Holston Hills CC - new home of Knoxville Open on the Korn Ferry Tour?

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I have not seen an official press release, but I saw on Twitter a couple of places that the Knoxville Open will be moving from Fox Den CC to our beloved Holston Hills.   Hopefully this will mean some TV coverage next year of a great old Donald Ross course for anyone who has not been fortunate enough to get to see it in person.


Has anyone seen or heard of an official press release other than twitter?  Google search did not yield anything yet...


Having just been up to the Wyndham tournament on Thursday I saw again firsthand how John McConnell overdelivers on a consistent basis.  Obviously Wyndham is primarily responsible for the development of the tournament at Sedgefield but John McConnell is completely on board with the process, and the Wyndham would not be the tournament it is without John and McConnell Golf's involvement and support. 


It had been a couple years since I had been to the Wyndham, and that tournament just seems to get better every year!!


Cant wait to see Holston Hills as well.   I am not sure the Knoxville has been prime televised the last few years, but hopefully with the interest generated by a new course, especially one as notable as Holston Hills, it will get good TV coverage by the Golf Channel next year.

[ChipRoyce]

There also may be something to be said for one management company to foster a strong relationship with PGA Tour's tournament operations.

Should Holston Hills get the Korn Tour's Knoxville Open, that will be the 3rd tournament at a McConnell club.

1) Wyndham (PGA)- Sedgefield2) Rex Open (KF) - TPC Wakefield Plantation3) Knoxville Open (KF) - Holston Hills

[John Mayhugh]

I do hope that there are no "improvements" made to the course.

I cannot think of any sort of benefit to the membership that comes from a club hosting events like this. If the course is going to be tied up for a week or more, better to be supporting local entities (such at TGA). Hosting a minor league PGA (or full PGA) event is more about marketing than anything else. Is is useful in that respect? No idea. I just hope no course changes either prior or as a result.

[Chad Anderson (Tennessee)]

The official announcement should be tomorrow - Tuesday, August 6.


The dates are the same for Knoxville as it was last year, so early/mid May.


They won't change the course, it doesn't need changing.  McConnell has done a great job renovating the Clubhouse, which hadn't been touched since 1950.  He has done a better job, NOT touching the golf course.  The super there is great.


In May, the Bermuda rough won't be in, it may take -30 under to win the tournament.


Highly unlikely it will be on TV, that adds another $400,000 to the budget to put it on TV and the event doesn't have that type of money.  Plus, Holston doesn't need the promotion.


It should be a great event, the players will love it.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Highly unlikely it will be on TV, that adds another $400,000 to the budget to put it on TV and the event doesn't have that type of money.  Plus, Holston doesn't need the promotion.

I guess I will just have to come see it in person...

[Carl Rogers]

How will the course be modified (aka butchered) for the event?

[Chad Anderson (Tennessee)]

I don't think they will change the course at all.  I do think they will play 7 & 17 as par 4's, reducing the par to 70. That will help the winning score be about -22 under instead of -30.

[Mike_Young]

I played it last monday with John Stiles, Bob Crosby and Kevin Moore.  All felt it was great condition and it was the first time for Bob and Kevin who both felt it was a gem.  I will never understand why such a place would desire this type of tournament. 

[Edward Glidewell]

I played it last monday with John Stiles, Bob Crosby and Kevin Moore.  All felt it was great condition and it was the first time for Bob and Kevin who both felt it was a gem.  I will never understand why such a place would desire this type of tournament.

Well, the only person that has to desire it is John McConnell. It's his golf course.


As to the earlier comment regarding marketing -- I can't speak for any other courses, but I don't think it worked out for Sedgefield CC. My understanding is that the biggest reason they decided to host a PGA event was in the hopes it would attract new members and help them out of debt. A few years later the membership sold the course to McConnell, so I assume it wasn't as successful as they would have liked.

[Mark Pritchett]

I played it last monday with John Stiles, Bob Crosby and Kevin Moore.  All felt it was great condition and it was the first time for Bob and Kevin who both felt it was a gem.  I will never understand why such a place would desire this type of tournament.

Well, the only person that has to desire it is John McConnell. It's his golf course.


As to the earlier comment regarding marketing -- I can't speak for any other courses, but I don't think it worked out for Sedgefield CC. My understanding is that the biggest reason they decided to host a PGA event was in the hopes it would attract new members and help them out of debt. A few years later the membership sold the course to McConnell, so I assume it wasn't as successful as they would have liked.

I believe that was in 2008 during the really bad economy, so Sedgefield might not be the best case study.