The 2016 US Open is being hosted at Oakmont Country Club, one of the most respected and storied courses in world golf. The course is widely regarded at one of the world’s finest layouts but also as one of the most difficult to master. With the likes of Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth getting their US Open bids underway here in 2016, we thought we’d take a closer look at the course in question…
History
Created over 100 years ago from a non-descript patch or farmland, Oakmont has since hosted more major championships than any other course apart from Augusta National, which has a slight advantage considering the fact it is the only courses which hosts a major on an annual basis.
Located near Pittsburgh’s northeast suburbs of Plum and Oakmont in the state of Pennsylvania, this brutally difficult golf course has not just hosted US Opens, but PGA Championships, Women’s US Opens and US Amateur Championships too.
As well as being regarded as one of the world’s best golf courses – more on that later – Oakmont also has a habit of producing winners, at least as far as the major championships it’s hosted, from the very top drawer of elite golf, with the list of previous winners here reading like a who’s who of golf legends. Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els have all claimed the US Open title on this historic course and even the players who have just missed out on glory aren’t bad either, with Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods both having missed out by the finest of margins.
Oakmont has also been the scene of a number or significant moments in golf history. Jack Nicklaus claimed the 1st of his record 18 major championships here, and Johnny Miller played what is widely regarded as the finest round of golf in major championship history, firing a blistering 63 that included just two missed fairways, hitting every single green in regulation, and no less than nine birdies…all on the toughest course which of course had been set up to exacting standards for golf’s toughest test; the US Open.
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AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
As we mentioned above, the course at Oakmont Country Club isn’t simply one of the most difficult in world golf, it’s also one of the most respected and highly rated courses in the game. Depending on which publication you’re reading or which golfing authority you’re speaking to, it’s ranked quite favourably in comparison to other heavyweight courses such as Augusta, Royal County Down and Royal Melbourne and while it might not have an official world ranking – no course really does – it’s commonly considered among the ten very best layouts on the planet. Let’s take a look at some of the awards and accolades it’s won…
Previous Tournaments at Oakmont Country Club
This coming week will be the 9th time Oakmont is playing host to The US Open. Apart from Augusta, Oakmont has hosted more major championships than any other course in the United States. We now have look at all the previous tournaments that have been staged at Oakmont Country Club.
– 8 US Opens
– 6 US Amateur Championships
– 3 PGA Championships
– 2 US Women’s Opens
| Year | Major | Winner | Winning Score |
| 2016 | US Open | TBD | TBD |
| 2010 | US Women’s Open | Paula Creamer | -3 |
| 2007 | US Open | Angel Cabrera | +5 |
| 2003 | US Open | US Amateur | N/A |
| 1994 | US Open | Ernie Els | -5 |
| 1992 | US Women’s Open | Patty Sheehan | -4 |
| 1983 | US Open | Larry Nelson | -4 |
| 1978 |
PGA Championship | John Mahaffey | -8 |
| 1973 | US Open | Johnny Miller | -5 |
| 1969 | US Open | Steve Melnyk | N/A |
| 1962 | US Open | Jack Nicklaus | +5 |
| 1953 | US Open | Ben Hogan | -1 |
| 1951 | PGA Championship | Sam Snead | N/A |
| 1938 | US Amateur | Willie Turnesa | N/A |
| 1935 | US Open | Sam Parks Jr | +11 |
| 1927 | US Open | Tommy Armour | +13 |
| 1925 | US Amateur | Bobby Jones | N/A |
| 1922 | PGA Championship | Gene Sarazen | N/A |
| 1919 | US Amateur | S. Davidson Herron | N/A |
Changes in Length
Oakmont originally played to a par of 80, with 8 par 5’s and even a par 6, but in 2016 it will take a more traditional form, with a par of 70 and a total yardage of 7,254. That yardage has changed over the years when various US Opens have come to town, but not as much as you might expect, especially considering the tournament was first staged here in 1922. Here’s a closer look at just how much length the USGA have had to add on to Oakmont since then…it seems Oakmont has never needed much tweaking in order to test the world’s best!
THE 2007 US OPEN AT OAKMONT
Just how tough is Oakmont?
Arnold Palmer once said…
[quote]You can hit 72 greens [in regulation] in the Open at Oakmont and not come close to winning.[/quote]As we’re sure you’re aware, Oakmont is one of the toughest nuts to crack in all of golf. Last time the US Open was held here the average score for the tournament wasn’t far off 6 over par per round but to give you an idea of just how hard it can really be to score around the Pennsylvania punisher, here’s a closer look at some facts and figures from the last US Open to be held here…
