Hillwood Country Club to Host 2015 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced Hillwood Country Club, in Nashville, Tenn., as the host site of the 2015 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship. The championship is scheduled to take place from Sept. 26 through Oct. 1.

"The USGA is proud to bring the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship to Hillwood Country Club," said Daniel B. Burton, USGA vice president and chairman of the Championship Committee. "In welcoming Hillwood to the fold of USGA host sites, we are confident that it will provide the stern and complete test of the players' games found at all of our national championships."

Dick Wilson designed the course at Hillwood Country Club, which opened in 1957 under the direction of architect Bruce Crabtree. Bruce Hepner, of Renaissance Golf Design, oversaw renovations in 2003 and 2011.

"It is an honor and privilege for Hillwood Country Club to host the 2015 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship," said Jerry Coleman, president of Hillwood Country Club. "Our obligation as a top-flight club in Tennessee is to give back to the game of golf and our partnership with the USGA for this championship will allow us to host the greatest amateur senior women's golfers our country has to offer. Our members and staff are excited about this opportunity and are committed to providing a wonderful experience for the participants, officials and spectators."

Hillwood has hosted numerous statewide events, including the 1963, 1966 and 1971 Tennessee State Opens and the 1975, 1982 and 2004 Tennessee State Amateurs.

While the 2015 Senior Women's Amateur will be the first USGA championship to be conducted at Hillwood, the club has a long-standing connection to the Association. On June 18, the club will host U.S. Senior Open sectional qualifying for the third straight year and the fifth time since 2002. The club's 2002 qualifier produced the lone player to win the U.S. Senior Open as a sectional qualifier. Don Pooley survived a 3-for-2 playoff to reach that year's Senior Open, held at Caves Valley Golf Club, in Owings Mills, Md. At Caves Valley, Pooley defeated Tom Watson in a five-hole playoff to win the championship.

The 2015 Senior Women's Amateur will be the 14th USGA championship held in the state of Tennessee and will mark the second time the championship will be held in the state. The Honors Course in Chattanooga served as host site of the 2011 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, won by Terri Frohnmayer.

The U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship was first conducted in 1962. It is open to female amateur golfers who will have reached their 50th birthday on or before the opening day of the championship, and who have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 18.4. Notable past champions include Carolyn Cudone, Alice Dye, Ellen Port, Anne Sander, Marlene Stewart Streit and Carol Semple Thompson.

The 2014 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship will be conducted Sept. 13-18 at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J. Additionally, Wellesley (Mass) Country Club will host the 2016 championship, followed by Waverley Country Club in Portland, Ore., in 2017.