58th Tennessee Challenge Cup set for return to Hillwood Country Club

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The beloved Tennessee Challenge Cup returns to the newly renovated Hillwood Country Club for the 58th playing. The thrilling Ryder Cup-style event showcases the best amateur and professional golf in the Volunteer State. This year, the tournament will take place from October 27th to 28th, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring the top 16 amateur golfers competing against 16 elite PGA professionals.

Hillwood Country Club last hosted the Challenge Cup matches in 2020, where the Amateur team won decisively, 20-12. The club also hosted in 1976, where the Professional team earned a decisive victory of their own.

Officials from both the Tennessee Golf Association, which selects the amateur team, and the Tennessee Section PGA, which chooses the professional team, are excited about this year’s battle for the John Deal Cup trophy.

“The Cup matches continually prove to be the most exciting event on our calendar,” said Clayton Hromadka, Executive Director of the Tennessee Section PGA. “The camaraderie that each of the participants experiences is tough to match in any other event.”

“While the camaraderie is certainly enjoyable, that doesn’t eliminate the intense competition that goes on once they tee off,” Hromadka continued. “I always enjoy watching the matches unfold as the players on each side give everything they have for their respective teams.”

Allison Brown, the executive director for the Tennessee Golf Association, added, “We’re excited to return to Hillwood Country Club for this year’s Challenge Cup. This prestigious site will give our players the chance to compete on an outstanding golf course, while also enjoying a great setting for the social functions for the event.”

The Challenge Cup dates back to 1968. The event came to fruition thanks to the efforts of Old Hickory amateur John Deal, Cookeville amateur Bobby Greenwood, and Cookeville professional Hubie Smith, who was president of the Tennessee Section PGA at the time.

Since then, the professional team has built a 33-24 advantage in the overall series, though it’s been even in the last ten meetings, with the pros and the amateurs each winning five. The event went to its current format in 1975, with one round each of four-ball, foursomes and singles matches played over the two-day tournament. The Professionals edged out a 17-15 win in last year’s showdown at Colonial Country Club.

“Amateurs in Tennessee play in our championships and local invitationals throughout the year to make this team,” Brown said. “There is a lot of pride amongst our amateurs and they love competing against the wonderful PGA professionals in our state.”

Each team is comprised of 16 players, six of whom are seniors. The professional team is selected using the Tennessee Section PGA’s season-ending Professional and Senior Professional Rolex Player of the Year rankings. The amateur team is chosen based on the Tennessee Golf Association’s season-ending Amateur and Senior Amateur Player of the Year rankings.

About Hillwood Country Club

Hillwood Country Club first opened its doors in 1957, designed by legendary golf course architect Dick Wilson. The 18-hole, par 72 course tips out at 7,059 yards and recently underwent a full renovation to the course and clubhouse. They’ve hosted premier Tennessee golf events, including four Tennessee State Amateurs and three Tennessee Women’s Amateurs.