Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Oakland Hills Country Club
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States
18 Holes · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Oakland Hills Country Club
Oakland Hills Country Club, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is known above all for its South Course, the Donald Ross layout that opened in 1918, two years after the club was founded. The club is private. The South picked up its nickname, the Monster, after Ben Hogan won the 1951 U.S. Open here, and Robert Trent Jones modified the course further over the years. The club has hosted six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, and it was the site of the 2004 Ryder Cup. Pádraig Harrington won the 2008 PGA Championship on the South. From 2019 to 2021 the course was closed while Gil Hanse restored it toward Ross's original design, undoing part of what earlier redesigns had changed. Bunkering was reworked, greens were rebuilt and enlarged to offer more pin positions, and a new drainage system was installed beneath the greens. Tournament tees now play to around 7,500 yards. The U.S. Open is scheduled for the South in 2034 and 2051, and the U.S. Women's Open for 2031 and 2042. There are no public tee times, so a round here means an invitation from a member. The club sits at 3951 West Maple Road.
- Ben Hogan's win at the 1951 U.S. Open gave the South Course its nickname, the Monster.
- The club has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup.
- Gil Hanse restored the South between 2019 and 2021, reworking bunkers and rebuilding greens to bring back more of Ross's design.
- The U.S. Open is scheduled to return in 2034 and 2051, with the U.S. Women's Open following in 2031 and 2042.
- Pádraig Harrington won the 2008 PGA Championship here.
History of Oakland Hills Country Club
Oakland Hills was founded in 1916, and Donald Ross's South Course opened in 1918. Robert Trent Jones later redesigned parts of it, and Ben Hogan's win at the 1951 U.S. Open earned the South the nickname it still carries, the Monster. The club went on to stage more Opens, for six in all, along with three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup. Pádraig Harrington won the 2008 PGA Championship there. In 2019 the South closed for a restoration led by Gil Hanse, who set out to return the course to more of Ross's original design. It reopened in 2021 with reworked bunkering, rebuilt greens and a new drainage system, and with tournament tees stretching to around 7,500 yards. The USGA has since announced that the U.S. Open will return in 2034 and 2051, and the U.S. Women's Open in 2031 and 2042.
Signature holes at Oakland Hills Country Club
The seventh is a short par 4 where water comes into play, so the drive and the approach both need thought. The 11th, a par 4, is singled out by reviewers as one of the best holes on the property, and it rewards a well-placed tee shot. The 17th is a par 3 often described as among the most intimidating short holes in championship golf, and it comes late in the round, when the pressure is highest. Together these three show how the South mixes strategy with pressure, and they are the holes to study before you play or watch a championship here.
When to play Oakland Hills Country Club
Michigan's golf season runs from spring into autumn, with summer the most dependable stretch for warm weather. Late spring and early fall are usually the most comfortable for walking, while midsummer afternoons can turn warm and humid. Winter closes most Michigan courses, so plan a visit between roughly May and October. Oakland Hills is private, so timing matters only if a member has invited you; there is no public tee sheet to consult, and you should agree a date with your host.
Playing Oakland Hills Country Club: tips
Oakland Hills is a private club with no public tee times, so you need a member to host you. The club is at 3951 West Maple Road in Bloomfield Hills, in the suburbs north of Detroit. Confirm the route from your arrival airport with your host rather than relying on an estimate, because traffic around Detroit varies. Ask your host about the dress code, arrival time and whether the group will take a caddie. Since Hanse's restoration reopened the South, check with your host about current conditions before your round.
Visit Oakland Hills Country Club
3951 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Oakland Hills Country Club
Can the public play Oakland Hills Country Club?
No. Oakland Hills is a private club, and a round here means being invited by a member who acts as host. There are no public tee times and no published green fee.
Why is the South Course called the Monster?
The nickname dates from Ben Hogan's win at the 1951 U.S. Open, which he won on a South Course that Robert Trent Jones had redesigned. The name stuck, and the course has carried it ever since.
What major championships has Oakland Hills hosted?
Six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, including the 2008 PGA won by Pádraig Harrington. The club also hosted the 2004 Ryder Cup on the South Course.
Who redesigned the South Course in 2021?
Gil Hanse led a restoration between 2019 and 2021 that reworked bunkers, rebuilt greens and added drainage, aiming to return the course to more of Donald Ross's original design.