Bruce McCamish
Bruce McCamish
Bruce McCamish
Holston Hills Country Club
Holston Hills Country Club
5200 Holston Hills Rd
Knoxville, TN 37914-5199
United States
Overview
Holston Hills is a club that ultimately benefited from being on the "wrong" side of town for many of its years. Because of that, the membership never had the money to go in for the kind of major modernization of its 1927 Donald Ross-designed course that so many other clubs of the era endured, few for the better. The result is that the Ross fundamentals are well-preserved, with a splendid routing that fans out in opposing directions from the clubhouse perch, holes that work up and over robust but never severe land movements (see the hogback par-4 second fairway), stellar cross-bunkering that one day might impact shot selection and the next day not and greens that showcase lovely, original internal contours. The par 5s alternate between gettable and gotcha (the 517-yard seventh is one of Ross's most original half-par holes), the lovely bunkering of the short par-4 sixth elevates it to a must-see hole, and the run of 14, 15 and 16 that includes a long par 3 into a glen with a wickedly canted green, a mid-length down and up par 4 over a string of cops mounds and a drivable uphill par 4 to a tabletop green is one of the most ecclectic trio of holes in the state.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked in the top 5, 1979-2003, 2023-'26. Ranked in the top 10, 1979-2021.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 5th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Historic Ross Course that has stayed close to its original design. Lots of strategy and risk/reward involved for the low handicap amateur. Played it immediately following the Korn Ferry Tour event and it was set up tough - this course can provide an extreme (yet fair) challenge when they need it to."
Read More2025
Review
“Holston Hills CC was a gem of a golden age design with challenging greens, fun topography, variety throughout with holes varying in both direction and distance, and firm conditioning. The holes that stood out to me were the 2nd hole, which requires the player to navigate a tree positioned exactly where the player wants to hit their tee shot, but must pick either the left or right side and the left side requires a carry of a pond, but allows for a close approach to the green. The 4th hole was a demanding par 3 with a ridge line on the right side of the green that sends balls that are short or right into a pond fronting the green. The green on the par 3 14th hole was very severe from back to front, requiring players to stay below the hole and the 16th hole was a short par 4 the requires precision as shots that drift right can be pushed out of bounds by a severe hill. As with many Donald Ross designed golf courses, there is benefit in playing the course multiple times as course knowledge goes a long way in avoiding mistakes."
Read More2025
Review
“Holston Hills CC was a gem of a golden age design with challenging greens, fun topography, variety throughout with holes varying in both direction and distance, and firm conditioning. The holes that stood out to me were the 2nd hole, which requires the player to navigate a tree positioned exactly where the player wants to hit their tee shot, but must pick either the left or right side and the left side requires a carry of a pond, but allows for a close approach to the green. The 4th hole was a demanding par 3 with a ridge line on the right side of the green that sends balls that are short or right into a pond fronting the green. The green on the par 3 14th hole was very severe from back to front, requiring players to stay below the hole and the 16th hole was a short par 4 the requires precision as shots that drift right can be pushed out of bounds by a severe hill. As with many Donald Ross designed golf courses, there is benefit in playing the course multiple times as course knowledge goes a long way in avoiding mistakes."
Read More2025
Review
“Pretty untouched Ross that is a joy to play. A lot of the bunkers have distanced passed them by but that also comes with the joy of the club not trying to change things every 10 years for distance. The Back 9 is one of the better Nines in Tennessee so don't turn down an opportunity to enjoy the walk at Holston Hills"
Read More2024
Review
“An untouched Ross original design in which the pro says members too cheap to mess up a good golf course."
Read More2023
Review
“Very nice Ross course. Greens were somewhat slow due to recent aeration and early season but they were very interesting and would have presented a much greater challenge if at normal speed."
Read More2022
Review
“Classic Donald Ross course. The old style course is not terribly long but the Ross greens provide plenty of defense."
Read More2021
Review
“Really good Ross design that has been well-preserved."
Read More2018
Review
“Strong Donald Ross layout. Course has been improved over the years. You feel like you have gone back in time. Fun to play."
Read More2018
Review
“This might be one of the less modified Ross designed. It has been spared the meddling hands of others. It is better for it. The course has an open feel and is geniusly routed using the gently rolling hillocks. It is in good condition and is very welcoming. The clubhouse has undergone a much needed update."
Read More2018
