Holston Hills Country Club At A Glance

Yardage: 6,228
Par: 36-36 -- 72
Defending Champion: Amber Marsh
Opened: 1927
Designer: Donald Ross

Previous Championships: This is the first USGA championship for Holston Hills and the first USGA event to be played in Knoxville proper. Tennessee has hosted eight previous USGA championships and one Curtis Cup. The NCAA Division I Men's Championship was held at Holston Hills in 1955 and '65.

Preserving Ross: Even though architect Tom Doak rebuilt all the greens and tees, his firm made sure to restore many of the greens to their original specs. In many ways, the course plays the way Ross intended it to.

Pure Ross: Anyone who wants to study how Ross created green sites and then worked backward to discover the best string of holes should view his work at Holston Hills. Situated on what was treeless farmland, the property features gentle movement with many natural land forms 5 to 15 feet in height. By positioning the green complexes on top of such hillocks, Ross developed attractive targets that give players plenty to think about in the fairway.

Tennessee And The Women's Mid-Amateur: Sarah Lebrun Ingram no longer competes, but the Tennessee resident (Nashville) is one of two competitors to capture the Women's Mid-Amateur three times. The other is Ellen Port of St. Louis, Mo., who will be in the field.

Split Decision: The 475-yard par-5 seventh hole has a split fairway, offering two options to the competitors. The more aggressive player will aim left off the tee, while the right fairway offers a safer, more conservative route to the green. Ross thought of this hole as a par 4½ because of the split fairway.