[Tyler Kearns]

The 2015 edition of the Dixie Cup featured a wonderful roster of golf courses, beginning on a very high note with Donald Ross' 1927 design at Holston Hills in Knoxville, Tennessee.  A very fortunate group of GCA'ers made it out to this pre-tournament round and a very special thank you is owed to John Stiles and John Mayhugh for hosting us.

Holston Hills is a well preserved example of Ross' architecture owing mostly to the fact that the club is on the "wrong" side of town and hasn't been flush with money to consider altering this gem.  The course is replete with fairway bunkers less than 200 yards from the tee which may seem antiquated, but added charm to the course.  I had the good fortune of playing with Jay Mickle at Holston Hills who played the round with hickories.  As he can attest unfortunately, those bunkers were well sited.  A full set of Donald Ross' individual hole drawings are on display in the grill room while a large plan of the golf course hangs proudly in the dining room across from a picture of the architect himself.  The only real notable changes have been the addition of back tees to bring Ross' fairway bunkers back into play for the modern ball.  An extensive tree removal program over the past few decades has brought the course even closer to Ross' original intent.

The golf course unfolds beneath a clubhouse set on a high ridge on north side of the property and is routed over nicely rolling terrain which is eminently walkable, even more so due to the close proximity of tees to preceding greens.  Yet another Ross design where the holes lay comfortably across the landscape.  The putting surfaces are generally tilted and demand approaches be left beneath the hole, but there are some internal contours that add interest of many of the greens.  The fairway bunkers are particularly punishing, featuring steep faces that can exact a toll to the overly ambitious golfer who refuses to take their medicine and play straight for the green.  The only complaint was the punishing bermuda rough, which, while not overly long, swallowed golf balls and created frustrating searches only feet from the edge of the fairway.

Hole No. 1
Par 4
448/424/406/374

The opening hole is a long two-shotter which is narrowed in the landing zone by a number of large trees, but provides the freedom to swing aggressively from the tee.  Maybe not a gentle handshake to open the round, but players shouldn't pile up a big score either.  Favouring the right side opens up the green for the approach.
The green features a back-to-front slope and a few bunkers short and left of the green.  These bunkers yield difficult recovery shots as first bunker is well removed from the green, but comes into play for those approaching from the left or the punishing bermuda rough.


More to follow…


TK

[Richard Hetzel]

John Mayhugh hosted me there a few years back and we walked 18 holes, it was awesome! If I lived in Knoxville, I would surely join. Great golf course!

[Josh Tarble]

Thanks for doing this Tyler.  Holston Hills is simply one of the finest golf courses I've had the pleasure of playing.  I look forward to participating in the discussion.

[Carl Rogers]

Thank you John for the invitation and the round.  I cannot really add any more praise to the course than has already been said.   I enjoyed all the Dixie Cup courses, but HH was, IMO, the head and shoulders the best course from a fun-playability-challenge-walkability-use of property perspective w/o resorting to the contoversial.  Solid smart design.

[BHoover]

Are the trees in the first photo directly in front of the line of play from those fairway bunkers? If so, why are those trees still there?

[Jay Mickle]

The best of the group. What fabulous rumpled fairways.

[Tyler Kearns]

Are the trees in the first photo directly in front of the line of play from those fairway bunkers? If so, why are those trees still there?

Brian,


Those trees are definitely serving as a double hazard.  I do wonder if those left hand bunkers in the top photo are more in play on the adjacent 9th hole.  If the rough between the holes were eliminated it would make for a great driving hazard in order to gain a better angle into the 9th green.





TK

[Tyler Kearns]

Hole No. 2
Par 4
431/409/371/331/322


A cape hole featuring the most controversial tree at Holston Hills!!  Going left of the tree on a straight line to have a much shorter approach (+/- 30 yards) demands a pretty strong carry to reach the fairway and avoid the lake and steep bank.  A safer shot right of the tree runs the risk of ending up in the rough beyond the corner of the dogleg.  I think that a few more in between options would be available without the tree and I'm sure it is a hotly debated topic at the club.





More to follow…


TK

[BHoover]

I don't understand why you would remove trees only to leave behind those trees on the 1st that effectively block bunkers? Those trees are much worse, at least in my view, than the supposedly controversial tree on the 2nd. Much worse.

[Tyler Kearns]

I don't understand why you would remove trees only to leave behind those trees on the 1st that effectively block bunkers? Those trees are much worse, at least in my view, than the supposedly controversial tree on the 2nd. Much worse.

Brian,


I agree, however, I think the modern game has limited the effectiveness of those bunkers.  The trees are the prime obstacles to be negotiated on the drive.


TK

[Rob Collins]

I absolutely love Holston Hills and Tom & Co. deserve tremendous credit for bringing it to full display.  Personally, I like the tree on the second. I understand the criticism of it, but I like the strategic & shotmaking issues it creates. Phenomenal hole along with all of the others -- not a weak hole on the course, IMO.

[Josh Tarble]

I think the tree is absolutely necessary on hole #2.  You don't realize it until you play the hole, but it's not a long hole to begin with, and without the tree I think it was only 260 or so on a direct line to the green.  Without the tree it would simply be bombs away with no real penalty for hitting a poor shot. 

[Tyler Kearns]

Josh,


The second is actually a fair bit longer than you think.  It is 320 yards from the blue (371 yard) tee to the front of the green on a straight line, 355 yards from the middle of the back tees.  The tree definitely requires players to shape the ball, which is a good thing, as it stands right in line with what seemed like a comfortable carry for my soft draw.


TK

[Mike Hendren]

Does the course coast in a little bit on the final three holes - at least from a stroke play perspective?  Can't make up my mind.
 
Bogey

[Tyler Kearns]

Does the course coast in a little bit on the final three holes - at least from a stroke play perspective?  Can't make up my mind.
 
Bogey

Bogey,


I don't think so.  The 16th is short and offers a chance at birdie, but one must execute a delicate, steeply uphill half-wedge approach.  The 17th is definitely an excellent opportunity to get one back and you don't need your very best to do so.  The last is a strong par-5 which plays longer due to the uphill 3rd.  Trying to keep that approach below the hole but beyond the deep fronting bunker is not an easy task.  That being said, the course gives you a chance to finish on a high note, something I'm growing to appreciate more and more.


TK

[Pete_Pittock]

Are the trees in the first photo directly in front of the line of play from those fairway bunkers? If so, why are those trees still there?

If you hit it forty yards left of your line you deserve a double hazard Believe me, I know.

[Tyler Kearns]

Hole No. 3
Par 4
426/406/380/347/335


The third is another solid two-shotter with a nest of bunkers on the inside of the dogleg challenging the long bombers who may be trying to catch the slope well beyond to have an uphill pitch into the green.





For the vast majority the approach is a delicate shot to a green set on the far side of a steep bank.





Another strongly back-to-front sloping green is made even more challenging by the bank short of the green.  Golfers may try and challenge a front hole location, but at the risk of their approach falling short and heading back down the bank leading to a difficult recovery.  A more conservative approach beyond the flag demands a delicate touch on a slick downhill putt.





TK

[Tyler Kearns]

Hole No. 4
Par 3
165/151/137/122


The one-shotters at Holston Hills are really good, and the first in the collection is an uphill, all-carry affair played over a pond and a deep fronting bunker.





TK

[BCowan]

I don't understand why you would remove trees only to leave behind those trees on the 1st that effectively block bunkers? Those trees are much worse, at least in my view, than the supposedly controversial tree on the 2nd. Much worse.

  The tree on #2 is a double hazard, hit it and you have a 90% chance of being in the water.  I didn't play the tips but it looks like an easier tee shot.  The tree is original so it's not going down, at member owned clubs the last thing you want to do is do something UN-original or the next board could put their spin on the course.  For Arch sake the tree is little issue for the single handicap and less imo.  It affects the 15+ handicap, especially the one that can only move it left to right.  I thought it was one of the easier holes on the course.  The tree imo takes away options and promotes more conservative play.  From the set of tees up from the tips you just hit 3 wood and a 7 iron I recall to a green that is pretty receptive to the ground game. 

[Josh Tarble]

#3 is such a good hole in that it begs you to challenge the nest of bunkers on the right, but I think the more prudent play, and better angle, is to hit something very safe to flat spot out left.  The green is excellent as well.


#4 on any other course would be one of the best par 3s, but I think it's probably the weakest of the course in my opinion.  It does cross the gap between #8 and #11/#14 as a solid mid-iron shot and enhances the set as a whole.  But there isn't much to say other than hit the green. 

[Jason Thurman]

Holston Hills arguably has the best set of par 4s of any Ross course I've seen, at least in terms of pure variety.


I also just love the clubhouse. Incredible views and a very old school, unpretentious vibe. A bit rough around the edges but warm and inviting, and also huge.

[John Mayhugh]

Tyler,
Glad you enjoyed Holston.  Thanks for sharing your photos and thoughts on the course.  My comments:

1
I think the hole would be better w/o those two trees on the left, but they may actually help players by steering them away from the deep rough beyond.  In the south, it's hard to get wispy "native" areas, so you're more likely to end up with a lost ball.  From the tees that I normally play, the bunker is much shorter than a 200 yard carry, so the "double hazard" nature of the trees is exaggerated.  Sure people hit in the bunker, but it takes a bad tee shot.  I'm not sure why the trees are still there, but if leaving them was the price paid to get rid of the pines that were there, I'm happy with the compromise.

I've had a lot of bad starts on this hole.  It's tough to have a long iron (at least for me) approach on the first hole, and I often end up short.  The steep back to front tilt of the green makes for a difficult up and down.

2
If the tree were to fall down, I wouldn't be in favor of replacing it.  The hole is architecturally better w/o it.  But I don't favor removal of the tree.  Sure, it's less that perfect, but for some reason Ross opted to leave it there.  It was a tall tree even back in his time (tulip poplars grow slowly).  A bit of quirk or uniqueness adds to memorability, and it doesn't make the hole considerably more difficult. 

3
The bunkers on the inside of the slight dogleg mostly add risk to aggressive tee shots. You don't need to play near them to have a good approach angle to the green, but carrying them will shorten the hole somewhat.  Longer hitters either have to club down or take on the bunkers.  It's possible for a long tee shot to end up on the downslope, making a tough approach to the uphill green.  This green, too, has considerable back to front slope. 

4
Not really obvious, but the front right of the green slopes down toward the bank, and the bank is pretty steep towards the water.  The tee shot is at a bit of an angle, and the bunker on the left nudges you to favor the right.  It's easily possible for a tee shot that's pushed and only a little short of the green to run into the water. 

[John Mayhugh]

Does the course coast in a little bit on the final three holes - at least from a stroke play perspective?  Can't make up my mind.

How many times have you played the holes?

16 can be a real scorecard wrecker.  Looks like almost a gimme par, but hitting the green is harder than it seems, even if you were able to avoid temptation with the tee shot.

17 encourages risk on the second shot.  Pretty easy to par if you're not trying too hard to birdie.

18 coasting in?  It's easily the toughest of the par 5s due to the steep uphill approach and the tilt of the green.  Tough hitting the approach the correct distance.  You have to climb the hill and be sure to avoid the bunker, but that often leaves you above the hole, which is a tough place.

These three holes are a microcosm of what makes Holston such a good course IMO.  Play conservatively and hit decent shots, and you'll make no worse than bogey, even with minor mistakes.  Get aggressive and make a mistake, and you can end up with big scores on "easy" holes. 

[Joe Zucker]

These three holes are a microcosm of what makes Holston such a good course IMO. 

I agree with John here.  I played the course once in May and I think the last three are great, especially for match play.  Sixteen is a great hole and definitely no easy par with that perched green.  It would take me at least a dozen rounds to figure out how I should play that hole.  The cross bunkers ~50 yards short are fantastically placed. 


Seventeen is less exciting, but there is a risk/reward component to the hole.  Eighteen is a great finishing hole.  I agree that it is the most difficult par 5 and the elevated green makes for a tough approach, even from a short yardage.  The decisions a player is forced to make the holes a fun finish.

[Tyler Kearns]

Hole No. 5
Par 5
614/574/554/511/451


The first par 5 at Holston Hills is a true three-shotter with a cluster of central fairway bunkers providing challenge to second shots played from the nasty bermuda rough or the denser native roughs left of the fairway.  The hole is bordered on the right by out-of-bounds and housing, although they are set back nicely from the course and do not intrude or negatively impact the experience.





The fairway bunkers definitely pack a punch with steep vertical faces that ask players how far they dare advance the ball.





A pair of bunkers lay 20 yards short of the green complicating a running approach to another back-to-front sloping green whose surrounds feed directly into the green side bunkers.





 


TK

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