History of Golf in Western New York, Historic Oak Hill Country Club, the PGA Championship and More

“FORE!!!”

The PGA Championship returns to Western New York (WNY) and, for the ‘FOURTH’ time, to Oak Hill’s historic East Course. Historian and Oak Hill Country Club board member, Fred Beltz, walks us through the history of the PGA Championship, Oak Hill and golf in WNY.

Sponsored by the Fluvanna Historical Society and the Oak Hill Country Club, this History Talk took place on March 18, 2023, at 10:00 AM, online and hosted in-person at the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House.

Perfect for both golf fans, newbies and curious people alike, this Talk will help everyone get ready for the PGA Championship in Rochester, May 15-21, 2023.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Start
00:01:05 Welcome
00:05:26 Introduction of the Guest Speaker – Fred Beltz
00:07:27 Presentation Start
00:08:17 Oak Hill Founding and First Club House – 1901
00:10:45 Oak Hill Second Club House – 1911
00:12:18 Land Swap with University of Rochester
00:13:36 Oak Hill Third Club House – 1925
00:16:13 First Exhibition (1927), Women’s New York State Amateur Championship (1930) & Other Events
00:18:22 Walter Hagen and Oak Hill’s Rise in Prominence
00:19:18 Gannett, the Times Union Open and Hogan’s East Course Record
00:21:48 US Amateur (1949)
00:23:10 Dr. John R. Williams: Oak Hill Arborist
00:25:54 Hill of Fame
00:27:14 US Open and Oak Hill as Site of Golf’s Major Tournaments
00:28:21 US Open (1968)
00:30:13 Fazios Course Changes
00:31:08 PGA Championship (1980)
00:32:49 Senior Open (1984)
00:33:45 US Open (1989)
00:34:17 Ryder Cup (1995)
00:35:45 US Amateur (1998)
00:36:03 PGA Championship (2003)
00:36:51 Senior PGA Championship (2008) (1st Club to Host All Six Men’s Golf Major Tournaments)
00:37:51 PGA Championship (2013) & Hogan Record Broken
00:39:53 Senior PGA Championship (2019)
00:40:40 Major Renovation
00:46:03 Questions
00:46:15 Requirements to Host Major Tournaments
00:50:08 Matching Dufner’s East Course Record and Future Prospects
00:54:40 Thoughts on PGA Championships Move to Spring and Next Major Tournaments
00:57:08 What are the “Four Aces”?
01:01:49 Cost to Host a Golf Major Tournament
01:05:42 Fred Beltz Background, Time in Sweden/Europe and Personal Golf History
01:12:50 Upcoming and Past CBS, ESPN and PGA Interviews
01:17:10 2023 PGA Championship Raffle
01:18:03 Next History Talk: History of Bells
01:18:17 Thanks
01:18:46 Closing Credits