Since just finishing Oakmont, how about we stick with the the hard wood...so here is a draft of a short summary on Oak Hill East...all constructive comments, corrections and additions are most welcome. Many thanks again to all who have made valuable contributions.
Oak Hill East – designed by Donald Ross circa 1923
Donald Ross’s famous Oak Hill East Course, was designed by Ross after the Oak Hill CC agreed to move from its original location along the banks of the Genessee River in Rochester, NY to a 355 acre site in a land swap with the University of Rochester in 1921. Ross designed two 18-hole courses on this site and the new courses officially were opened for play in 1926. The East course would become the famous one, hosting its first professional event in 1934. The course’s first national championhip was the 1949 U.S. Amateur, and would be followed by the U.S. Open in 1956. Over its history the course has hosted two U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, a Ryder Cup and several other national championships.
Over its history, the East course has undergone many modifications. An extensive tree planting program was initiated shortly after the course opened. However, George and Tom Fazio designed the most notable modifications in preparation for the 1980 PGA Championship. This redesign has not been universally accepted by the golf media and has been subject to criticism:
Author Daniel Wexler book Lost Links he notes, “ Prior to the 1980 PGA Championship, the Fazios followed up their work at Inverness with a visit to Oak Hill, replacing holes five and six with distinctly more modern creations. The old fifth (called “one of the best holes I ever played” by Lee Trevino) is mourned to this day.” {Lost Links, Forgotten Treasures of Golf’s Golden Age, Clock Tower Press, 2003, p.214.}
" Recent changes in the East Course were directed by George Fazio, golf course architect. They were intended to bring the course up to modern championship tournament standards. Among changes: The par three No. 5 hole was eliminated. A new green was built for No. 6, which became No. 5. A new par three was built to become No. 6, strategically using the creek. No. 15 par three green was moved down a hill and a pond was made beside it. " {From Little Acorns, Volume II, The Story of Oak Hill, 1901-1986, by Howard C. Hosmer, 1986, p.72}
" In total, four of the original Ross holes have been replaced, and “in the opinion of many, the championship East Course was to be “defiled,” some 50-odd years later by a modern architect, but still became the arena for such winning players as Jack Nicklus, Miller Barber, and Crtis Strange. Nicklaus, who had finished second in the 1968 U.S. Open, which was played on the “old” East course, said of the George Fazio moderninzing: “You had a great golf course here. Well, now you two great golf courses – 14 Donald Ross holes and four Fazio holes.” " {Once Upon a Time at Oak Hill, by Bruce Koch, 1995 p.__}
Despite these criticisms, Oak Hill most recently hosted the 1995 Ryder Cup, the 2003 PGA Championship, and the 2008 Senior PGA Championship. In advance of the 03 PGA, the course was lengthened and these modifications were overseen by Green Superintendent Paul Latshaw who noted, “ We've installed nine new tees, lengthened the course by 230 yards (7,134 yards and par 70), recontoured the fairways to 22 to 28 yards wide, and rebuilt the bunkers, making them deeper and moving some of them closer to the playing areas and tightening up the landing areas. ” {Staging the August 2003 PGA Championship, by Frank McAlonan, Club Management, Sunday, June 1, 2003}