June 25, 2008 -- Fifty years ago, the PGA Tour first visited Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. In the time since, the players, the equipment and the competition have changed the game in a myriad of ways. But no matter how far technology advances the game, some courses are still timeless and enduring. PGA Head Professional Doug Brody of Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich., talks with PGA.com about why his course is still a great venue for the Tour and why Michigan is a great home for golf.

PGA.com: Tell me a little bit about the course, its roots from a farm land to the championship layout that it is today?

Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club will mark it's 50th year since as a stop on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty Images)

Brody: Golf Course Architect James Gilmore Harrison was the original designer of Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in 1957. Yes the course was originally built on farmland, but with a strong GM/Buick influence the long, hard and fast golf course was awarded the first Buick Open PGA Tour Event in 1958 only one year after the course was born. The course took some criticisms out of the gate from the tour for being brutally long at over 7,200 yards long and for it's extremely firm turf conditions, and challenging design around the greens. In the mid 60's Warwick was fortunate to have hired Joe Lee complete a significant renovation and redesign of the original. Lee's changes improved the course design and playing conditions greatly. The redesign provides a strong test for the best players in the world, while allowing enjoyable playability to our membership with five sets of tees in all. The course we have now, with the tree-lined fairways, Joe Lee bunkering and large rolling greens, is right up there with all the finest courses in the Midwest.

PGA.com: Everyone loves to talk about your greens at Warwick Hills. What makes them special?

Brody: Tour players rave about the condition of our greens. They typically run at speeds of 11 and higher on the stimpmeter. They honestly might be the smoothest and fastest greens on Tour. They are very, very large and have many have false fronts on them, something that the players better be aware of or it is going to cost them. So yes, the greens are immaculate and we take great pride in them. But just because they roll well shouldn't give the impression that they are easy. They are very large and have some big breaks.

PGA.com: Your course seems to lend itself to fantastic finishes. Last year, the top 15 players were only separated by three shots? Is that coincidence or is there something about the course that compels dramatic, exciting tournaments?

Brody: The course lends itself to risk-reward situations, a player can string some holes together and make some noise. Holes 15, 16, 17 and 18 are challenging, but you can still give yourself decent birdie opportunities. You can certainly attack the pins. Holes 13 and 14 are considered eagle opportunities. No. 13 is 550 yards and has given up more eagles than any other hole in Buick Open history, and the 14th is a drivable par four. So players who are on their game can really post some good scores. I think the opportunities presented to you by the course compel players who are playing well to be aggressive, and thus, that player has a chance to makeup some ground on the field if they execute in those risk taking situations.

PGA.com: The PGA Tour came to Warwick Hills 50 years ago. What makes this course endure over time so well and with this being the 50th Anniversary of the PGA Tour and Warwick Hills, do you have any special plans in place to mark that anniversary?

Brody: The course endures and thrives even because it's a classic, traditional, right out in front of you golf course. There are no tricks. The trees have matured over the years and that's only added to the aesthetic and challenge of the course. You have to be able to shape your shots throughout the golf course, it tests all of your skills. It's also become a popular golf course because it doesn't favor any one type of player. We have short hitters win here as well as long ones. There are different ways to play the golf course. In the end it all comes down to being able to putt on our greens.

As for the 50th year commemoration, yes, we have a great event planned. On Wednesday, between our morning and afternoon waves during the Pro-Am, we will have a special ceremony which will feature Billy Casper, who won the first event here in 1958 and Brian Bateman, our champion from last year. We'll also have many celebrities, possibly the Governor, who will be here for either the Pro-Am or the ceremony. It's going to be a special time.

PGA.com: When I think of Michigan, I think of the blue and maize, the automobile industry and the Stanley Cup champions. But few people know that Michigan is a real hotbed of golf. Can you talk about the level of community support and enthusiasm for this tournament and for golf in general?

Brody: We take our golf very seriously here. I believe Michigan has the most golf courses per capita than any other state. And we're only behind California and Florida in total number of courses. And even in the winter, when golf somewhat hibernates in Michigan, Michiganders travel to warmer climates to play, but then they are rearing to go come Spring time. For those who haven't experienced Michigan golf, when they play here they will say that it stacks up against any in the country.