Oak Hill, where Curtis Strange became the first player in 38 years to successfully defend his U.S. Open title in 1989, is hosting its third U.S. Amateur and seventh USGA championship. The East and West Courses will be used for stroke-play qualifying and the East Course will be used for match play. “We are excited to return to Oak Hill Country Club, a course with an incredible USGA championship pedigree, that has produced significant U.S. Open champions,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Managing Director, Championships. “The membership of the club and the community’s unbridled enthusiasm will lend itself well, to what I am sure will be, an extraordinary championship.”
Oak Hill Country Club has been associated with some of the greatest champions in U.S. Open history. With his victory in 1989, Strange became the first player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since Ben Hogan. His 72-hole score of 2-under 278 was one stroke better than three players as he rallied from three behind at the start of the final round. Cary Middlecoff won his second U.S. Open in 1956 and Lee Trevino captured the first of his two Open championships in 1968. Two U.S. Amateurs and one U.S. Senior Open have also been conducted at the Club. The celebrated amateur, Charlie Coe defeated Rufus Johnson 9 & 8 to win the 1949 Amateur, while Hank Kuehne edged Tom McKnight, 2 & 1, in 1998. Miller Barber won the second of his record three U.S. Senior Open titles in 1984.
Founded in 1901 along the banks of the Genesee River, Oak Hill moved to its present site in the 1920s. It was at that time that both the East and West courses were designed by Donald Ross. Over the years numerous changes have been made to the East Course in response to the modern game. Trees planted decades ago began to dominate the landscape. In 2019, architect Andrew Green completed the restoration of the East Course back to its Donald Ross origins with strategic tree management, bold bunkering, and imaginative putting surfaces. The East Course reopened in late May of this year and now features stunning vistas, wider playing corridors, fantastic conditioning and a stern, thoughtful examination for championship golf.
“Oak Hill is thrilled to host the 2027 United States Amateur Championship on our East and West courses,” said Dr. David Fries, Club President. “We are also delighted to rekindle our relationship with the USGA, which dates to our first U.S. Amateur in 1949. Our membership has always longed to bring back this championship as the more intimate setting and match-play format allows for incredible spectating and excitement. Many of the greatest players in the history of the game have their names etched on the iconic Havemeyer Trophy. I am confident that the 2027 U.S. Amateur will be embraced with tremendous enthusiasm and support by the club and the entire Rochester community.
The 120th U.S. Amateur will be played Aug. 10-16, 2020 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, in Bandon, Ore. The championship will be conducted on the Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails courses.
Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club will host the U.S. Amateur in 2021 and will be followed by Ridgewood (N.J.) Country Club in 2022 and Cherry Hills Country Club, in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., in 2023. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 championships will be held at Hazeltine National Golf Club, in Chaska, Minn.; The Olympic Club, in San Francisco, Calif.; and Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa., respectively. The Honors Course, in Ooltewah, Tenn., will host in 2031.
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
Comments are closed.