KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A look at the history of Holston Hills Country Club takes you all the way back to the Roaring Twenties.
The club has been a staple to East Knoxville for nearly 100 years with the plans coming together in 1926.
“Some businessmen in Knoxville that were actually members of Cherokee Country Club go together to buy the old MacDonald Farm which is what you see behind us now,” Chris Dibble, director of golf and general manager of the club said.
The architect behind it all was the legendary Donald Ross.
“He’s designed many, many golf courses all over the world. They’re all historic designs. He’s probably the most reputable of all the old designers,” Dibble said.
The course is known for its fan friendliness including natural stadium seating and walkability.
“He just gave us a piece of property that was amazing to work with and he designed quite a gem at our legendary course and and luckily over the years we haven’t done too much to mess it up,” he said.
Ross was born in Scotland but later moved to the U.S. Some regard him as the top golf course designer of all time.
Holston Hills takes pride in its history which you can see for yourself, right inside the clubhouse.
“This is our history hallway, I guess you could call it, on the other side of our restaurant,” Dibble said.
You can find the original course design with hole layouts and the small details like the size of bunkers and greens.
The one thing they have updated was the bunkers. Course officials started that right after last year’s tournament to present more of a challenge to golfers.
You’ll also see an original look at its dining area and chandeliers.
But you can’t forget the past winners and golf greats who have walked the halls and more importantly, played the course.
“Byron Nelson who won the 1945 Knoxville Open. He won 11 straight tournaments and then he finished second in Memphis and then came to Holston Hills and won again.”
Now the country club has hosted dozens of professional and amateur tournaments with the 2025 Visit Knoxville Open etching its own mark on the course’s history.
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