Overview
Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, is one of the most decorated tournament venues in American golf. The club has two courses, the East and the West, and its Donald Ross-designed East Course is, by the club's account, the only course in America to have hosted all six rotating men's championships, including the 1995 Ryder Cup and the 1998 U.S. Amateur.
For more than 50 years the East Course has tested the best players in the world, and few have beaten it. When the 1956 U.S. Open came here, not one player finished the 72 holes under par. The club still guards that reputation for championship golf while offering members a modern, family-friendly country club.
The clubhouse includes the 1901 Grille, the Donald Ross Pub with its patio, The Parlor, a ballroom and fire pits, a bowling alley and a lower-level fitness center, and there is a pool complex and a sports complex. Members and guests can also stay in the club's cottages, whose back patio overlooks the East Course.
Facilities
Good to know
Oak Hill is a private club, so golf is for members and their invited guests. Guests are looked after from arrival: follow the signs on Chapin Way to the bag drop, and staff will escort you to the golf shop and a guest locker. Official page ↗
Golf attire is fine throughout the clubhouse. Men's shirts need sleeves and collars and are tucked in unless designed to be worn out; hats face forward and are only allowed on the lower level for men. No cargo shorts, athletic wear or slogan shirts. Official page ↗
Caddies are available, and tipping them is allowed. The first group out should finish in 3 hours 45 minutes or less on the West Course and 4 hours or less on the East Course.
145 Kilbourn Road, Rochester, NY, on the Pittsford side of the city. The Country Club of Rochester is about 1.3 km away.
History & highlights
Oak Hill's championship era began with the 1949 U.S. Amateur. When USGA executive director Joseph Dey inspected the East Course the year before, he was so impressed he asked where it had been for 20 years. Charlie Coe won the final 11 and 10 over Rufus King, and a 19-year-old Arnold Palmer was in the field.
In the 1956 U.S. Open, Cary Middlecoff won at 1-over-par 281 after Ben Hogan, chasing a record fifth Open, missed a 30-inch putt on the 71st hole. Twelve years later Lee Trevino made the 1968 U.S. Open his first PGA Tour win, becoming the first player to break 70 in all four rounds of an Open and tying the scoring record at 275, four shots ahead of Jack Nicklaus.
The East Course went on to host the 1980 PGA Championship, the 1989 U.S. Open, the 1995 Ryder Cup and the 1998 U.S. Amateur. The club also stages the long-running John R. Williams Four-Ball Invitational, named for the revered member who congratulated Coe in 1949.
The East Course is the club's championship test and has hosted every one of the rotating men's championships.
Lee Trevino arrived for the 1968 U.S. Open with about 20 dollars and three shirts, and left as champion, the first of his 29 PGA Tour wins.
Overnight cottages let guests stay at the club, with a patio looking out over the East Course.
- U.S. Amateur, 1949
- U.S. Open, 1956
- U.S. Open, 1968
- PGA Championship, 1980
- U.S. Open, 1989
- Ryder Cup, 1995
- U.S. Amateur, 1998
Tips for first-timers
- You will need a member to host you; Oak Hill does not sell public tee times.
- Leave your phone in the car if you can: calls are banned except in designated areas, though silent texting is allowed.
- Do not tip the food and beverage or golf service staff; tipping is only for caddies, locker room attendants, valets, coat check and cottage housekeepers.
- Change your shoes in the locker room, as the club strongly encourages.
- Play ready golf and keep up with the group ahead to stay on the club's pace targets.
Map & location
Oak Hill is at 145 Kilbourn Road, Rochester, NY 14618, reached along Chapin Way. The Country Club of Rochester is about 1.3 km away, and Locust Hill Country Club about 3.7 km.
FAQ
Can the public play Oak Hill Country Club?
No. Oak Hill is a private club; you need to be a member or the guest of one.
Who designed Oak Hill's East Course?
Donald Ross.
Which major championships has Oak Hill hosted?
Among them the 1956, 1968 and 1989 U.S. Opens, the 1980 PGA Championship, the 1995 Ryder Cup and the 1949 and 1998 U.S. Amateurs.
How many courses does Oak Hill have?
Two: the East Course and the West Course.
Who won the U.S. Open at Oak Hill?
Cary Middlecoff in 1956 and Lee Trevino in 1968, among others.
Are there caddies at Oak Hill?
Yes, and discretionary tipping of caddies is allowed.
Sources
Facts checked 23 October 2026. We only list details we could confirm on the sources above; anything else is left out.