Oakmont Country Club facts for kids
Oakmont in November 2009
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| Club information | |
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 Location in the United States
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Coordinates | 40°31′34″N 79°49′37″W / 40.526°N 79.827°W |
| Location | Plum, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Established | 1903 |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Greens | Poa annua |
| Fairways | Bentgrass, Poa annua |
| Website | oakmont-countryclub |
| Designed by | Henry Fownes (1904), Tom Fazio (2015 renovation), Gil Hanse (2023-2024 restoration) |
| Par | 71 (70 for U.S. Open since 2007) |
| Length | 7,254 yards (6,633 m) |
| Course rating | 76.9 |
| Slope rating | 142 |
| Course record | 63 – Johnny Miller (1973 U.S. Open) |
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Oakmont Country Club
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Nearest city | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Fownes, Henry C.; Stotz, Edward |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003090 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 17, 1984 |
| Designated NHL | June 30, 1987 |
Oakmont Country Club is a famous country club located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It opened in 1903 and is known for its amazing golf course. Many people consider it the "oldest top-ranked golf course in the United States."
In 1987, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place. A big highway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, actually runs through the course, separating some of its holes.
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Oakmont's Golf Course
The golf course at Oakmont was designed by Henry Fownes and opened in 1903. He spent a year building it on old farmland. About 150 workers and many mule teams helped create the course.
Oakmont is unique because it has almost no water hazards. Also, since 2007, it has very few trees. This makes it feel like a "links" course, which are traditional golf courses found near coastlines.
The course is known as one of the toughest in the U.S. It has a high USGA course rating of 77.5. There are also 175 sand traps, called bunkers, to challenge golfers. The greens, which are the putting areas, are very fast and have many slopes.
Originally, the course had no trees. But trees were added in the 1950s and 1960s. After 1994, most of these trees were removed. For example, between 5,000 and 8,000 trees were taken out in 2007 alone. The greens are covered with a type of grass called Poa annua.
The course is also famous for its sloped greens. On holes 1, 3, 10, and 12, the greens slope away from where players hit the ball.
One of Oakmont's most famous features is the Church Pews bunker. This huge sand trap is about 100 yards long and 40 yards wide. It has twelve grassy ridges that look like church pews. Golfers often find their balls stuck between these ridges.
Top Rankings
Oakmont Country Club is always ranked as one of the best golf courses in America. Golf Digest magazine often places it in its top five. In 2007, it was ranked 5th. It's one of the few courses that has been in the top ten every year since the magazine started its rankings. GolfLink.com also ranks Oakmont as the 3rd best course overall.
Oakmont Scorecard
| Tee | Rating/Slope | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 77.5 / 147 | 482 | 340 | 426 | 609 | 382 | 194 | 479 | 288 | 477 | 3677 | 462 | 379 | 667 | 183 | 358 | 500 | 231 | 313 | 484 | 3577 | 7254 |
| U.S. Open | -- / -- | 482 | 340 | 426 | 609 | 382 | 194 | 479 | 288 | 477 | 3677 | 462 | 379 | 667 | 183 | 358 | 500 | 231 | 313 | 484 | 3577 | 7254 |
| Par | U.S. Open | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 70 |
| Blue | 74.0 / 134 | 441 | 325 | 390 | 512 | 349 | 168 | 370 | 225 | 462 | 3242 | 440 | 328 | 562 | 153 | 340 | 434 | 211 | 296 | 430 | 3194 | 6436 |
| White | 72.4 / 130 | 423 | 317 | 378 | 504 | 347 | 152 | 357 | 209 | 459 | 3146 | 436 | 307 | 550 | 139 | 332 | 428 | 189 | 276 | 420 | 3077 | 6223 |
| Red | 75.6 / 136 | 418 | 309 | 339 | 467 | 275 | 143 | 274 | 185 | 431 | 2841 | 431 | 271 | 466 | 129 | 327 | 421 | 135 | 259 | 412 | 2851 | 5629 |
| Par | Men's | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
| Handicap | Men's | 3 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 6 | |||
| Par | Women's | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 75 |
| Handicap | Women's | 7 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 14 | 8 |
Major Golf Championships
Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open nine times. This is more than any other golf course! It will host its tenth U.S. Open in 2025.
Oakmont has also hosted many other important golf tournaments. These include three PGA Championships, five U.S. Amateurs, and two U.S. Women's Opens.
| Year | Major | Winner | Winning Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | U.S. Open (9) |  Dustin Johnson |
276 (–4) |
| 2010 | U.S. Women's Open (2) | Paula Creamer |
281 (–3) |
| 2007 | U.S. Open (8) |  Ángel Cabrera |
285 (+5) |
| 2003 | U.S. Amateur (5) |  Nick Flanagan |
37th Hole |
| 1994 | U.S. Open (7) |  Ernie Els |
279 (–5), Playoff |
| 1992 | U.S. Women's Open | Patty Sheehan |
280 (–4), Playoff |
| 1983 | U.S. Open (6) | Larry Nelson |
280 (–4) |
| 1978 | PGA Championship (3) | John Mahaffey |
276 (–8), Playoff |
| 1973 | U.S. Open (5) | Johnny Miller |
279 (–5) |
| 1969 | U.S. Amateur (4) | Steve Melnyk |
286 |
| 1962 | U.S. Open (4) | Jack Nicklaus |
283 (–1), Playoff |
| 1953 | U.S. Open (3) | Ben Hogan |
283 (–5) |
| 1951 | PGA Championship (2) | Sam Snead |
7 & 6 |
| 1938 | U.S. Amateur (3) | Willie Turnesa |
8 & 7 |
| 1935 | U.S. Open (2) | Sam Parks Jr. |
299 (+11) |
| 1927 | U.S. Open |  Tommy Armour |
301 (+13), Playoff |
| 1925 | U.S. Amateur (2) | Bobby Jones |
8 & 7 |
| 1922 | PGA Championship | Gene Sarazen |
4 & 3 |
| 1919 | U.S. Amateur | Davidson Herron |
5 & 4 |
U.S. Opens at Oakmont
1927 U.S. Open
The first U.S. Open at Oakmont was in 1927. Tommy Armour won after a special 18-hole playoff against Harry Cooper. The course was 6,929 yards long. Most players found it very difficult, with only two rounds played under par.
1953 U.S. Open
In 1953, golf legend Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open at Oakmont by six strokes. He finished five strokes under par. This was one of three major championships Hogan won that year. The course was 6,916 yards long.
1962 U.S. Open
The 1962 U.S. Open saw a young 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus beat the famous Arnold Palmer in a playoff. This was Nicklaus's first big professional win. It was also the first of his 18 major championships. The course's par was changed to 71 that year.
1973 U.S. Open
Johnny Miller won the 1973 U.S. Open with an amazing final round score of 63. This was a record low score for a U.S. Open at the time. Miller started the final day far behind, but his incredible play helped him win by one stroke. He hit every green and used only 29 putts.
Johnny Miller's Record Round
Here's how Johnny Miller played his record-setting round on June 17, 1973:
| Hole | Yards | Par | Club selections | Score | Result | To par |
| 1 | 469 | 4 | Driver, 3-iron to 5 feet | 3 | birdie | –1 |
| 2 | 343 | 4 | Driver, 9-iron to 1 foot | 3 | birdie | –2 |
| 3 | 425 | 4 | Driver, 5-iron to 25 feet | 3 | birdie | –3 |
| 4 | 549 | 5 | Driver, 3-wood, bunker shot to 6 inches | 4 | birdie | –4 |
| 5 | 379 | 4 | Driver, 6-iron to 25 feet, 2 putts | 4 | par | –4 |
| 6 | 195 | 3 | 3-iron to 25 feet, 2 putts | 3 | par | –4 |
| 7 | 395 | 4 | Driver, 9-iron to 6 feet, 2 putts | 4 | par | –4 |
| 8 | 244 | 3 | 4-wood to 30 feet, 3 putts | 4 | bogey | –3 |
| 9 | 480 | 5 | Driver, 2-iron to 40 feet, 2 putts | 4 | birdie | –4 |
| Out | 3,479 | 36 | 32 | –4 | ||
| 10 | 462 | 4 | Driver, 5-iron to 25 feet, 2 putts | 4 | par | –4 |
| 11 | 371 | 4 | Driver, wedge to 14 feet | 3 | birdie | –5 |
| 12 | 603 | 5 | Driver, 7-iron, 4-iron to 15 feet | 4 | birdie | –6 |
| 13 | 185 | 3 | 4-iron to 5 feet | 2 | birdie | –7 |
| 14 | 360 | 4 | Driver, wedge to 12 feet, 2 putts | 4 | par | –7 |
| 15 | 453 | 4 | Driver, 4-iron to 10 feet | 3 | birdie | –8 |
| 16 | 230 | 3 | 2-iron to 45 feet, 2 putts | 3 | par | –8 |
| 17 | 322 | 4 | 1-iron, wedge to 10 feet, 2 putts | 4 | par | –8 |
| 18 | 456 | 4 | Driver, 5-iron to 20 feet, 2 putts | 4 | par | –8 |
| In | 3,442 | 35 | 31 | –4 | ||
| Total | 6,921 | 71 | 63 | –8 |
1983 U.S. Open
In 1983, Larry Nelson made a big comeback to win the U.S. Open. He shot very low scores in his final two rounds. This helped him beat defending champion Tom Watson by one stroke.
1994 U.S. Open
The 1994 U.S. Open was won by 24-year-old Ernie Els. He had to play an extra playoff round against two other golfers, Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie. It was a very hot and humid day. Els eventually won in a sudden-death playoff.
2007 U.S. Open
In 2007, Ángel Cabrera from Argentina won the U.S. Open. He finished one stroke ahead of Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk. Before this tournament, the course was updated. Over 4,000 trees were removed, making it look more like its original "links" style. The course was also made longer.
2016 U.S. Open
Oakmont hosted the U.S. Open for the ninth time in 2016. Dustin Johnson won his first major championship title by three strokes.
2025 U.S. Open
Oakmont is set to host its tenth U.S. Open in 2025. This was announced by the USGA in 2016.
What Golfers Say About Oakmont
Many famous golfers have shared their thoughts on Oakmont:
- USGA Director Mike Davis said: "This really is the gold standard for championship golf. It doesn't get any better than Oakmont."
- Lee Trevino once said: "There's only one course in the country where you could step out right now — right now — and play the U.S. Open, and that's Oakmont."
- Phil Mickelson called it: "It's really a neat, special place."
- Johnny Miller believes: "It's probably the best course in the world . . . This is the greatest course I've ever played."
About Oakmont's greens (the putting areas):
- Tiger Woods said: "That golf course is going to be one of the toughest tests that we've ever played in a U.S. Open, especially if it's dry, it will be unreal because those greens are so severe."
- Arnold Palmer famously said: "You can hit 72 greens [in regulation] in the Open at Oakmont and not come close to winning."
- Sam Snead joked that he tried to mark his ball on one of Oakmont's greens, but the coin slid off!
- Lee Trevino claimed that every time he two-putted at Oakmont, he knew he was moving up the leader board.
- Johnny Miller said Oakmont's greens are the best for testing a player's putting skills.
The Stimpmeter
The stimpmeter is a tool used to measure how fast golf greens are. It was invented by Edward Stimpson. He came up with the idea shortly after watching the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
See also
