Oakmont Country Club

Lore & Background

The course, the only design by Henry Fownes, opened in 1903. With a crew of 150 men and under two dozen mule teams, Henry Fownes spent a year building Oakmont on old farmland, ideal for a links-style course. The course straddles the Allegheny River Valley and uniquely has virtually no water hazards and, since 2007, almost no trees. With a USGA course rating of 77.5 and 168 bunkers, it is generally regarded in the golf community as one of the most difficult in the United States.

It features large, extremely fast, and undulating greens, while the rough is tough and thick. All of the greens are original save for the eighth, which was moved several yards to the left to make way for the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the late 1940s. Originally a links course, trees were added in the 1950s-1960s. Most were removed beginning after the 1994 U.S. Open, with between 5,000 and 8,000 eliminated during a 2007 renovation alone.

Greens are planted with Poa annua, and par for members is 71. The course is also noted for its slope. In particular, on holes one, three, 10, and 12, the greens pitch away from the fairway. One of Oakmont's most famous hazards is the Church Pews bunker that comes into play on the third and fourth holes.

The bunker measures approximately 100 by 40 yd and features 13 grass-covered traversing ridges that resemble church pews. For many years, Oakmont's bunkers were groomed with a rake with wider than normal tines, creating deep furrows. The rakes were last used in U.S. Open competition in 1962 and eliminated from the club in 1964.

Reader's Guide

The course has been consistently ranked as one of the five best by Golf Digest 100 Greatest Golf Courses in America. In 2007, Oakmont was placed in fifth by the magazine. It is one of only a few courses ranked in the top 10 every year of the publication's history. The top 50 toughest courses ranks Oakmont also at number five, while GolfLink.com ranks it third overall. Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open 10 times, more than any other course, most recently in 2025. It has also hosted three PGA Championships, six U.S. Amateurs, two U.S. Women's Opens, and three NCAA men's championships (1916, 1930, 1937).

Architectural Origins and Unique Landscape

Established in 1903 on old farmland within the East Hills suburbs of Pittsburgh, Oakmont Country Club is the only layout ever created by Henry Fownes. He directed a crew of 150 men and under two dozen mule teams to construct the links-style course over the span of a year. The property straddles the Allegheny River Valley and is notably devoid of water hazards. While trees were introduced during the 1950s-1960s, a significant renovation beginning after the 1994 U.S. Open removed thousands of them, with a major effort in 2007 eliminating between 5,000 and 8,000 specimens to restore its original open character.

The course is also defined by its challenging topography; specifically, the greens on holes one, three, ten, and twelve pitch away from the fairway. This commitment to preserving the original vision led to its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1987, cementing its status as the oldest top-ranked golf course in the United States.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Division

A defining geographical feature of Oakmont is the intrusion of modern infrastructure into its historic layout. The Pennsylvania Turnpike physically separates holes two through eight from the rest of the layout. This division necessitated a specific alteration to the eighth hole in the late 1940s, where the green was moved several yards to the left to accommodate the new highway construction. Consequently, all greens on the course are original except for this one. The presence of the turnpike creates a unique experience for players, effectively splitting the round into two distinct sections. Despite this interruption, the course maintains its reputation for severity, boasting 168 bunkers and a USGA rating of 77.5. The layout remains one of the most difficult in the nation, characterized by large, undulating greens planted with Poa annua and thick, punishing rough.

Legendary Hazards and Maintenance History

Oakmont is renowned for its specific hazards and historical maintenance practices that have shaped its difficulty. The most famous of these is the Church Pews bunker on holes three and four, a massive trap measuring approximately 100 by 40 yards (91 by 37 m). Its interior features thirteen grass-covered ridges traversing the length, resembling church pews, which creates a treacherous landing zone for errant shots. Historically, the club employed a unique grooming method using rakes with wider-than-normal tines to create deep furrows in the sand, a practice that added significant difficulty until it was eliminated from competition after 1962 and removed entirely by 1964.

The course's par is set at 71 for members. With virtually no trees since 2007 and an emphasis on fast, undulating putting surfaces, the course demands precision. These elements combine to create a testing ground that consistently ranks among the top five toughest courses in America according to Golf Digest.

A Record-Breaking Stage for Major Championships

Oakmont holds the distinguished record of hosting the U.S. Open ten times, more than any other venue in history, with its most recent championship occurring in 2025. Beyond this singular achievement, the club has also been the site of three PGA Championships, six U.S. Amateurs, two U.S. Women's Opens, and three NCAA men's championships (1916, 1930, 1937). Perhaps the most iconic event occurred in 1962 when a young Jack Nicklaus defeated Arnold Palmer in a Sunday playoff to claim his first professional major. Another historic performance came in 1973 when Johnny Miller shot a record-breaking final round of 63 (–8) to win by one stroke, a feat so dominant it influenced the USGA's setup for subsequent championships. Oakmont is scheduled to host its eleventh U.S. Open in 2033 and its twelfth in 2042.