Oak Hill Country Club: East
Rochester, NY • Private
The fourth and fifth holes at the renovated East course at Oak Hill Country Club.
Evan Schiller
The approach to No. 13.
Evan Schiller
Carlos Amoedo
Carlos Amoedo
Carlos Amoedo
A closer look at the 13th hole.
Evan Schiller
The renovated East course will host the 2023 PGA Championship, the fourth PGA in the club's history.
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Evan Schiller Photography
Overview
Back in 1979, George Fazio and nephew Tom were roundly criticized by Donald Ross fans for removing a classic Ross par 4 on Oak Hill East and replacing it with two new holes, including the bowl-shaped par-3 sixth, which would later become the scene of four aces in two hours during the second round of the 1989 U.S. Open. They also built a pond on another par 3 and relocated the green on the par-4 18th. The club hired golf architect Andrew Green to remodel those holes to bring them more in line with Donald Ross’ original style. In addition to putting the final touches (at least for now) on a significant tree removal program, Green re-established Ross's original par-4 hole, then the fifth and now playing as the sixth (pictured here). Reconstruction occurred after the 2019 Senior PGA Championship on the East Course and was completed in May 2020. Oak Hill's East Course hosted the 2023 PGA Championship won by Brooks Koepka.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking: 22nd.
Previous ranking: 20th.
Highest ranking: 10th, 2003-2004.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in New York 1977-2016; Top 10 since 2017.
Current ranking: 6th since 2017.
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Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Wonderful layout that has been refined and stands the test of time---the land is perfect, and the routing takes advantage of it. Gets a bit tough in the back nine final holes, but it's an absolute gem."
Read More2025
Review
“Wow. 1924 Donald Ross course renovated by Andrew Green in 2020. Uphill, downhill approach shots, challenging bunkers, and perfect greens. Rely on your caddie to read the green - sometimes it appears that putts are breaking uphill. Absolutely beautiful setting with terrific staff, pro shop, locker room and dining room."
Read More2024
Review
“Oak Hill is a big, championship layout recently renovated by Andrew Green and originally designed by Donald Ross. The course is in superb condition and features very thick rough and quick greens that make it quite difficult. It was a significant test in the 2023 PGA Championship for the Pros as well. Overall, the course presents very well and is one of the most picturesque parkland courses in the country. There's strong variety in terms of dogleg rights and lefts and a surprising number of shorter holes that offer options such as the 2nd, 14th, and 17th. As a whole, the strength of the course is the longer holes with the par threes playing shorter and easier. These greens recently modified by Green are a real standout and a joy to putt on. It is not the most memorable elite course in America but is a great course and club and well-worth a visit."
Read More2023
Review
“The restoration performed by Andrew Green is quite simply amazing. What's particularly amazing is that no two holes look or play the same, while at the same time no hole seems out of place. Each bunker, which comprised most of the Green restoration efforts of this Donald Ross masterpiece, perfectly intertwines strategy with challenge. There is no let-up in this golf course: every shot stokes your imagination through creative placement of gorgeous, deep bunkers...and not to mention a creek that seems to follow you around from the first through 13th holes. All of the iconic elements of rigorous golf course architecture are present throughout the round. The long par 4 6th hole is great example of this. It's a soft dogleg right with a green tilting hard right to left that is closely hugged on the low-left side by that pesky creek. The proper angle to approach is from the left side of the fairway, but several deep fairway bunkers add some risk to this placement. Adding to the difficulty is a daunting, but beautiful pond down the right side of the fairway leaving no bailout except laying up short of the left bunkers. This type of well-thought out strategy, penalty, heroism and beauty is what I believe makes this one of America's very best golf courses. The dramatic finish will make for great TV this May when OHCC hosts the PGA Championship!"
Read More2022
Review
“Totally different look from the last time I was on property with all of the tree clearing. Visually deceptive lines off the tee and a great stretch of 6 through 9 and 16 through 18. Signature par 5 13 one of my favorites and possible one of the best. Really enjoyed all of the elevation changes and greens that are receptive but fast, even after a lot of rain."
Read More2022
Review
“The challenge factor is also worth discussing. I LOVE the GD definition and have found that the tough but fair test really often is indicative of fun and also overall experience. 10 yard wide fairways with trees overhanging thereby narrowing many of the fairways is an incredibly tough and I would argue not entirely fair test. Specifically, the tee shot on the par 7th is really good example of what I am referring to. Creek right, 10-15 yard fairway, can't hit full driver, but tree overhangs left side of fairway. That's an incredibly difficult tee shot to find a fairway on without hitting tree given that the ideal line is right over the left tree. Par 5 13th has similar issue on second shot. If you are on left hand side fairway, there are some overhanging branches that make it nearly impossible to miss and aim away from right size bunker hazards. Course would greatly benefit from cutting the limbs off at edges of several of these trees. Back 9 also plays incredibly more fun and easier than the front. Would be really interesting thought experiment to flip the order of the 9s (and sounds like something that has been discussed amongst membership)."
Read More2022
Review
“Donald Ross masterpiece and a fantastic restoration from Andrew Green. Its the most demanding course I've ever played, and it never lets up. The bunkering is exceptional with intimidating, steep faces, but extremely fair if your ball rolls back to a flat spot. Wonderful green complexes that demand a variety of shots if you miss the green. 6,7,8 is an extremely memorable stretch of par 4's and of course the 13th hole bowl shaped green complex."
Read More2022
Review
“Simply the best conditioning I have seen. Fairways were so challenging to hold because of the firm turf and quickness of them. Also the narrowness meant many balls rolled into the rough or bunkers which had shorter rough in front of them. Greens were mega quick and rolled purely. While the course was green, it played difficult because of the firmness of the greens and fairways. We also played the day after the yearly member guest. - A really difficult golf course that fried my mind by the end of the round in the shots one had to play and the many options to think about. Challenge would have been higher except for the new bunker lips being quite high and how many fairway drives would roll into the bunkers. It happened to me 5 times on "perfect drives" that hit the middle of the fairway."
Read More2022
Review
“Very cool clubhouse with a lot of history. The feeling of this history really blends nicely into the course. Two big factors materially weighed in here that resulted in much lower score than it currently has. It had rained about half an inch the day before, and I was really surprised how much this impacted the course. Greens were incredibly soft, several bunker areas essentially had hardpan sand which was clearly influenced by this small amount of rain, and several tee shots plugged. Lots of dead grass and divot surrounds on many par 3 tee boxes. Course gets quite a bit of wear and tear considering that there are tee times in every ten minute increment. The challenge factor is also worth discussing. I LOVE the GD definition and have found that the tough but fair test really often is indicative of fun and also overall experience. 10 yard wide fairways with trees overhanging thereby narrowing many of the fairways is an incredibly tough and I would argue not entirely fair test. Specifically, the tee shot on the par 7th is really good example of what I am referring to. Creek right, 10-15 yard fairway, can't hit full driver, but tree overhangs left side of fairway. That's an incredibly difficult tee shot to find a fairway on without hitting tree given that the ideal line is right over the left tree. Par 5 13th has similar issue on second shot. If you are on left hand side fairway, there are some overhanging branches that make it nearly impossible to miss and aim away from right size bunker hazards. Course would greatly benefit from cutting the limbs off at edges of several of these trees. Back 9 also plays incredibly more fun and easier than the front. Would be really interesting thought experiment to flip the order of the 9s (and sounds like something that has been discussed amongst membership)."
Read More2022
Review
“* One of the world class venues of American golf. Perfect conditioning, history, challenging place that will fry your mind by the end of it. Encroaching trees, water, quick greens, firm turf, and tough fairway bunkering are all part of it here."
Read More2022
