The Award Winning Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center has the dome open for the winter golf season on Old McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove. Call (847)-459-2321 or visit online Bgparks.org. Come by for the next Instructor Todd Sones free clinic on Jan. 21st at 6:30 PM. Why the driver swing is different, is the topic. Customer Appreciation Day is Feb. 7th from 11-2 PM.

By: Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory & Golfers on Golf on Twitter @GogBlogGuy

Course architect William S. Flynn would stay in this house on the course when he worked at Lancaster.

It’s one of the great classic courses in America. Lancaster Country Club that dates back to the year 1900, will have one of it’s great moments in club history this summer when it hosts the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open.

USGA Executive Director Mike Davis took an invitation from a member of the club to come play Lancaster and fell in love right away. Davis knew the golf course would be right for an open. The question was, would it be a U.S Senior Open or a U.S. Women’s Open. Several months later the women won out. As a result, Michelle Wie will defend her title she won last year at Pinehurst on this great classic golf course.

The opening tee shot at Lancaster.

Lancaster is southeast of Harrisburg PA., and just under a 100 miles west of Philadelphia.

The response to this open has been overwhelming for a women’s open. The force of volunteers that normally takes to the last minute, was sold out quickly over one year out. Hospitality is selling and ticket sales are moving along. The players in this years field, are in for a special week.

For more on the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster coming the second week of July, visit the website uswomensopen2015.com.

Elevation change will be significant on some holes, like the par 4, 3rd hole.

The golf course is a William S. Flynn design as the plaque on the first tee will tell you. But A.W. Tillinghast and the famed Donald Ross have had a look at it over the years.

In regards to golf design Flynn has this thought.

“The principal consideration of the architect is to design his course in a such a way as to hold the interest of the player from the first tee to the last green and to present the problems of various holes in such a way that they register in the player’s mind as he stands on the tee or on the fairway with a shot to the green.” Those who know Lancaster will tell you that Flynn did just that with his work at the course.

The par 5, 7th hole has some great risk reward opportunities. Both in regular play and during the open.

One of the key holes on the front nine of the course is the par 5, 7th hole. The green is fronted by water on an approach shot to the middle and right side of green.

Davis has added an upper level tee for this hole near the third tee to add some excitement. With a good drive here, players will go for the green in two shots.

Depending on the set up, this hole will be looked upon as a birdie hole.

Classic golf courses have a hole or two that really stand out and define the course. That hole at Lancaster is the par 3, 12th hole.

The par 3, 12th hole is a downhill shot to a sloped green, that sits just behind a creek.

It’s not exactly the par 3, 12th at Augusta National, but it’s one of the great par 3 holes you will ever play.

Perhaps from Flynn’s line of work, only the par 3, 4th at the Cascades Course at the Homestead, or the 17th hole at the famed Shinnecock Hills on Long Island draw as much attention.

The tee shot is about 175 yards downhill to a sloped green. If your long your in a deep bunker, the comeback shot could roll off the front into the creek. The creek must be cleared on the tee shot, and when the pin sits on the front of green, the nerves here get a little jumpy. It will be interesting how many birdies are made here during the open.

The Par 4, 14th hole, along with the 18th hole (just right of the trees). Are uphill demanding par 4’s.

From the 13th hole on, are a demanding stretch of holes that will challenge any golfer. But what they are is pure golf the way the game should be played.

In recent years Davis added some tee boxes and made a few other changes to the course for the open. Additional work was done by Flynn course restoration specialists Ron Forse and Jim Nagle. The project had several objectives to complete, including the restoration of some Flynn concepts that had been lost over the years. Those characteristics were restored, while enhancing the infrastructure of the golf course.

In 2013 the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) held their national amateur championship at Lancaster, and the players gave the course very high reviews. Some players to do expect to return this year for the open. The club has a second golf course and a full driving range and practice facility.

To learn more about Lancaster please visit Lancastercc.com.