Class of 2020

Oak Hills Country Club

Historic Registry of Golf Courses

Course History

Nestled within 170 acres of majestic oak trees and rolling hills within the San Antonio's Southwest Texas Medical Center, is one of the nation's premiere country clubs, Oak Hills Country Club. The course architect, World Golf Hall of Fame member A.W. Tillinghast’s trademark style is evident with its tree-lined fairways, bunker-protected greens and contoured putting surfaces.

Northwest of downtown, it was founded 102 years ago in 1921 as the "Alamo Country Club." The golf course opened for member play in 1922. Closed during the Great Depression, it reopened in 1946 as Oak Hills Country Club.

Oak Hills has hosted a number of PGA Tour events. The inaugural Tour Championship in 1987 at Oak Hills was won by Tom Watson with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole; the 6-iron used for the approach shot hangs in the pro shop. The tour's Texas Open was held at the course twenty-three times between 1961–1994, and the AT&T Championship on the Champions Tour nine times (2002–2010). It also hosted the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship in 2001.

Oak Hills has had several touring pros as members and boasts one of the best golfing memberships in the country with it being typical for 30 or more members being scratch or better at any given time.

Its golf course is known as an architectural gem and, as such, was a beloved stop for both PGA and Champions Tour players. It was consistently ranked as the #1 course in the San Antonio area for many years with its small greens and notoriously deep Tillinghast bunkers.

Former PGA Golf Professionals
Warren Smith (1946-1963)
- PGA of America Professional of the Year (1973)
Hardy Loudermilk (1963-1978)
- PGA of America Professional of the Year (1968)
David Price (1978-1985)
- PGA of America Professional of the Year in 1995

Professional Players (as of 2020)

Abraham Ancer - 2019 Presidents Cup Member
Cameron Beckman – three-time PGA Tour Winner
Tom Byrum - PGA Tour Winner
Roberto Diaz - Korn Ferry Tour
Nicholas Flanagan - 2003 U.S. Amateur Champion
Mitchell Meissner – Latino America Tour
Kyle Pritchard - 2019 Texas State Open Champion
John Hill – Canadian Tour

Legacy Video

Events Hosted

23 PGA Tour Texas Opens (1961-1966, 1977-1994)
- Champions include Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, John Mahaffey, Bill Rogers, Lee Trevino, Bruce Crampton & Bob Estes
1987 Inaugural PGA Tour Championship – Tom Watson, Champion
Nine Champions Tour Events (2002-2010)
TGA Men's Amateur (1950, 1959, 1972, 2016)
TGA Women's Amateur (1948, 1969, 1983)
TGA Men's Senior (1998, 2015)
TGA Men's Mid-Am Match Play (2013)
TGA Men’s Four-Ball Championship (2020)
U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (2001) - Henry Liaw, Champion
University of Texas - San Antonio Oak Hills Invitationals (2007-2016)
U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship (2024) - Sarah Lim and Asterisk Talley, Champions

A. W. Tillinghast - 6th Hole at Oak Hills

A.W. Tillinghast, one of golf’s greatest course designers, left a remarkable imprint on Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas. Tillinghast, renowned for his ability to blend artistry with challenge, designed Oak Hills in 1921 as a classic parkland course that resonates with strategic shot-making and natural contour. His routing gracefully utilizes the rolling South Texas landscape — employing gentle slopes, well-placed bunkers, and small, subtly contoured greens — to keep players engaged from tee to green. Tillinghast’s work at Oak Hills stands as a testament to his genius and understanding of golf’s rich traditions, offering a course that rewards creativity, careful course management, and a deep appreciation for the game’s finest details.

Loudermilk's Legacy of Golf Professionals at Oak Hills

Hardy Loudermilk’s tenure as golf professional at Oak Hills Country Club was marked by a passion for mentoring the next generation of golf pros and instilling in them the highest standards of the game. His guidance and generosity with his knowledge left a significant imprint on many, including Buddy Cook and David Price, who went on to become respected golf professionals in their own rights. Loudermilk didn’t just teach swings and short games — he fostered a deep understanding of golf’s traditions, its character-building values, and the importance of service to members. His ability to blend expertise, kindness, and a strong work ethic profoundly influenced those he mentored, creating a legacy that resonates through their own contributions to golf today.

Golf Hall of Fame member, Buddy Cook, started his career as a golf professional at Oak Hills Country Club. He worked and learned from Hardy Loudermilk for the first three years of his career.

Comedians or Golfers

Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio was a favorite spot for golf’s greatest players — and few provided more entertainment, both on and off the course, than Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino. Whenever these two legends came together at Oak Hills, there was as much banter and humor as there was pure golf prowess. Chi Chi, with his charming wit and signature hat flourish, kept everyone smiling, while Trevino’s quick quips and mischievous stories drew a crowd eager for a laugh. Between their shot-making artistry and their ability to connect with fans and members alike, Rodriguez and Trevino turned their rounds at Oak Hills into a blend of high-caliber golf and pure comic relief — adding a rich, human dimension to the history of this classic San Antonio golf course.