The USGA has continually sought out the best courses, sometimes unfamiliar to fans, to test the world’s best players through their championships. They’ve discovered another relatively unknown gem in Lancaster Country Club, the site upon which the world’s best will be tested in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

For six years, Todd Bidlespacher the Director of Golf Course Operations at Lancaster Country Club has worked to prepare the William S. Flynn design to host the women’s championship.

“It is the first time for us and we couldn't be happier to be a part of the 70th U.S. Women's Open,” Bidlespacher told LPGA.com via email. “Members and the entire community are both very excited that Lancaster and the Club will be hosting such a prestigious event and will put the spotlight on the course and the area.”

While there weren’t many changes made to the course specifically for the tournament, Bidlespacher says several changes were already scheduled as part of long-term plans, which subsequently benefitted this week’s event.

“We have done a lot of tree management, re-grassed greens, renovated all the bunkers, stabilized creek banks, rebuilt several tees, renovated the range tee, built a new putting green and short game practice area,” said Bidlespacher. “Also, we have been doing more cultural work including aerification and top dressing procedures to firm playing surfaces.”

Those firmer surfaces will result in championship speeds on the greens, which will vary throughout the week depending on weather conditions. Mother Nature is also playing a major role this week in determining the height of the rough.

“We have been tinkering with the rough the last few weeks and are trying to react to weather patterns,” Bidlespacher said. “At the moment we are maintaining three inch rough for 16 feet around fairways and four inches beyond, or on the outer edges of the rough.”

The par 70 course will play to around 6,400 yards with additional challenges from elevation changes and sloping through the fairways and greens.

“The course will play longer than the scorecard yardage,” said Bidlespacher. “We have some elevation changes throughout the course and many tee shots play into up-sloping fairways with some elevated greens. We have some really strong par 4's, particularly on the back nine and players will have to use many different clubs during their rounds.”

Seven of the last ten years the champion of the U.S. Women’s Open has finished under par. In 2014, Michelle Wie won at 2-under par, two strokes ahead of Stacy Lewis.

The Challenge Facing Players at the 70th U.S. Women's Open

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