Brook-Lea

Brook-Lea Country Club is one of several acclaimed Donald Ross designs in the Rochester area (with Oak Hill’s East course being the most celebrated). The course, playing from just more than 6,800 yards from the tips, is often most recognized from Little Black Creek, which contributes to several of the more eye-catching holes along this route.

In an unusual move, the back nine opens with two consecutive par fives. No. 10 brings the waterway into consideration, as those hoping to hit this short long’s green in two will need to place their drive in the area where the fairway tightens as the creek comes in.

Another unusual routing decision from Ross was to close both the front and back nines with a par three. Both play between 170 and 180 yards and both carry Little Black, but the creek is more demanding during the former hole. No. 9 requires a slight right-to-left shot from the tee in order to safely reach the flag, and the stream waits until the last moment to move away from the putting surface. A statue of the hole’s famous architect now looks down at this green from a hill. No pressure!