Preparations are being completed at Oak Hill Country Club as we sit less than one week away from the opening round of the 2013 PGA Championship. There may not be a more beautiful golf course out there as the best players in the world embark on their quest to win the year’s final major. Oak Hill Country Club is “timeless” in the word’s of Rory McIlroy, who played a practice round in early June at the PGA Media Day.
Oak Hill Country Club was founded in 1901 on the banks of the Genesee River in Rochester, New York. However, the club didn’t settle at its current location until 1921 when a land-swap with the University of Rochester brought the course to Pittsford, New York where the course has stood the last 92 years. Since that move, Oak Hill has been the host to several championships including three U.S. Opens (1956, 1968, 1989), three PGA Championships (1980, 2003, 2013), two U.S. Amateurs (1949, 1998), one U.S. Senior Open (1984), one Senior PGA Championship (2008) and the Ryder Cup (1995). In the 11 above-listed championships, only 10 players have finished under par proving that despite Oak Hill’s seemingly lack of length, the course has stood the test of time and is still one of the most difficult (yet fair) golf courses in the world.
Oak Hill’s East Course will play to a challenging 7,163 yards next week at par 70.
Hole 1 – 460 Yards, Par 4
Oak Hill’s starting hole is a demanding one which Ben Hogan claimed to be the toughest opening shot in golf. Trees hug the left off the fairway leaving players aiming for the right-side on this slight dogleg left. The right rough is penal with out-of-bounds off the rough. Most drives will leave a player 140-180 yards to the pin forcing some to have to lay up out of the thick rough if they miss the fairway. Allen’s Creek meanders about 90-100 yards in front of the green through the fairway. The green on Hole 1 is protected on both sides in the front by bunkers and trees and also a back middle bunker which leaves a very difficult and quick sandshot as the green slopes back-to-front.
Hole 2 – 401 Yards, Par 4
A much underappreciated and overlooked hole, #2 features a tight landing spot in a fairway that slopes from right to left as the hole plays uphill surrounded by a cathedral of oak trees. This slight dogleg right has three bunkers on the left and two on the right of the fairway where most will hit their tee shot. Their approach shot will be a short-iron into a heavily guarded green on all sides. This may be one of the quickest putts on the course if you’re above the hole.
Hole 3 – 214 Yards, Par 3
A long tee shot which forces you to carry the ball the entire way to an elevated green. Deep bunkers guard the front of both sides of the green with a back left bunker as well. This green runs quickly back-to-front and anything short will run down the hill 20-30 yards. A long tee shot will present a player with an impossible pitch onto the sloping green. Par here will be coveted.
Hole 4 – 570 Yards, Par 5
A long dogleg right Par 5 presenting players the opportunity to hit the green in two. Most players will be able to hit a fade over the two deep fairway bunkers on the right allowing a long second shot into a receptive green. Too far right is out-of-bounds which may leave some players to lay up off the tee and play three shots in. Most pin placements should be receptive to birdies.
Hole 5 – 428 Yards, Par 4
A slight dogleg right Par 4 that demands players to tee off through a 215-yard line of trees forcing a straight tee shot with a 3-wood to avoid Allen’s Creek on the right. The approach will not be easy despite the shortness as the green slopes in every direction and anything short will be in the creek. Two good shots are needed here to make Par.
Hole 6 – 175 Yards, Par 3
The green on the Par 3 is guarded on every side but the back right. Allen’s Creek runs around the front to the back with shaved grass leading into the creek. Anything short, long or left will be in the creek.
Hole 7 – 461 Yards, Par 4
The first hole in a three-hole stretch known as “The Gauntlet” to members. A very demanding Par 4 that despite its seeming openness off the tee is very tight as Allen’s Creek runs through the middle and right. The left rough is trouble as oak trees present a very difficult pitch out. After a difficult tee shot, players will be left with an uphill approach to a heavily guarded front of this small green.
Hole 8 – 428 Yards, Par 4
The 8th hole presents players with an opportunity for birdie. This straight tee shot will allow players to bomb their drive and leave a short iron or wedge in. The bunkers on the left will force players to lay up if they miss the fairway. Trees line this fairly wider fairway. This green took significant damage in the beginning of July as a large oak fell onto it in a storm. Fortunately, this large green has several great pin locations making it accessible for most to make 3.
Hole 9 – 452 Yards, Par 4
A tricky dogleg right uphill provides players a difficult tee shot to a low landing area running uphill. Anything left will run to the rough and anything right will be blocked by the trees. Far right on this hole is jail forcing a chip out leaving a mid-low iron into the green. The green is large but guarded up front and has subtle elevation change. Missing this green means a tough pitch on.
Hole 10 – 429 Yards, Par 4
A downhill drive leaves players a decision to make on the tee. Some will hit driver in hopes of carrying the bunkers on the left leaving a short-iron into a small green over Allen’s Creek. Others will hit an iron or wood to avoid the trees on the right. Center of the fairway here is key allowing players an approach without having to deal with the large tree front-right of the green.
Hole 11 – 226 Yards, Par 3
Often playing into the wind, this long Par 3 tee shot must carry Allen’s Creek and avoid the bunkers flanking each side of the green as well as the back. This two-tiered green can leave players will very difficult long putts.
Hole 12 – 372 Yards, Par 4
This short Par 4 sets players up to hit iron off the tee to ensure a clear approach shot at this difficult green. The green presents players with a demanding approach with a deep bunker on the front and left as well as pot bunkers in the front right. Long on this green will leave a nearly impossible chip off a thickly roughed hill. This two-tiered green is fast and will cause many three-putts.
Hole 13 – 598 Yards, Par 5
Oak Hill’s signature hole, the Hill of Fame is a long narrow Par 5. Two great shots would be needed to have a chance to hit this green in two but is unlikely given Allen’s Creek bisecting the fairway about 300-yards off the tee. The next shot for players will be an uphill tight approach where most will lay up with a mid-iron to avoid the bunkers on the right. A third shot will be a wedge or low-iron into a severely quick back-to-front green surrounded by six bunkers. Despite being a Par 5, you won’t see many birdies.
Hole 14 – 323 Yards, Par 4
Some players may be tempted to hit driver and hope to land this uphill short Par 4 in one. Most will hit iron to the base of the hill and leave themselves a wedge into a steep back-to-front green. Anything long or left of this green will be big trouble. Once on the green, the multi-tiers will present players with tough putting situations if they’re putting down the slope. Any putt down hill won’t stop which may lead some players to big scores.
Hole 15 – 181 Yards, Par 3
Much has changed on this hole since the last time the PGA was held at Oak Hill. This short Par 3 will prove tough as a pond protects anything right of the tight green with several deep pot bunkers on the left. Depending on pin placement, par will be a good number.
Hole 16 – 439 Yards, Par 4
This straight Par 4 will allow players to wind up and bomb driver down this tree-lined fairway. Players will be left with a slightly downhill approach to a large back-to-front sloping green protected on both sides by sand. This will be one last chance at birdie before the long finish.
Hole 17 – 509 Yards, Par 4
This long dogleg right will demand players to hit two good long shots just to get to the green. This hole should play the most difficult on the course as the tee shot needs to fade around the trees hugging the right fairway. Anything left will be in the rough blocked by trees. The approach will be a long iron into a heavily guarded multi-tiered green. The hole will most likely yield the least birdies on the course.
Hole 18 – 497 Yards, Par 4
I’m surprised to see the PGA not listing this hole over 500-yards. Another long Par 4, the finishing hole at Oak Hill is a memorable one. Shaun Micheel had no issues when he stuck a 7-iron to tap in for birdie to win the PGA Championship in 2003. The tee box is new now and this hole still plays long and difficult. Tee shots will need to avoid the penalizing bunkers on the right and the trees on the left. Anything off the fairway will be near impossible to hit the green. The approach shot will be tough onto a shallow sloping green which demands the ball to carry the distance the whole way. Again, it won’t be uncommon to see bogey here. Truly, a great finishing hole.