Well, we made it through the whole course. I didn't plan out the timing of the climax too well, as it coincided with Masters Week and my vacation, so I'm adding some summary thoughts on the entire course. I hope you'll add yours as well.
What I LOVE about Oakmont:
1)
The simplicity of the design ideas - As a recovering math geek, I confess a fond affinity toward simplicity. In this regard, I am referring to the manner of challenge of each hole. The course almost seems to be one giant essay question - albeit with 18 perplexing parts! - but each part is framed initially in beautiful simplicity. The long 1st hole presents the challenge of a fallaway green at the end of a long downhill approach. Hole 2 contrasts wonderfully by offering a short par 4 with a heavily defended green sloped severely toward the golfer. Then you have Hole 3, where the somewhat domed green sits atop a hill. And so on, and so on. Despite appearances on the diagrams, and in spite of what seems to be repetitive flanking bunkers, each hole presents a unique challenge, and the whole is most definitely greater than the sum of the parts.
2)
The routing - What's not to like? Very short green to tee walks, dramatic topography, an incredible number of little multi-hole loops with contrasting holes.
3)
The amazing utilization of seemingly typical landforms - As I have noted on this site many times, the land at Oakmont doesn't seem different from the rest of the millions of acres of land in western PA, yet there is only one Oakmont. I simply marvel at the usage of the landforms, whether it's large hills such as the one used by holes 1, 9, 10 & 11, or small ravines such as the one crossing in front of the 5th green.
4)
The beauty of the course - This one probably sounds bizarre, as many would cite the lack of ocean, other water, trees, etc., as major negatives, but I love the stark, barren landscape. In contrast to the isolation of some great courses, Oakmont presents the golfer with many open vistas that encompass large areas of the course. The golfer can stand by the practice green and see on 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 18, and even see tiny little golfers across the Turnpike on other holes! It's almost the anti-Pine Valley, in terms of isolation.
5)
The presentation of the course - Hats off to Oakmont's membership for maintaining the course in a fashion that truly illustrates the genius of the architecture. It must be one of the most consistently firm and fast courses anywhere, let alone for a course that sits entirely on western Pennsylvania clay. True, the rough is a bit long for many golfers, and I think the course would present an amazing challenge even without the rough, but this is nitpicking!
6)
The history associated with the course - How many courses can boast of Hogan, Nicklaus, Armour, Miller, etc. as major winners? True, this is as much a function the the many opportunities to host the Open as anything else, but it sends chills up and down the spine of any mortal golfer, to walk in the footsteps of such greatness.
What I don't love about Oakmont:
Nothing.
Here are links to the series of threads (thanks to Ryan Farrow for digging them up, and thanks again for Ryan for providing so many photos that wonderfully illustrate the course - he's the hero of the series, imho):
Week 1: The long par 4 1stWeek 2: The short par 4 2ndWeek 3: Hole 3 & The Church PewsWeek 4 - The long par 5 4th and the Pews again!Week 5 - The par 4 5thWeekl 6 - The par 3 6thWeek 7 - The par 4 7thWeek 8 - the looooong par 3 8thWeek 9 - the par 4/5 9thWeek 10 - the wonderful par 4 10thWeek 11 - the par 4 11thWeek 12 - the utterly amazing par 5 12th!Week 13 - The (not as uphill as I thought) vexing par 3 13thWeek 14 - the shortish par 4 14thWeek 15 - the brutish par 4 15thWeek 16 - The par 3 16thWeek 17 - the short par 17th and Big Mouth!Week 18 - Home at last at the par 4 18th