“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” Well, according to the top touring pros and the Seven Dwarfs, it’s the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” Well, according to the top touring pros and the Seven Dwarfs, it’s the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester.
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While I believe Oakmont to be the best course in the USA to host a major championship followed by Shinnecock Hills and Merion East, the East course at Oak Hill Country Club is not far behind them. The collection of holes offers golfers a great variety where only a handful look and play the same. The course was designed by Donald Ross and has gone through several iterations, much like the Inverness Club. More recently prior to hosting the 2023 PGA Championship, it was restored and renovated by Andrew Green who also did exemplary work at Inverness. Mr. Green built two new holes, both par 3’s and substantially altered the most difficult hole on the course, the sixth. The sixth hole should be on everyone’s list of one of the top 500 golf holes in the world.
The course is routed with both nine’s starting from higher ground and ending on higher ground. The course is sometimes hilly, sometimes plays across rolling land and also has four holes on essentially flat ground. The routing takes full advantage of a stream that is in play on seven holes.
The use of bunkers is restrained at Oak Hills. There is not a formulaic, predictable approach either to bunker placement or size. Several fairways have no bunkers while a few holes have bunkers placed inside the fairway. The greenside bunkers are presented in various lengths and depths although they are shaped in a manner that one would expect at a parkland course as there are no irregular edges or internal islands.
There is a good and appropriate use of trees as a line of defense and strategy. The trees come into play on 12 of the 18 holes. The trees are never dense, but scattered. They are tall and wide and a ball hit into them will likely be knocked down. I had one ball carom all the way across a fairway into an opposite side bunker.
The green surfaces are generally sloped back to front, but often favoring one side of the front. One will not find many mounds, knobs or swales, but there is a good use of tiers and subtle spines.
The East course at Oak Hill plays to 7390 yards par 70 rated 77.3/153 befitting its reputation as a challenging golf course. The Black tees are not much shorter at 6995 yards but the par switches to a par 71, rated 75.5/146 as the seventeenth becomes a par 5 instead of a 4. The Blue tees are 6655 yards rated 74.0/141. Including a set of combination tees, there are four additional tees falling all the way to 5265 yards rated 67.2/127. I will reference the Championship and Blue tees.
1. Par 4 – 460/430. I did not find the opening hole to be overly challenging playing downhill from an elevated tee. The hole goes slightly to the left. A collection of three bunkers on the left are in play for average length hitters. For the longer players I assumed they worried more about reaching the stream that crosses the fairway about 100 yards from the green. The hole is level from about 140 yards out. The green is defended by a single bunker on the front right and mounds surrounding the green. The main defense of the green is the steep tilt from back to front. For a good player this is likely a gentle opening hole.
2. Par 4 – 405/375. I really liked this hole playing uphill to the right where the tee shot needs to thread a single bunker right and a series of bunkers on the left that is placed on ground where one bunker is higher than the previous. There is a series of tall, wide trees on the right that also must be avoided as well as a single tree on the left at the final fairway bunker. If one misses too far to the right the land banks towards an out-of-bounds that pinches in. If not out-of-bounds one could possibly have an obscured shot to the front of the green due to tree. The green is on the highest point of the hole and also elevated. It features a small bunker on the front right and large bunkers on either side nearly the length of the green. There is a fall-off at the rear to short grass but with a possibility reaching the rough. Going long is to be avoided since the green is sloped steeply to the front and also has internal movement due to different smaller swales. The second is visually pretty from the tee to the green and is a challenge despite the short length.
3. Par 3 – 230/175. This is a difficult hole due to its length from the championship tee as well as the bunkering. The hole plays across lower ground but it then rises to the green. It is possible to land one’s ball short of the green and run it on but one has to skirt an angled bunker on the right going to the left about 30 yards short of the green followed by two bunkers left and a bunker right with all three bunkers short of the green. The green has a strong tilt to the front with a back left protrusion. There is enough slope to run one’s ball to the back of the green and have it come back down a bit but if one goes too far they are in the rough. This is another visually delightful hole from the tee due to all of the sand short of the green as well as the green itself feels like its own island due to no other hole being overly close to it.
4. Par 5 – 615/550. This long hole actually is a birdie opportunity or a good chance for a par. The hole bends to the right off the tee before then straightening to the green. Three staggered bunkers are placed on the right on the inner corner. Trees are spaced well apart on this hole but are very much in play should one get offline. For a longer par 5 the fairway is relatively narrow to the green. Approximately 60 yards short of the green are flanking fairway bunkers shrinking the fairway even narrower. The green is triangular but large with a longish slight sloped at its front. The green has flanking bunkers nearly the length of the green on either side. I felt this to be one of the more playable holes on the golf course and not particularly terrorizing.
5. Par 3 – 180/160. After the somewhat “breather” of the fourth hole, the remaining five holes on the front nine offera good challenge. The new fifth hole from Andrew Green is very challenging. Simply put, you must hit this green from the tee to have a good chance at par. The green is elevated about 5 feet. It is somewhat square in shape. There are two bunkers protecting nearly all of the front of the green while two smaller bunkers are placed on either side. The back fourth of the green is on a tier about fourfeet higher. If one goes over the green it is nearly impossible to play a shot to a back pin position without the ball releasing and going all the way to the front of the green. I really liked this hole.
6. Par 4 – 500/440. I believe this hole should be considered as one of the 500 best golf holes in the world. The hole should play straight for most players as even the longest players will have trouble cutting any distance off of this dogleg right due to a long wetland area that begins about 50 yards short of the dogleg but continues after the dogleg for a similar length. This wetlands area is about 20 yards wide. There is a large tree left near the start of the fairway that must be avoided or one’s ball will get knocked down by the branches resulting in a likely lay-up shot as a stream crosses the fairway about 150 yards short of the green on the right cutting diagonally to the left about 120 yards from the green. Following the tree on the left are two bunkers on the outer corner. For those bailing out to the right of the green on their approach shot there is another large tree that can block a lofted shot into the green. The green itself is surrounded by water on the left and rear. The green has a huge knob nearer the back right of the green making for a difficult pin position anywhere near the knob. Next to the knob is a single bunker on the right side. Overall the green slants to the front and to the left towards the stream. There is good mounding surrounding the green as well. It is a true risk-reward hole even though the hole tilts towards difficulty. The hole truly offers everything: trees, water, bunkers, a great green complex and strategy throughout.
7. Par 4 – 460/415. This hole plays basically straight with a stream coming close to the fairway off the right. A large tree protects the left side of the fairway. The stream cuts across the fairway about 150 yards from the green going diagonally right to left. Longer hitters will have to play to the left side of the fairway as the fairway tilts towards the stream on the right as well as it angles into the fairway. The first bunker is about 15 yards short of the green on the left followed by two flanking front corner bunkers that narrow the opening a bit. The green feels large with a subtle mound on the back right and left making the middle of the green feel like a channel. This hole and the eighth are likely overlooked on the course due to the sixth and ninth but they are equally wonderful.
8. Par 4 – 430/420. This straight hole has scattered trees to either side. It plays straight with the first fairway bunker reachable from the tee on the left. The next fairway bunker is about 20 yards further up on the right. Both are placed inside the fairway shrinking the width. A common theme at Oak Hill is the presence of a fairway bunker about 40 yards short of the green, this time on the left. The green is surrounded by bunkers and they are deep with long bunkers on both sides and a smaller one off the front right. The green is elevated with a lot of subtle movement. A par here is a good score.
9. Par 4 – 480/420. This hole plays uphill as a dogleg right with trees on either side. The only fairway bunker is on the left outer corner which again shrinks the fairway. The approach shot to this green which sits on far higher ground will be blind. Prior to the green there is a valley more pronounced on the left side where balls falling short of the green will likely funnel down. Fronting the green are flanking bunkers with the right one covering nearly half of the front of the green. The green is odd-shaped, more like a triangle with the smaller part near the back. I hit a poor tee shot right of the trees near the road but not out-of-bounds. It gave me a line to the right of the green where I landed 40 yards short. I was able to wedge a shot to 12 feet to a back left corner pin and make a par. Sometimes golf provides a lucky break: sometimes it does not. Going long or to the sides of this green will likely result in being in thick rough leaving a challenging chip. On this hole it is also better to be short of the green if you cannot make the green as being short offers the best chance of recovery. Going long or to the sides of this green will likely result in being in thick rough leaving a challenging chip. This hole is perfectly designed for the land and the exceptional green complex adds to the drama of the hole.
10. Par 4 – 430/410. This hole somewhat mirrors the starting hole although it starts on higher ground. This fairway also has a slight bend to the left similar to the first. Longer hitters will need to ensure their tee shot does not reach the stream that bisects the fairway about a hundred yards from the green. This stream comes into play from the right about 40 yards sooner so a tee shot hit too far right could reach it for the longer players. The average length hitters will be more concerned about the bunker on the left in their landing zone. But if finding the fairway one should get a favorable roll-out of perhaps 20-40 yards. The elevated green has a longer bunker on the left side and a small bunker on the front right corner. It is one of the easier greens to two putt. The rear of the green has a steep slope off of the raised green to short grass. This hole is not as visually exciting as others on the course particularly the next five holes to follow but it is not a guaranteed par due to the well defended green.
11. Par 3 – 245/175. The stream meanders across the fairway some 20 yards short of the green before bleeding slowly off to the right. The green is atop a short rise so it is more difficult to hit a long running shot onto the green. There is a long bunker beginning short of the green on the left going halfway up while the right side bunker is placed in the middle. There is a rare usage of a rear bunker off the back right. The green is somewhat two tiered. The most compelling part of the green is the back left section which juts out like its own appendage. This is another strong par 3. I do not know many golf courses considered to be “great” that do not have a good collection of at least three par 3’s.
12. Par 4 – 400/370. Either the second or the twelfth hole is my favorite at Oak Hill East. The hole plays straight between flanking large trees, the first ones on the left. The right side tree is next to a fairway bunker creating a double hazard. Relatively far up on the left is a final fairway bunker designed to catch those trying to lay up short of the green. The green complex is very good playing to a raised green of perhaps 15 feet high built into the side of the hill. The green is angled to the left with two fronting bunkers. The look of the complex is akin to a waterfall of hill, green, bunkers spilling down from the high point. A final small bunker is off the right front of the green. The green is steeply sloped to the front right.
13. Par 5 – 625/565. Many players will likely recognize the thirteenth as one of the finest parkland par 5’s they have ever played. Longer hitters will have to consider whether they try to drive the stream that is perfectly placed for the two yardages referenced here. Scattered trees go down nearly all of the left side stopping about 50 yards short of the green. The stream crosses about 295/235 yards from the tees. If someone misses right but can carry the water they will end up in a series of grassy mounds with thicker rough. The only two bunkers are well up the fairway, more in play for the average player than the longer hitters. To the right of these bunkers is a steep hill about 35 feet high. The green sits within a bowl, surrounded by higher ground on three sides and sitting higher to the fairway. There are two bunkers at the front corners. The green is squared with an overall tilt to the front left. This hole is both a visual delight and a joy to play, with the possibility of an eagle or birdie putt if one can execute the shots they want to hit. This hole would likely be the best par 5 on 95% of other courses.
14. Par 4 – 320. The most fun hole is next playing downhill from an elevated tee to a green perched high on a rise. There are two stacked bunkers on the left about eight yards apart with another bunker on the right only 50 yards from the green. The green is fronted by three bunkers putting a thought in the player’s head that they better not be short. Yet the hole requires commitment to precision as to the length of the approach shot. The approach shot must be lofted because a low-flighted shot runs the risk of going long over the green which has a steep fall-off behind the green. The green has fall-offs on all sides. The green is also steeply sloped to the front and one can use the bank on the green to get close to any pin at the front of the green. It is a cleverly crafted green complex.
15. Par 3 – 160/150. This is a new hole replacing a par 3 that the members found to be too difficult due to a fronting pond and a steeply sloped green bringing the pond into play from a chip behind the green. The new hole has a long green rectangular in shape that one plays slightly downhill. There are two fronting bunkers and a long bunker down the entirety of the left side. Missing right will have a ball landing in short grass but facing an uphill lofted shot. I felt the hole to be visually attractive but not as interesting as the hole that was there before.
16. Par 4 – 460/430. From a slightly elevated tee this hole plays straight. While there are scattered trees down the left side of the fairway, the right side has more danger due to large trees and two spaced fairway bunkers. There is another bunker left of the green about 7 yards short. A final long bunker goes down most of the right side of the green. The green has a long, gradual false front and somewhat of a two tier and inner swales. It is not the most interesting hole but it is a challenging one.
17. Par 5 – 500/465. For the Championship tees this plays as a par 4. The hole plays as a dogleg right with trees early on the left. The longer hitters will need to play to the left of a grouping of trees on the right inner corner. The only fairway bunkers are flanking bunkers about 100 yards short of the green that pinch the fairway. The land before each bunker is sloped to gather balls that are not hit perfectly down the middle. The only greenside bunker is off the front left. This is a large green with a sort of vertical central depression where the left side of the green is slightly below the right side. As a par 5 this is not much of a hole but as a par 4 it is a very difficult hole.
18. Par 4 – 490/405. This is a very good finishing hole to the round. The hole is a dogleg right with three stacked bunker on the inner corner as well as mounding and trees. There are also scattered trees down the left. The preferred line is down the left. The approach to the green has a valley before the land rises to the green built into the side of a hill. The green is terrific in its shape, narrower on its left side while the safer right side has three small bunkers. There is a slope back to front on this green that will bring a ball back a bit from the back edge. The overall slope of the green is to the front right corner. There is slightly less break than one might see on the left side if facing a horizontal putt. This green is a challenge to figure out and a perfect ending to a very good golf course.
Oak Hill East is a wonderful course, perfect for hosting major professional tournaments, for the best players, or for everyday play. While the PGA of America has moved the date of the men’s PGA Championship to May which can be a worry due to uncertain weather, I certainly hope it gets future major championships or a Ryder Cup so that even if one cannot get the chance to play it, at least they can see it on tv. I know the PGA of America will host several events at their new courses in Frisco, Texas, but I have yet to hear a favorable comment from people who have played the Gil Hanse-Jim Wagner course which also showed very poorly for the men’s Senior PGA and the PGA of America Club Professional tournaments. The East course at Oak Hill offers every sort of golf hole and golf shot with strategic decisions in abundance on many holes. The green complexes and green surfaces are quite compelling. While it will never be ranked in the top 20 in the United States due to the many holes on flatter ground, it should certainly be a mainstay in the top 50.
I do hope Oak Hill East continues to host significant tournaments as it is a worthy course that will challenge the best players in the world.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
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