This story has been updated with additional information.
It’s going to be a little quieter on the greens of one of golf’s iconic professional showplaces in 2027.
The PGA Tour announced May 26 that Firestone Country Club will no longer host the Senior Players Championship next year, after the current deal to operate the event in Akron under the Kaulig Companies banner expires.
Beginning in 2027, the PGA Tour will host the annual event at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, California. It will be renamed the Hoag Senior Players Championship with Hoag, a regional health care system in Orange County, California, serving as title sponsor.
Firestone Country Club in Akron, long a host for elite pro golf events, will lose its place as host of the Senior Players Championship in 2027.
Firestone Country Club hosted top professional golfers beginning in 1954 with the Rubber City Open until the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2018, Golf Digest reported.
In 1966, Firestone hosted the PGA, the World Series of Golf and the CBS Golf Classic.
The club has continued to host senior golfers in PGA Tour Champions with the annual Kaulig Companies Championship. Hudson-based Kaulig Companies‘ four-year sponsorship ends following this summer’s tournament.
The announcement comes just a little over a month after media reports surfaced about the club’s owner entering talks to sell Firestone and other golf properties as part of a potential $3 billion deal.
Northern Ohio Golf Charities retains its mission as it changes focus
Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation said in a statement that it is changing its operational focus, as “the mission of NOGCF remains more vital and energized than ever.”
The foundation has created more than $34 million in local charitable impact. It said in its news release that it will keep sustaining grant programs “through diversified fundraising efforts,” transition the work of its volunteers “to support other impactful community initiatives and charity outings” and continue its “Ambassador of Golf tradition” by honoring people who have contributed to the sport. Through 2026, an Ambassador of Golf event has been hosted through the Kaulig Companies Championship.
Seagulls circle near the first hole on Oct. 13, 2025, at Firestone Country Club in Akron.
“Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation was built on the spirit of service,” Danielle Robertson Thompson, NOGCF executive director, said in a written statement. “While the PGA TOUR Champions golfers may not tee off at Firestone in 2027, our volunteers and donors will still be working to uplift our neighbors.
“We are excited to innovate and find new avenues to keep the spirit of Akron golf alive. We invite our partners, volunteers, and the Northeast Ohio community to join us in this next chapter. Together, we will ensure that the legacy of golf in our region continues to be measured by the lives we change.”
A town hall will take place June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Firestone Country Club Media Center at 440 E. Warner Road in Akron, according to NOGCF.
Economic impact of Kaulig Companies Championship about $15 million
The estimated annual economic impact of a single PGA Tour Champions event is $15 million, former PGA Tour director Don Padgett III said last June. He added that a study had not by that time been completed specifically for the Kaulig Companies Championship.
Gregg Mervis, president and CEO of the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, said last June that the impact of the local tournament could be that much, factoring in all of the money that’s exchanged at the course, spent on travel and beyond.
“For 70-plus years, this has been a key event for our community,” Mervis said. “It certainly has grown the hospitality sector and is a time of year when our partners have it marked on the calendar (and are) looking forward to everything that this tournament brings from economic impact to community exposure and just an overall excitement for residents and visitors alike.”
City, county officials discuss championship’s departure
The country club is located in Akron’s Ward 7, represented by City Councilman Donnie Kammer.
“That’s sad news,” he said. “I haven’t talked to anybody in the administration yet, but I’m hoping they can work really hard to try to see if we can get another tournament here in Akron.”
Kammer said the tournament was an “economic boon,” benefitting Akron, the city’s charities and restaurants and hotels in surrounding areas.
“With no tournament at all, Akron does suffer,” Kammer said.
Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro said via email, “Certainly, we are disappointed to see the event leave after such a long and historic tradition at Firestone Country Club, where generations of fans and players created unforgettable memories and brought tremendous economic impact to our community.
“While replacing that level of tourism revenue will be incredibly difficult, Summit County remains a destination with extraordinary experiences to offer. From our incredible National Park and County Metro Parks, to white water rafting adventures, to world-class arts and cultural venues throughout the region, Summit County remains a destination for visitors from near and far.”
Spokeswomen for the city of Akron and Kaulig Companies were not available for immediate comment.
Akron City Hall and local politics reporter Derek Kreider contributed to this story.
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH. Sign up for the Beacon Journal’s business and consumer newsletter, “What’s The Deal?“
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Firestone Country Club, Kaulig Companies losing link to pro golf event