Where would you rather (not) play...Oak (tree) Hill or "Tree-dinah"

[Ted Sturges]

I attended the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill in 1995.  I haven't been back since.  Boy...trees sure grow a lot in 18 years.  I can remember a number of times yesterday when a competitor was playing an approach shot FROM THE FAIRWAY and had to shape the shot in a way that would avoid one or more trees.  

Is Oak Hill now more of a forest than Medinah?  Which  golf course is better between those two today?  Which is more overrated?  

I'm kind of surprised the PGA of America wouldn't come in a few years before the event and force the club to prune the forest.

Comments?

TS

[Ronald Montesano]

the trees were CGI created. Oak Hill is actually a barren heathland.

[Andrew Buck]

I attended the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill in 1995.  I haven't been back since.  Boy...trees sure grow a lot in 18 years.  I can remember a number of times yesterday when a competitor was playing an approach shot FROM THE FAIRWAY and had to shape the shot in a way that would avoid one or more trees.  

Is Oak Hill now more of a forest than Medinah?  Which  golf course is better between those two today?  Which is more overrated?  

I'm kind of surprised the PGA of America wouldn't come in a few years before the event and force the club to prune the forest.

Comments?

TS

Walking around Medinah last year, I just couldn't believe how much more open it was than a decade prior.  

I've never been on Oak Hill, but I felt like Medinah looked far improved on that front.

[J_ Crisham]

I never turn down an invite to Medinah- if you are hitting it sideways you will post a big number. Prefer it to Butler where even good shots can be punished. Medinah is a course that examines your tee to green game very well. Not been to Oak Hill but it looks fun- someday hopefully.

[Terry Lavin]

In the past six years Medinah has removed well over 1000 trees. There are still more to be taken down, in my judgment, but it's not nearly as infested as OH would appear to be. I don't think there is a single tree in front of a bunker blocking access toward the line of play. I saw that on several holes at Oak Hill. There isn't a single Medinah hole like the short par 4 at OH where you have to thread the needle just to lay up in front of the green. I'm not saying Medinah is headed toward an Oakmont landscape, but it is vastly improved now and not nearly claustrophobic.

[Will MacEwen]

I'm likely not enough of a ballstriker to play either one on a regular basis, but I would certainly welcome the chance to take on either one.  In view of the tree removal update, likely Medinah.  From the right tees, I'd likely enjoy both of them.

[Eric_Terhorst]

a number of times yesterday ... a competitor was playing an approach shot FROM THE FAIRWAY and had to shape the shot

Competitors at a major were forced to shape a shot  FROM THE FAIRWAY.  The horror!!!

I had the good fortune to be invited to Medinah last year and can echo the comments above that the course is dramatically changed from the 2006 PGA.  I would be delighted to return any time.

I'm not a fan of over-treed golf courses by any stretch.  However, to suggest that one should turn up his nose at an invite to an historic club because of a perception based on TV viewing that it has a few too many trees is really the height of something.

Ted, if a member gives you a call and you can't stomach another visit to Oak Hill, please send him my way.

[Jim Sherma]

I doubt the question was meant to disrespect one or the other. I have little doubt that both clubs are great days out and that few of us would turn down an invite to either. Saying that, I have to say that Medinah as it played for the Ryder Cup looked more interesting to me than Oak Hill did this past week. Granted that this is only from TV viewing and the courses could strategically play much different from the 64-6700 yard tees that I would be interested in playing.

Looking back at this photo essay from the Ryder cup to help my memory of watching it on TV;

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,53660.0.html

Medinah appears to have some nice rolls in the fairways that I really like in a parkland course. The par-threes are very one dimensional and not of great interest but the rest of the course fits my eye better than Oak Hill did this week. While Oak Hill's par-3's appear to be more interesting in terms of recovery options and variety, the rest of the corridors mostly do not appear to have much movement and flow based on my tv viewing and this fine photo essay;

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52792.0.html

I also thought that Furyk's comments were interesting and certainly leads one to think that there was very little strategy questions being asked of the competitors this week:  "You get four pops a year; this golf course set up very well for my game.  I love the golf course.  I played pretty well the last time here.  I was excited to come in.  They pinched the fairways down.  Everyone was playing from the same spots.  It's set up very well for someone like Jason or I for our game." (from http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=91711)

Based on this analysis I have to admit that I am more interested in playing Medinah at this point. This is not meant to be a knock at Oak Hill just an answer to a question. As I said above, I am certain that it is a fine course that has relatively few peers, and if we bring the "other" courses into play, the West at Oak Hill could certainly tip my interest towards upstate New York's favor.

[Andrew Buck]

As I said above, I am certain that it is a fine course that has relatively few peers, and if we bring the "other" courses into play, the West at Oak Hill could certainly tip my interest towards upstate New York's favor.

I'm really hoping Tom Doak's work on 1 will make it so that isn't the case come next summer or fall.