards and an extensive short game practice area. For additional information visit Redstone Golf Club online at www.redstonegolfclub.com. —Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America Tournament course history Course Location Years River Oaks CC Houston, Texas 1946 Memorial Park GC Houston, Texas 1947, 1951-1963 Pine Forest CC Houston, Texas 1949 Brae Burn CC Houston, Texas 1950 Sharpstown CC Houston, Texas 1964-1965 Champions GC Houston, Texas 1966-1971 Westwood CC Houston, Texas 1972 Quail Valley GC Missouri City, Texas 1973-74 Woodlands CC The Woodlands, Texas 1975-1984 TPC Woodlands The Woodlands, Texas 1985-2002 Redstone GC (Member Course) Humble, Texas 2003-2005 Redstone GC (Tournament Course) Humble, Texas 2006-present This week’s Kodak Challenge hole HOLE: The par-4, 488-yard 18th at Redstone Golf ClubLAST YEAR: The 18th played to a stroke average of 4.336, with players recording 0 eagles, 50 birdies, 243 pars, 110 bogeys, 28 double bogeys and 9 others DESCRIPTION: A challenging and dramatic finishing hole with a lake bordering the entire left side of the hole, the tee shot challenges the golfer to carry as much water as possible, while also avoiding the large sculptured bunker along the left of the fairway landing area. The approach leaves little margin for error, with water on the left and a sand bunker on the right. With the tournament on the line, attacking the left-back hole location is a gutsy proposition.(Click here for Redstone tour)