Photo: Jonathan Schilling · CC BY-SA 4.0
Southern Hills Country Club
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
18 Holes · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Southern Hills Country Club
Southern Hills Country Club is a private 18-hole course in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a long-running championship venue. Perry Maxwell designed it, and it opened in 1936. In major championship form it plays as a par 70 of around 7,365 yards with creeks running through the property. The routing includes one of the longest par 5s in championship golf and a demanding par 4 to close. The course has staged three U.S. Opens and five PGA Championships, and its most recent overhaul, by Gil Hanse, was completed in 2019 with the aim of bringing the layout back toward Maxwell's original idea. The club is private, there is no public tee sheet, and no green fee is published. Anyone hoping to play needs to be hosted by a member.
- Justin Thomas won the 2022 PGA Championship here, the fifth PGA Championship the club had hosted.
- The restoration re-exposed creeks that flank some fairways and cross the line of play on others.
- The club was established in 1935, a year before the course itself opened for play.
- Maxwell's greens are known for distinctive rolls, which are a large part of the challenge.
History of Southern Hills Country Club
Southern Hills was established in 1935, and Perry Maxwell's course opened the following year. It soon became a regular stop for the sport's biggest events. The U.S. Open came in 1958, 1977 and 2001, and the PGA Championship in 1970, 1982, 1994, 2007 and 2022, more than any other course. Later the club moved to return the layout toward Maxwell's design. The 2022 edition was won by Justin Thomas. Gil Hanse's restoration, finished in 2019, removed hundreds of trees, cut back the rough and replaced much of it with short grass, and re-exposed the creeks.
Signature holes at Southern Hills Country Club
The 5th is a par 5 of 656 yards that bends slightly left, with water waiting for an approach that misses right. The 12th, a par 4 of 461 yards, is arguably the most famous hole on the course, and Ben Hogan spoke of it as one of the best in the game. The 18th closes the round as a demanding par 4, with a creek angling across the landing area and an uphill approach past bunkers.
When to play Southern Hills Country Club
Southern Hills is private, so the practical answer is whenever a member can host you. The most recent major held here was the 2022 PGA Championship. Ask your host about seasonal conditions, and allow time before a round to see the clubhouse and practice areas.
Playing Southern Hills Country Club: tips
There is no public access and no published green fee, so a round means being the guest of a member. The 2019 restoration put short grass around the greens, so a missed approach can leave a choice of recovery shots, and a bump-and-run is worth practising before you go. The club is in Tulsa. Check dress, caddie arrangements and tee times with your host.
Visit Southern Hills Country Club
2636 East 61st Street, Tulsa, OK 74136
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Hills Country Club
Can the public play Southern Hills?
No. Southern Hills is a private club with no public tee sheet and no published green fee, so play is by member invitation.
Which major championships has Southern Hills hosted?
It has held three U.S. Opens, in 1958, 1977 and 2001, and five PGA Championships, most recently in 2022, when Justin Thomas won.
Who restored Southern Hills?
Gil Hanse led the restoration, which was completed in 2019. It removed hundreds of trees, brought back short grass where rough had grown, and re-exposed the creeks.