First Hole - Par 4
388 Yards
The first hole is a straight-away slightly downhill par 4 of medium length. The left-to-right sloping fairway is bordered by trees on both sides. A drive that starts on the left edge of the fairway will end up perfectly positioned in the center or right center of the fairway, leaving a short to mid iron into the green. The green also slopes from left to right and is protected by bunkers on each side. Don't miss to the left of the left bunker; you'll have a hard time just holding the green on your recovery shot.
Second Hole - Par 4
372 Yards
Number 2 is an uphill slightly bending left par 4. Your drive must stay in the center or right center to avoid being blocked by the grove of trees on the left side. Any drive into the left rough will usually be blocked from a clear path to the green. The green is protected by bunkers on both sides and has a very subtle break towards Milford (knowing where Milford is relative to your putt is important at Oak Hill).
Third Hole - Par 3
182 Yards
A slightly downhill par 3 protected by bunkers on either side. This tricky green is uphill from the false front to about mid-green, so a short tee shot either spins back off or doesn't release. From about mid-green to the back, it begins to fall off to the back and to each side, so shots landing mid-green often don't hold. Not a hard green to hit from the tee, but seldom an easy 2-putt.
Fourth Hole - Par 4
419 Yards
Number 4 is Oak Hill’s #1 handicap hole. It’s a slight dogleg left par 4. A good drive needs to be aimed just right of the large oak in the corner of the dogleg. A drive too far left of this tree will be blocked by other trees. Too far right and you’ll be blocked by trees or in the rough. The second shot is uphill to an elevated green, pitching from left to right and back to front. The false front will cause any short shot to roll back down into the fairway, and a long shot over the green will result in a treacherously fast downhill pitch. Large bunkers guard both sides of the green. This hole plays long for most average golfers.
Fifth Hole - Par 3
169 Yards
Number 5 is one of Oak Hill's most picturesque holes. It's a short downhill par 3 over both a stream and a pond. Don't be short, there's only a couple of yards between the pond and the green. Protected by bunkers on either side of the green and some tall walnut trees on the left, it's usually only a short to mid iron. Once on the green, however, putting is again the challenge. Uphill from the front and slightly downhill towards the back, it’s not an automatic 2-putt. At least this is one of the two easy par 3s on the course.
Sixth Hole - Par 5
537 Yards
Number 6 is the first par 5 on the front side. It's a long straight hole with OB on the left and a fairway bunker which catches a lot of good drives. The best drive will leave you with a lay-up shot which must avoid two additional fairway bunkers about 100-120 yards from the green. The green, protected by two sand bunkers and a grass bunker is positioned uphill from the fairway with a severe false front...no short shots will run up unto this green. You never want to be above the hole on this green because it has a big back to front pitch. Shots over the green will result in a touchy pitch back. Not hard tee to green, but you hope your third shot is close because two putting from a distance is always a challenge.
Seventh Hole - Par 4
397 Yards
Number 7 is a dogleg left that runs downhill severely at the turn. Drive to the right side of the fairway to avoid being blocked by the cherry and walnut trees on the corner. Long hitters need to be wary of hitting through the fairway into the penalty area if too far right. The center is at about 260 yards. The second is an easy downhill that plays shorter than the yardage. Protected by bunkers on either side, the green is receptive to shots flown to the pin, but many members play short and left and let the extreme left-to-right pitch of the fairway run the ball onto the green. Don’t be long and right or you will roll off the back quickly.
Eighth Hole - Par 5
517 Yards
Number 8 is a challenging, but not long, par 5 with a gradual dogleg left, lots of trees on both sides and a sharp left at the end over a small creek. Drives to the left are usually blocked by trees. Only the longest hitters should try going over the trees and cutting the dogleg for an eagle possibility. Most players will lay up before the creek with their second shot and hope for a quality short iron onto the green. The green is protected on either side and pitches from right to left and front to back. A good touch is needed when putting from the wrong side.
Ninth Hole - Par 4
392 Yards
Number 9 is the hardest par 4 on the frontside. It doglegs right to a very tough uphill green. Aim tee shots over the creek in the center or opposite the pin position (right of the fairway for left pin placement and vice versa). The approach is blind and the green plays quite a bit longer than the yardage due to the elevation and the two large, deep bunkers that protect the front. The green pitches hard from back to front and left to right. Hitting long over the green is almost sure to bring a shot you can't get "up and down" and putting right off the green is easy with some of the pin placements. The back left pin position is particularly treacherous.
Tenth Hole - Par 5
537 Yards
Hole number 10 boasts one of Oak Hill’s most challenging greens—which is saying a lot. The fairway slopes severely from left to right leading to the elevated green. Play the entire way on the right side if possible. Avoid the trees on the left with your second shot or you’ll be pitching back onto the fairway. Aim for the left side of the green. But if you’re too far left the pitch back is likely to either run off the green or not make it and need to be repeated. If you miss the green right you’ll be in one of the bunkers or the woods.
Eleventh Hole - Par 3
143 Yards
A par 3, number 11 is the shortest, easiest hole on the course. Only a short iron, even from the back tee box, it's a downhill hole that usually plays shorter than the yardage would indicate. The green slopes from left to right and is protected by bunkers on both sides and in the front. Being a short hole, shots landing in the bunkers are easily plugged, and playing a downhill shot from the left bunker is especially difficult. Shots played to the green’s back left will spin back to the middle and right hole locations. If you're looking for an easy birdie at Oak Hill, this is your best chance.
Twelfth Hole - Par 4
419 Yards
Number 12 is a long par 4 that bends slightly to the left. It runs uphill for the first 230 yards and then turns downhill toward the green. Drives must stay in the center or right center of the fairway or risk being blocked by the big linden tree on the left at the top of the hill. Most drives will be lucky to get halfway to the green due to the uphill slope. Keep approach shots short and left because of the extreme right-to-left and back-to-front pitches of the green. Aiming right of the flag can get the ball close, but missing right is almost an automatic bogey or worse. Most members find this a tough hole to reach in two shots and the green is guarded by two bunkers on the left and a depression on the right. This hole plays like a short par 5 for many members and making a par feels really good.
Thirteenth Hole - Par 4
385 Yards
Hole 13 is a “tricky easy hole.” It’s a downhill par 4 that requires an approach from a downhill lie to a narrow, well-protected green with bunkers left and right. Although trees guard both sides of the fairway, the hole sets up perfectly for straight or left-to-right drives. Don’t go over because it slopes away from the green quickly. There’s a large mound in the center of the green that affects most putts.
Fourteenth Hole - Par 4
369 Yards
Number 14 is another relatively short easy par 4. Slightly uphill off the tee, the drive must avoid the fairway trap on the left and the trees on both sides. A good drive leaves a short downhill iron to a green which runs right to left and back to front. Position your approach to be putting from below and left of the hole. The back left section of the green falls away to a collection area which captures most shots looking for a pin in that area. Bunkers guard both sides of the green.
Fifteenth Hole - Par 3
225 Yards
Here it is, one of the toughest par 3s you'll find in New Jersey and Oak Hill’s signature hole. It plays 25 yards above yardage because it’s uphill-all-the-way and requires a precise shot (drive?) over a valley and through an opening guarded by trees on both sides. The prevailing wind will likely be coming at you. Don’t miss right. You need to carry your tee shot all the way to the green since the false front won't allow much forward bounce. If you get there, holding the green is more a matter of luck than skill. It slopes hard from right to left. Many shots on the green funnel off into the collection area in the back left. Any tee shot left out to the right of the green will leave the golfer with a treacherous chip which is more likely to run through the green than stop on it. Two bunkers guard the left side of the green and they're both better places to be than just off the green to the right—which is treacherous. Although par is possible, bogeys or higher are more likely.
Sixteenth Hole - Par 4
359 Yards
Number 16 is a short downhill dogleg right par 4 that offers an interesting set of options. A generous landing area off the tee allows for a safe tee shot and a simple short to mid iron into the green, however, two fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway need to be missed. Big hitters can try to drive the green since a big drive down the right edge of the fairway can run down toward the green...either making the green or leaving just a short pitch. The key to this hole is getting the second shot to hold the green. The green slopes from left to right and hard to the back once you get past the hump in the center of the green. A front pin is usually welcomed, but the back pin placements have positions that are almost impossible to get close to...even with a short pitch shot. On the scorecard and from the tee this looks like a simple hole, but the green, again protected by bunkers on both sides, makes it much harder than most would think.
Seventeenth Hole - Par 4
353 Yards
Number 17 is a relatively short straight par 4 that is uphill off the tee and downhill to the green. Enjoy the stunning views at the top of the countryside, rolling hills, and the Delaware River in the distance. Your drive must avoid the fairway trap on the left side and the trees to the right. A drive into the right trees will run down towards the 18th fairway and leave either a blocked or blind shot to the green. The green is protected by bunkers on both sides but is one of the easier greens to hit, hold, and putt.
Eighteenth Hole - Par 5
522 Yards
The finishing hole at Oak Hill is a downhill par 5 that bends left around a grove of trees just before the green. Off the tee the fairway slopes hard right-to-left and a drive starting on the right edge of the fairway will end up in the center or left edge. Big hitters should still try to stay right for the best chance to go at the green in two but this requires navigating some trees. From the left, you’ve got to shape your shot around the evergreens left of the green which have a tendency to catch many shots. Average hitters will lay up around the 100-yard area trying to keep right to avoid the grove of trees. The green, one of the largest at the club, is again protected by bunkers on either side and divided front to back by a significant mound. Land on the same side (front or back) as the pin and a birdie putt or easy par may be in store. A shot on the wrong side will leave you a very long lag putt that you'll be lucky to get close.
Scorecard
Course and Slope Ratings
For the Men:
Black Tees: 72.0 / 136
Blue Tees: 70.8 / 132
White Tees: 68.7 / 128
Green Tees: 67.3 / 124
For the Women:
Green Tees: 73.1 / 131
Architect: William F. Gordon
PGA Head Professional: Michael Knight
Superintendent: Joel Jacquemot
