Oakmont Golf Course
Oakmont, United States
18 Holes · Par 70 · Private Club · Parkland
— About
About Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont Country Club is the most demanding examination in American golf and the venue that has hosted more US Open Championships than any other course in history. Founded in 1903 by industrialist Henry Clay Fownes and his son William, Oakmont was conceived from the outset as a test of perfect ball-striking rather than of length alone. There is no water on the course — not a single pond, creek, or stream — yet Oakmont routinely produces the highest scoring averages in major championship golf. The greens are the defining feature: sloped, severely contoured, and maintained at a pace that turns routine lag putts into survival exercises. Championship week preparations include rolling the greens to speeds that exceed a 14 on the Stimpmeter, making a two-putt from 30 feet a genuine achievement. The Church Pews bunker between the 3rd and 4th fairways is the most recognizable hazard in American golf — rows of turf furrows cutting across a vast sand waste that can swallow a round whole. Over 210 bunkers populate the property, many raked with deep parallel furrows that make clean escapes far from guaranteed. The rough at Oakmont, when grown for a US Open, has been known to exceed four inches and effectively end the possibility of par from an errant drive. Despite its severity, the layout rewards imagination and precision over brute force. The course played host to Jack Nicklaus's first US Open title in 1962, where he defeated Arnold Palmer in a playoff on Palmer's home turf — one of the most dramatic moments in golf history — and has since seen Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, and Dustin Johnson claim national championships here. No American course better embodies the principle that golf's greatest test is the one that offers no shortcuts.
- Has hosted nine US Open Championships — more than any other course in the United States
- The Church Pews bunker between holes 3 and 4 is the most iconic hazard in American golf
- Greens reach Stimpmeter readings above 14 during championships — among the fastest in the world
- Jack Nicklaus claimed his first US Open title here in 1962, defeating Arnold Palmer in a playoff
- No water hazards on the entire property — difficulty comes entirely from bunkers, rough, and greens
History
Henry Clay Fownes, a Pittsburgh steel magnate and avid golfer, purchased farmland in Oakmont, Pennsylvania in 1903 with the explicit intention of building the hardest golf course in the United States. Construction began immediately and the club opened for play in 1904. Fownes and his son William spent decades deliberately making the course harder, adding bunkers and growing rough to punish any imprecision. At one point the course featured over 350 bunkers. The 1927 US Open was Oakmont's first major championship, and the club has since hosted nine US Opens, four US Amateurs, three PGA Championships, and a US Women's Open. The 1962 US Open defined Oakmont's national significance when 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus defeated local hero Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff, signalling the transition between two eras of American golf. Dustin Johnson won the most recent US Open here in 2016 in a similarly dramatic conclusion.
Signature Holes
The par-4 3rd hole sets the tone for Oakmont's relentless difficulty — a 428-yard dogleg that runs directly alongside the Church Pews bunker on the left, a vast hazard of parallel turf ridges cutting through sand that can consume a round from a single wayward drive. The green is small, fast, and sloped, leaving almost no room for recovery from a poor approach. The par-4 8th, known as the Sahara, plays over 250 yards across a giant bunker complex that crosses the fairway and demands both length and precision from the tee. The closing par-4 18th, with its wide but undulating fairway and a green that sits higher than the approach, captures the relentless cumulative pressure that defines a round at Oakmont.
Best Time to Visit
Oakmont is a private members-only club with no public tee times. The course is open year-round to members, with the prime playing season running from late April through October. Pennsylvania winters can render the course unplayable. US Open years bring the course its greatest fame, with the event typically held in June when course conditions are at their most severe.
Playing Tips
Playing Oakmont requires a member introduction — green fees are not available to the public. The club uses caddies exclusively; motorized carts are not permitted. For those unable to play, the Club hosts the US Open approximately every decade, and tickets to the practice rounds offer an unmatched view of the course. The town of Oakmont sits northeast of Pittsburgh and is easily accessible from Pittsburgh International Airport.
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Visit Oakmont Country Club Golf Course
Oakmont, United States
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— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Oakmont Country Club
How many US Open Championships has Oakmont hosted?
Oakmont has hosted nine US Open Championships, more than any other course in the United States. Major winners there include Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, and Dustin Johnson.
Can the public play Oakmont Country Club?
No — Oakmont is a private members-only club. Playing the course requires an invitation from a member. There are no public green fees or resort packages.
Why are Oakmont's greens considered the fastest in golf?
Oakmont's greens are bentgrass surfaces maintained with minimal moisture and rolled repeatedly before competition, regularly reaching Stimpmeter readings above 14. The severe slopes compound the speed, making distance control off the putter face critical.
What is the Church Pews bunker at Oakmont?
The Church Pews is a massive bunker complex between the 3rd and 4th fairways featuring parallel rows of turf ridges running through the sand. It is the most photographed and recognizable hazard in American golf.
Are there any water hazards at Oakmont?
No — Oakmont is unique among major championship venues in having no water hazards of any kind. All difficulty comes from the 200-plus bunkers, thick rough, and the notoriously fast and sloped greens.