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Stephen Szurlej
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Getty Images
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Getty Images
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Overview
Once tens of thousands of trees (mostly planted in the 1960s) were removed between the early 90s and 2015, Oakmont’s original penal design was re-established, with the game’s nastiest, most notorious bunkers (founder-architect H.C. Fownes staked out bunkers whenever and where ever he saw a player hit an offline shot), deep drainage ditches and ankle-deep rough. Oakmont also has the game’s swiftest putting surfaces, which were showcased during the U.S. Open in 2016, despite early rains that slowed them down a bit. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner made bunker modifications and expanded the greens throughout the course in 2023 in preparation for the 2025 U.S. Open. The USGA has already awarded Oakmont three additional Opens between 2033 and 2049, reinforcing its title as it the Host of the Most U.S. Opens ever.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking (and previous): 5th
Highest ranking: No. 4, 2003-2004, 2011-2012.
Best in State: Ranked first since 1985. Ranked inside the top 5, 1977-'84.
Current ranking: First.
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Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Oakmont is one of the truest tests in golf. It requires all as aspects of a player’s game to be dialed in on every shot on every hole. Some courses require steady, consistent drives, while others require precise approach shots. At Oakmont, the two go hand in hand. Without finding the proper side of the fairway, it is nearly impossible to hit and hold the green. With many greens running away from the golfer, hitting approach shots out of the rough results in a long day. Without water on the course, the deep fairway bunkers create a penalty in their own right since a wedge is typically the only way out just to get back into play. The subtleties on the greens make you very timid even with uphill putts. Whether the putt is breaking a ball or two or 10 feet, speed is the key and dying the ball into the hole is a much. "
Read More2022
Review
“An iconic course and one of the true shrines of the game. Each hole an original, each hole requiring supreme skill in driving to hold the canted fairways - some bounded by ditches. The ground game is at a premium given the tight turf, and ball contact a supreme skill given the green firmness. Yet all holes can be attacked by running the ball up the front entrances. And there is always a correct side to approach from or almost always a way to get the ball close to the hole. The greens are some of the most fierce and original that exist in the game. Maybe not the place you'd want to play daily but quite simply the gold standard for difficult yet fair, strategic yet penal. A must see for any golf aficionado and a fantastic experience."
Read More2022
Review
“Probably the dictionary definition for penal golf architecture. Exceptional conditioning and history. Keep the scorecard in the bag, and just focus on the demands presented by each shot and putt."
Read More2022
Review
“Everybody knows how hard Oakmont is, but fewer talk about how great it is. Amazing piece of property and the tree removal has been amazing. Wonderful risk reward shots mixed nicely with some absolutely can't miss there ones. Iconic and brilliant."
Read More2021
Review
“Oakmont is a true classic gem. Every hole is memorable in a different way. I was fortunate to play the course two times in two days and experienced a different challenge each day. The green complexes are truly some of the best that I have ever seen and the fairways and greens were firm and fast. Bunkering is very strategically placed and each tee shot demands correct placement to have a chance to get the ball close. The course is open so our group of varying skills didn't lose any balls but a mishit is still penalized. You could end up on the green and still have an extremely challenging next shot. I think a cool unique feature is that you can now see the entire golf course from the steps pf the clubhouse and also from a high point on the third tee box. This course definitely earns it's top 5 in the country billing."
Read More2022
Review
“I have seen all but a few of the top 50 courses on our rankings, and the more I see, the more I appreciate how magnificent a course HC Fownes designed."
Read More2022
Review
“Other than 1 and 10, the design variety of every hole was incredibly diverse. The conditioning of the course was firm yet receptive and other than the turnpike cutting through the course, the ambience was tough to beat."
Read More2018
Review
“Pennsylvania has two of the best courses in the world: Merion and here. Oakmont just might be the best course in the world. It certainly is one of the most difficult with lightning-fast greens. You can't have a better day than spending it here."
Read More2018
Review
“Absolutely fantastic golf course. Could probably host a professional tournament with a week's notice. Very difficult course and the fastest greens I have played. In the locker room they still have the official scoreboards from the US Opens they have hosted!"
Read More2018
Review
“One of the best and toughest courses in America. The greens are incredibly fast and the course plays long especially if the rough is up. There's a sense of history throughout the course with many unique design features, including the church pew bunkers. Every hole is an adventure. The clubhouse is also a classic."
Read More2018
Review
“If you get invited to play here you really have to jump at the chance. Its worth the invite just to walk around the clubhouse and talk to members about the history of the club. Great Pro Shop. As for the golf, what an incredible test of golf, the bunkers are penal, the fairways are narrow, the greens are huge. When you miss it costs your strokes."
Read More2018
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