
Gary Kellner/PGA of America/Getty Images

Brian Oar

Brian Oar

Brian Oar

Andy Johnson/Courtesy of Southern Hills

Southern Hills marks a new era of more dynamic major-championship setups (the par-4 fourth).
Brian Oar

Players will have to decide how far to press their luck with drives on the par-4 third.
Brian Oar
Overview
A product of the Great Depression and constructed by hundreds of workers who stood at the gate each morning hoping for a 25-cents-per-hour job that day, Southern Hills is architect Perry Maxwell’s great achievement. Nearly every hole bends left or right, posing critical tee shots that must risk something. The putting surfaces have the classic “Maxwell Rolls,” and most are guarded by simple yet effective bunkers. During the summer of 2018, architect Gil Hanse and crew rebuilt much of the course, in the process re-establishing Maxwell’s distinctive, gnarly edged bunkering and reconstructing the green shoulders that had been built up over the years.
About
Awards


Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking: 28th.
Previous ranking: 32nd.
Highest ranking: No. 8, 1993-'94.
Best in State: Ranked first since 1983.
2023-'24 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
“A position golf course due to the trees, sand, and water. Quick fairways and receptive speedy greens. Elevation changes especially on the first and eighteenth holes."
Read More2023
Review
“Gil Hanse has thinned trees and worked the course into a stout but fair test of golf. The short walks between holes keeps the action flowing nicely. The clubhouse has an awesome pro shop and great dining space overlooking the entire course. Pay attention to the history on the walls, simply amazing! Whatever amount of travel required to play this course will be worth it."
Read More2023
Review
“Amazing. No other way to describe it. Firm, fast, one of the most challenging tracks in the country. Clubhouse hall of fame is a great walk. Staff was fantastic."
Read More2022
Review
“Depression era Perry Maxwell design in Oklahoma that has held numerous major championships (18 to be exact). Well thought out design that will test all aspects of your game. Welcoming membership and staff necessitate accepting any offer to play here."
Read More2022
Review
“World class course and experience by any measure. Sub-air system allows them to keep the bentgrass greens rolling fast all summer long - a rarity at this latitude."
Read More2022
Review
“Beautiful course, strategy needed, greens terrific."
Read More2022
Review
“Southern Hills is a demanding Perry Maxwell with a wonderful restoration by Gil Hanse. First hole is great opener with look towards downtown Tulsa. The first hole demand the players attention from the start. The use of the stream the multiple holes across the property. Perry Maxwell bunkers which are restored are very unique. The 2nd hole is an amazing use of the stream thru the hole, and requires the players to pick the angle of the tee. The stream is also used on the 3rd hole, and green appears to be island type with the stream in use. The 6th hole is a nice par 3, and has the same stream again being used. A great view of the property is looking back from the 11th green, you can see many of the holes. One of my personal favorite holes on the property is the 12th. The 12th offers water on the front of the approach. The player as a small area to run it on but the hole narrows as the player gets closer to the green. The 18th is major championship finishing hole, and again using the stream on the hole as well. "
Read More2022
Review
“Solid course which is a wonderful layout on a small piece of land, but one with ample elevation to make it interesting. The layout forces you to play some downhills, some iconic uphill holes, as well as cross and diagonally across the land. Sneaky hard, largely because of the green complexes. Conditioning is elite."
Read More2022
Review
“Wonderful restoration by Hanse design. A course where you have to think about fairway position in order to attack the greens."
Read More2022
Review
“Southern Hills CC has it all. The highlights for me were the challenge and conditioning categories, of which Southern Hills has few equals. The fairways are firm and roll out. The newly "restored" greens are only receptive to a well struck, and well placed, approach shot. The greens feature run off areas on all sides, which roll off onto tighly mowed areas instead of rough, and well placed bunkers which require a precise recovery to hold the green. Multiple creeks come into play on half the holes and are ready to gulp up wayward drives and approach shots. The course has a wonderful variety of holes, including difficult and demanding par 5's, short but challenging par 4's and a very memorable set of par 3's. The rolling hills and interesting topography of this layout, along with the scenic views from numerous tees add pleasure to the round. The routing is masterful, weaving along and across the creeks on the property."
Read More2022
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