Oak Hill CC - Videos, Pictures, Architecture & More

[dcfas]

Was there on Saturday in ‘03. Old school beauty with some massive bunkers and proper rough. Best fairway turf I’ve ever seen in person.

[KrazyTrain18]

 

[billyspan]

The Talking Golf History podcast has a nice new one out with the restoration architect, Andrew Green. This first one covers the front 9. Loved it!

 

https://talkingolf.com/episode-102-tgh-102-the-restoration-of-oak-hill-the-front-9/

 

[billyspan]

1989 is up on YouTube!

 

 

 

[smashdn]

Nice to not be beat over the head in a broadcast with distance, distance, distance.

[Ferguson]

Before the playoff with Faldo in 1988, Curtis said, "I like to warm up with drivah." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CrystalPepsi]

Here's a look from the teebox at what 14 looks like now

[IndyArcher]

8 minutes ago, CrystalPepsi said:

Here's a look from the teebox at what 14 looks like now

 

Whoa! Looks like a tornado came through and ripped everything out!

[italianstallion]

That really does look better without those trees in the background. Great improvement.

[So_Cal]

8 hours ago, CrystalPepsi said:

Here's a look from the teebox at what 14 looks like now

Stunning Donald Ross hole

[billyspan]

On 4/30/2023 at 2:50 PM, billyspan said:

1989 is up on YouTube!

 

 

 

Finished watching 1989...

Man, golf was SO MUCH HARDER with steel shafted persimmons!  

[Hankshank]

Looks a bit pinehursty, endless row of long par fours among the trees all the same but that’s hopefully not the case.

[elwhippy]

Awesome venue. Taking excess trees out is a good idea. 

[HomaComa]

I like Morikawa at this course. Lot of emphasis on ball striking and getting the ball in the fairway 

[CrystalPepsi]

On 5/3/2023 at 12:18 AM, Hankshank said:

Looks a bit pinehursty, endless row of long par fours among the trees all the same but that’s hopefully not the case.

6-7-8 are definitely long par 4s, especially 6 and 7 which are brutal

 

9+10 are par 4s too but very different than those 3

 

6 will be the hardest hole on the course w/ the creek

7 has the creek too and a very narrow fairway

 

But other than that 3 hole beast of a stretch, it isn't just long par 4 after long par 4

[Hankshank]

3 hours ago, CrystalPepsi said:

6-7-8 are definitely long par 4s, especially 6 and 7 which are brutal

 

9+10 are par 4s too but very different than those 3

 

6 will be the hardest hole on the course w/ the creek

7 has the creek too and a very narrow fairway

 

But other than that 3 hole beast of a stretch, it isn't just long par 4 after long par 4

Is it as gloomy as that Wood course the ladies play the first Major on? I’m definitely more of a Rancho Mirage spectator. Some wide horizon definitely adds to the watching experience, at least for me, but more importantly, do the holes come across as individual, unique? Merion where Rose won, I remember it as a wood course but the holes were definitely distinguishable.

Edited May 4, 2023 by Hankshank

[italianstallion]

47 minutes ago, Hankshank said:

Is it as gloomy as that Wood course the ladies play the first Major on? I’m definitely more of a Rancho Mirage spectator. Some wide horizon definitely adds to the watching experience, at least for me, but more importantly, do the holes come across as individual, unique? Merion where Rose won, I remember it as a wood course but the holes were definitely distinguishable.

The course is topographically in a hollow so no, you’re not going to see the horizon here. Honestly, if you haven’t been on the ground there I could see holes 7, 8, 16, 17, and 18 blending together for the TV viewer. They’re all medium to long par 4s with subtle variations that the telecast is probably not going to capture.
 

7 is probably the most demanding tee shot on the course, but I’m not sure how the cameras are going to pick up on that as the creek down the right side doesn’t really show well (if at all) from the tee box. 8 is just a straight away 4 who’s complexity lies in what surrounds and is on the green complex. 16 is similar in length, orientation, shape, and banality as 8. The only difference is it will be the last birdie chance coming down the stretch on Sunday, which could add some drama. It won’t show on the telecast but the drive on 17 presents a subtle challenge off the tee in the way the hole moves up to a rise in the landing area and then right. It creates an optical illusion that one can cut the corner on the hole, but I don’t think even the pros can. 18 moves right off the tee in a similar way as 17, but has more dramatic bunkering visible off the tee and on the approach. You also don’t have the option to run the ball onto the putting surface as you do on 17. It’ll also have massive grandstands around it which will differentiate it. 
 

Sometimes championship courses don’t visually knock your socks off, and usually that means the challenge lies in the subtle rather than the obvious. The biggest poster boy of that being Pinehurst No. 2. Oak Hill doesn’t try and be something it’s not. It’s a big, brawny, American parkland course, and as everything moves towards minimalist and naturalistic it’s good to see there’s still a place in the championship rota for courses such as these. 

[CrystalPepsi]

2 hours ago, italianstallion said:

The course is topographically in a hollow so no, you’re not going to see the horizon here. Honestly, if you haven’t been on the ground there I could see holes 7, 8, 16, 17, and 18 blending together for the TV viewer. They’re all medium to long par 4s with subtle variations that the telecast is probably not going to capture.
 

7 is probably the most demanding tee shot on the course, but I’m not sure how the cameras are going to pick up on that as the creek down the right side doesn’t really show well (if at all) from the tee box. 8 is just a straight away 4 who’s complexity lies in what surrounds and is on the green complex. 16 is similar in length, orientation, shape, and banality as 8. The only difference is it will be the last birdie chance coming down the stretch on Sunday, which could add some drama. It won’t show on the telecast but the drive on 17 presents a subtle challenge off the tee in the way the hole moves up to a rise in the landing area and then right. It creates an optical illusion that one can cut the corner on the hole, but I don’t think even the pros can. 18 moves right off the tee in a similar way as 17, but has more dramatic bunkering visible off the tee and on the approach. You also don’t have the option to run the ball onto the putting surface as you do on 17. It’ll also have massive grandstands around it which will differentiate it. 
 

Sometimes championship courses don’t visually knock your socks off, and usually that means the challenge lies in the subtle rather than the obvious. The biggest poster boy of that being Pinehurst No. 2. Oak Hill doesn’t try and be something it’s not. It’s a big, brawny, American parkland course, and as everything moves towards minimalist and naturalistic it’s good to see there’s still a place in the championship rota for courses such as these. 

Yeah just to add... 1-13 are on 1 side of the club house and then 14-18 are on the other side (where the west course is)

 

Totally agree on the tee shot on 7, very tough, trees left, creek right, narrow fairway

 

I do think 8 and 16 are different though as 16 goes downhill and they added a bunch of shortgrass to the back and left of the green, also has OB if you really hook one.  Personally, I like 16 more than 8. 

 

17 is a long uphill dogleg right that flattens out and then the green has short grass left of the green and hummocks to the right.  The corner has been cut (I remember someone doing it in the US Am) but you really have to bomb it over the trees

18 is a great finisher

 

Everyone is saying it's going to be a bombers course so it'll be interesting.... BTW, we've had a lot of rain recently, but supposed to be 60-70s and Sunny for about a week straight, so I wouldn't worry about the grass growing 

[gvogel]

On 5/1/2023 at 12:23 PM, Ferguson said:

Before the playoff with Faldo in 1988, Curtis said, "I like to warm up with drivah." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So did Bobby Jones.  I've read a few Bobby Jones books.

[smashdn]

On 5/1/2023 at 2:23 PM, CrystalPepsi said:

Here's a look from the teebox at what 14 looks like now

 

What is the play here I wonder?  And what is beyond the green?  No bunkers back there but are they going to shave the run-off back there so balls just keep going?

 

320 uphill is probably still driveable for some but is the risk of being in a deep, deep looking bunker worth the risk?

[ae1985]

16 hours ago, CrystalPepsi said:

 BTW, we've had a lot of rain recently, but supposed to be 60-70s and Sunny for about a week straight, so I wouldn't worry about the grass growing 

Really hope it's sunny and warm while I'm there LOL

[TLUBulldogGolf]

10 minutes ago, smashdn said:

 

What is the play here I wonder?  And what is beyond the green?  No bunkers back there but are they going to shave the run-off back there so balls just keep going?

 

320 uphill is probably still driveable for some but is the risk of being in a deep, deep looking bunker worth the risk?

 

Probably put it in the greenside bunkers or lay well back to safety. I would guess behind the green is just more rough or you probably wouldn't have anyone going for it, though that is a big carry. 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

1 hour ago, smashdn said:

 

What is the play here I wonder?  And what is beyond the green?  No bunkers back there but are they going to shave the run-off back there so balls just keep going?

 

320 uphill is probably still driveable for some but is the risk of being in a deep, deep looking bunker worth the risk?

A Local TV station is doing a series on the hole by hole changes. Here's what they say about 14. Looks amazing. I can't wait to to walk around there! 

 

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/pga-championship/18-holes-of-the-pga-championship-hole-14/

 

[Stevens24]

1 hour ago, TLUBulldogGolf said:

 

Probably put it in the greenside bunkers or lay well back to safety. I would guess behind the green is just more rough or you probably wouldn't have anyone going for it, though that is a big carry. 

These bunkers are designed as hazards and the walls are of close to vertical so not sure a greenside bunker is the play.  Likely hit a long iron and a wedge unless you are chasing and need an eagle.

Edited May 5, 2023 by Stevens24

[TLUBulldogGolf]

12 minutes ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

A Local TV station is doing a series on the hole by hole changes. Here's what they say about 14. Looks amazing. I can't wait to to walk around there! 

 

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/pga-championship/18-holes-of-the-pga-championship-hole-14/

 

 

So it is a runoff, that will definitely make them think twice about it.

 

6 minutes ago, Stevens24 said:

These bunkers are designed as hazards and the walls are of close to vertical so not sure a greenside bunker is the play.  Likely hit a long iron and a wedge unless you are chasing and need an eagle.

 

As they have to be for such a short hole. I think you will see a mix of strategies which is what makes for a great short par 4. 

[smashdn]

2 hours ago, TLUBulldogGolf said:

 

Probably put it in the greenside bunkers or lay well back to safety. I would guess behind the green is just more rough or you probably wouldn't have anyone going for it, though that is a big carry. 

 

51 minutes ago, Stevens24 said:

These bunkers are designed as hazards and the walls are of close to vertical so not sure a greenside bunker is the play.  Likely hit a long iron and a wedge unless you are chasing and need an eagle.

 

I guess the rub is whether the greenside rough is penalty enough where you could not reliably hit a pitch or chip close and what the likelihood is of ending in the rough as opposed to the bunkers.

 

58 minutes ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

A Local TV station is doing a series on the hole by hole changes. Here's what they say about 14. Looks amazing. I can't wait to to walk around there! 

 

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/pga-championship/18-holes-of-the-pga-championship-hole-14/

 

 

The run off to the back right might have been the only place they could have put it but, how likely are you to end up there with the large tree front right as well?

 

I have to think the play is to just lay back to 100-70 yards, whatever your distance, on the appropriate side of the fairway.  Hole cut in the front it will be a "par is good" hole, back of green, throw your shot back there and get it close for birdie.

 

Thank you for posting that video btw.

[CrystalPepsi]

Speaking from experience, w/ a hole cut on the left... The rough in front of that tree on the right isn't the worst spot in the world

[Stevens24]

On 5/5/2023 at 9:56 AM, smashdn said:

 

 

I guess the rub is whether the greenside rough is penalty enough where you could not reliably hit a pitch or chip close and what the likelihood is of ending in the rough as opposed to the bunkers.

 

 

 

 

 

From what I have seen a ball can stick in the rough on the face of the bunker. The sand is really only at the bottom of the bunkers and the walls are thick rough. 

[smashdn]

40 minutes ago, Stevens24 said:

From what I have seen a ball can stick in the rough on the face of the bunker. The sand is really only at the bottom of the bunkers and the walls are thick rough. 

 

I like that.  If I am setting it up to be difficult I would rather the ball hang up on a slope where there is potential of them moving the ball and a much higher level of uncertainty in how the ball is going to come out that manicured sand in a flat bottom bunker.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Looking forward to walking around there next week. I'm really looking forward to seeing the course changes in person.

 

I wonder what it's gonna take for a winning score?