Country Club of Rochester

One of the oldest golf clubs in America, the Country Club of Rochester is a championship golf course in the Towns of Brighton and Pittsford, in suburban Rochester, New York. Members of the elite Genesee Valley Club founded the golf club in 1895, on a farm four miles east of downtown.

The original course was of rather primitive design, reflective of the early era of golf. In 1912, the Club hired Scotsman Donald Ross to design a more modern course on the same grounds. Ross would become one of the most famous golf course architects in the game's history. Years later, the Country Club of Rochester course would be refined by Robert Trent Jones, a local man who was inspired by Ross as a boy, and ultimately followed in his hero's footsteps to become one of the most famous architects in the game.

Golf legend Walter Hagen started caddying at the Country Club of Rochester when he was 7½ years old. He progressed to become the assistant club pro, and won the 1914 U.S. Open. Later named head pro at CCR, Hagen went on to be one of the most influential figures in the history of the golf, winning 11 majors, 44 official tournaments and dozens of exhibitions, while becoming one of the greatest ambassadors the game of golf has ever known.

Sam Urzetta, who won the 1950 U.S. Amateur, served as Head Golf Pro at the Club for 37 years. Sam also holds the current course record with an 18 hole score of 61, which he has shot an astonishing three times at CCR. He is now succeeded as Head Golf Professional by his son, Michael.

The general manager at the club today is Al Antonez. He is known around the club for his hard work on the course.

The Country Club of Rochester hosted the 1953 U.S. Women's Open, the first women's open sanctioned by the USGA. It also hosted the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1962, and the U.S. Women's Open again in 1973.

Coordinates: 43°07′23″N 77°32′12″W / 43.1230°N 77.5367°W / 43.1230; -77.5367