May 21, 2008 -- Dow Finsterwald Jr. knows legends. He is the son of 1958 PGA Champion Dow Finsterwald Sr. and has had the honor of managing one of the great golf facilities in the country. This week, his course, Colonial Country Club, once again hosts the PGA Tour at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He talked with Coordinating Producer John Kim about what makes his facility one of the most popular stops on Tour.

PGA.com: Dow, you've had back-to-back sudden death playoffs to determine a champion over the last two years. What is it about Colonial Country Club that lends itself to such dramatic finishes?

Finsterwald: I think the overriding reason you're going to get a great competitive tournament is that it is very difficult for a player to separate themselves from the field. There is no advantage for being a long hitter here, this is definitely a placement golf course. There are only two par 5s and practically everyone in the field can reach the first one, so the course is a test of accuracy and precision, not just power. Great golf shots are rewarded, but all of these players can hit great golf shots. It's going to take a great consistency to come out on top. I would expect another great tournament this year as well.

PGA.com: It may not be long but the course must be pretty timeless. You have the longest running PGA Tour event to be held in one location?

Finsterwald: That's correct. The course is timeless, it is and will continue to be a great test of golf. It goes back to the doglegs on the course, the emphasis on accuracy rather than length. No matter how much technology changes how you play some courses, this course will play the same way year after year. We will make some renovations and modifications this year, perhaps add as much as 150 yards to our layout, but we don't have a whole lot of space to play with. The good thing is, we don't need it to have a superior course.

Ben Hogan still looms large over the tournament and the facility. (Getty Images)

PGA.com: Ben Hogan plays a huge part in the tradition and lore of Colonial. In fact, more people may be familiar with the term Hogan's Alley than they are the name Colonial. Is it pressure to be so closely associated with such a legend in the game?

Finsterwald: It's not pressure as much as it is an honor. We carry the mantle of representing Mr. Hogan very proudly and there is no mistaking where Mr. Hogan felt at home. From the trophies that line our walls, to the pictures we have up, from where he kept his office which we still display to The Wall of Champions on the first tee which highlights his five wins here - believe me, it is a source of great pride for the club and course.

PGA.com: Since the course was built in 1936, most new courses have been built on a larger piece of property. The TPC courses are built with crowds and galleries in mind. But you've already stated that you don't have much real estate to play with. How do you accommodate the galleries and crowds?

Finsterwald: I think we do a very good job of it, but it certainly is a challenge. An average attendance for us is around 50,000 and that works just fine. When we have crowds that approach 100,000 (in 2003, Colonial hosted Annika Sorenstam's foray on to The PGA Tour which drew massive crowds), it can get a bit packed. But we constantly work on making our event a great fan experience. We can add some bleachers, make them go a little higher, those things that will alleviate too much congestion. But overall, I think fans will agree that it's a great place to watch a tournament. We're never going to be Phoenix and the FBR, but that's not our aim either.

PGA.com: When the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial opens its gates this eyar, it will become the first Tour event to have a "Green Gate." Can you explain what a "Green Gate" is?

Finsterwald: For fans that arrive to the tournament in a non-motorized vehicle, that is, a bicycle or a kayak for example, we'll park their vehicle for them and also donate $10 to a local charity. This is just another way we can contribute to a better community for us here in Fort Worth and to promote a cleaner environment for everyone.