Posted: July 8, 2015 1:47 am

Having the U.S. Men’s Open at Chambers Hill seemed another example in the United States Golf Association’s plan of challenging golfers with many different types of courses.

Along with placing their tournaments in different parts of the country, the USGA looks for a variety of courses.

While variety may not suit every golfer, every golfer plays the same course, so the field is level.

Lancaster Country Club, an older, traditional, tighter, northeastern U.S.-type course is on tap for this week for the women’s championship. So far, most of the players have given it a rave review.

Check back on that review about 8 p.m. Thursday night.

Cristie Kerr won the 2007 U.S. Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina and while not in the northeastern portion of the U.S., that course and LCC have some similarities.

“Pine Needles was set up really tough,” she said. “The fairways weren’t overly firm, but the greens were firmer and super fast.”

Pine Needles was designed by Donald Ross, a contemporary of William Flynn, the man who designed Lancaster Country Club.

“I think (LCC) is a spectacular golf course,” Kerr said. “I look back on the last four or five Opens that we’ve had, and this is my favorite that I’ve had in the last three to five years. Very classic, old school golf course. It’s playing long, because it’s a little soft from the rain. I actually like that. I don’t really particularly like a golf course which is so short and too easy. I think that this is a great golf course for a U.S. Open.”

Kerr’s game is on the upswing as she readies to tee it up in Thursday’s first round. She has placed in the top 5 in five tournaments this season, including two of her last three. Her short game was an important part of her recent play, as it will be starting Thursday.

“The short game is huge in any Open, but I think especially this one because it’s a very old school course with very tilted greens,” said Kerr, who won the Kia Classic in March. “It’s a great course because it’s right in front of you and it’s tough. It’s not tricked up. You know they’re going to put the pins in some difficult spots.”

That’s where the importance of course knowledge comes in. While Kerr is careful not to over-prepare in the days leading up to the tournament, the time spent in practice rounds is key.

“Basically, you to try to eliminate mental errors because while making birdies in an Open is amazing, saving shots are equally as important.”

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