The LPGA's Kroger Queen City Championship has a brand-new look this season, and the players are feeling the heat. After two years of birdie-friendly conditions at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, the event has moved to the historic Maketewah Country Club in Bond Hill, Ohio—a classic Donald Ross design that's as prestigious as it is punishing.

Just one look at the first-round scores tells the story. Last September, 92 players finished under par, with seven golfers shooting 6-under or better. On Thursday at Maketewah, only 27 broke par. Nobody went lower than 4-under, and three golfers shared the clubhouse lead at that mark. "It's a super hard golf course," said first-round co-leader Chella Choi after posting a 66.

The transformation from birdie fest to survival test was immediate. Brisk winds, thick rough, firm fairways, and tricky pin placements on Maketewah's undulating poa annua greens made every shot count. "It's hard to hit the fairway," admitted Lilia Vu, who opened with a 67. "Sometimes, you just need a little bit of luck out there."

Players also pointed to the course's unique topography and tricky sightlines as major adjustments. Blind angles, sidehill lies, and dramatic elevation changes force golfers to think their way around every hole. "The front and back nine feel like two completely different golf courses," said Lydia Ko, who won this event in Maineville in 2024. Ko hit just five of 14 fairways in her opening 68, yet still felt she drove the ball well—a testament to just how demanding this new venue really is.

For fans and players alike, the Kroger Queen City Championship has taken on an exciting new identity. Whether you're cheering from the gallery or dreaming of your own round, this classic course is proving that sometimes the hardest challenges bring out the best in the game.