Holston Hills—Knoxville, TN
Rankings as of 5/8/2010
8th best course in TN (Golf Digest)
52nd best classic course in the US (Golfweek)
Holston Hills was designed by Donald Ross and is located just outside of Knoxville, TN. From the blue tees the
course measures 6,358 yards and is rated 70.9/127. But to measure the course by yardage and numbers is quite
simply foolish.
The course is a true delight to play. The routing is nearly perfect as one hole flows into another with the greatest
of ease. The walk is straight-forward and easy and provides the golfer with ample time to take in the wonderful
setting of the course. And that setting is a wide-open piece of land with a farm/ranch feel to it.
Off the tee, there are rarely any intrusive trees or underbrush to get in the way of a pure golf experience. However,
there is a very distinctive and abundant hazard that will most certainly catch any golfer’s eye and quite frequently
catch a golfer’s ball. These hazards are: cross bunkers.
Without question this is the most noticeable feature of the course and will make a lasting impression on any golfer
who has the pleasure to play this course.
The greens are undoubtedly Ross greens, but they are not over-the-top renditions of Ross greens. They have
subtle and strategic slopes, but they are not overly undulating and this allows the greens to roll a pure and true 11-
ish on the stimp meter. Per my style, these are the perfect greens to putt on. Fast with a true roll with some
interesting contours.
Although Holston Hills will never make a Top 10 golf course rankings list, it is one of my favorite courses to play.
And much like Mid-Pines (another Ross gem), this is a course I could play day in and day out for my entire life. It is
that much fun!
Rankings as of 5/8/2010
8th best course in TN (Golf Digest)
52nd best classic course in the US (Golfweek)
Holston Hills was designed by Donald Ross and is located just outside of Knoxville, TN. From the blue tees the
course measures 6,358 yards and is rated 70.9/127. But to measure the course by yardage and numbers is quite
simply foolish.
The course is a true delight to play. The routing is nearly perfect as one hole flows into another with the greatest
of ease. The walk is straight-forward and easy and provides the golfer with ample time to take in the wonderful
setting of the course. And that setting is a wide-open piece of land with a farm/ranch feel to it.
Off the tee, there are rarely any intrusive trees or underbrush to get in the way of a pure golf experience. However,
there is a very distinctive and abundant hazard that will most certainly catch any golfer’s eye and quite frequently
catch a golfer’s ball. These hazards are: cross bunkers.
Without question this is the most noticeable feature of the course and will make a lasting impression on any golfer
who has the pleasure to play this course.
The greens are undoubtedly Ross greens, but they are not over-the-top renditions of Ross greens. They have
subtle and strategic slopes, but they are not overly undulating and this allows the greens to roll a pure and true 11-
ish on the stimp meter. Per my style, these are the perfect greens to putt on. Fast with a true roll with some
interesting contours.
Although Holston Hills will never make a Top 10 golf course rankings list, it is one of my favorite courses to play.
And much like Mid-Pines (another Ross gem), this is a course I could play day in and day out for my entire life. It is
that much fun!
