Welcome to the unimaginable Oak Hill Nation Membership. This golf course has a wealthy historical past and a popularity for championship golf, together with this yr’s PGA Championship. So, let’s dive into the historical past of Oak Hill Nation Membership, discover highlights of the golf course, and take a more in-depth take a look at what makes this place simply so particular.
Oak Hill Nation Membership in Rochester, New York
Historical past
Oak Hill Nation Membership was based in 1901 by a gaggle of Rochester-area businessmen who have been desirous about making a membership for golf and different outside actions. It started as 85 acres nestled alongside the Genesee River with a nine-hole course and farmhouse-turned-clubhouse. A few many years later, after putting a land swap take care of the College of Rochester, Oak Hill moved to its now present location. It was 4 occasions the scale of the course’s authentic dwelling, which allowed house for 2 18-hole programs that will in the end be designed by the legendary Donald Ross.
It was Ross’ perception that it was “the Lord (who) made golf programs” and it was merely his job as an architect to find them. With this in thoughts, Ross made cautious use of the terrain at Oak Hill by sculpting the already present contours with goal. The ultimate product was two championship golf programs, the East Course and the West Course, with the East Course receiving the majority of the eye.
Oak Hill Nation Membership has since hosted quite a few main golf championships over time and stays the one course in America to have hosted all six rotating males’s main golf championships, together with the 1995 Ryder Cup and 1998 United States Beginner. Actually, this yr would be the membership’s fourth time internet hosting the PGA Championship.
Highlights
The East Course at Oak Hill Nation Membership is understood for its difficult format and exquisite surroundings. It was renovated within the Seventies by George and Tom Fazio, and once more by Andrew Inexperienced in 2019, in an effort to modernize the golf course consistent with main golf championship requirements. Some adjustments to the golf course included new greens, extra pin placement choices, new bunkers, strategic tree removals, and extra.
One of the vital memorable moments within the historical past of Oak Hill Nation Membership got here through the 1980 PGA Championship when Jack Nicklaus received his fifth PGA Championship title. Nicklaus famously carded a third-round 66 and a final-round 69 to win the match, and his victory helped cement Oak Hill’s popularity as one of many high golf programs on this planet.
One other spotlight of Oak Hill Nation Membership is its clubhouse – a Tudor-style palace that options elegant structure and gorgeous views of the golf course.
Fascinating Details
Members’ authentic monetary commitments to the membership included a $25 initiation charge and yearly dues of $20.
Retired physician John Ralston Williams was tasked to help Ross in adorning the golf course with timber, largely oak. Williams reached out to arborists world wide for assist, one acorn at a time. There have been contributions from oaks planted by George Washington at Mount Vernon, from the Shakespeare Oak at Stratford-upon-Avon, from Sherwood Forest, the Cedars of Lebanon, and from the Kew Gardens of England. When requested what number of timber have been planted, Williams stated, “I ended counting at 75,000.”
Oak Hills’ “Hill of Fame” options people who’ve contributed to the sport of golf. They’re honored by a bronze plaque affixed to a tree to commemorate their achievements.
Oak Hill Nation Membership is a historic and world-renowned golf course. It’s top-of-the-line tracks within the nation and a go to to Oak Hill ought to actually be in your bucket checklist.