I once read, perhaps in the Golf Club Atlas, which gives this site it's name, that Oakmont was no longer able to get the sand that was used originally. Apparently it came from one of the rivers (Ohio, Monongahela, or Allegheny) in the area and that the supply was exhausted. It was the denseness or coarseness of this sand which made the furrowing possible and such a problem. The same source of this information also stated that a special very heavy rake was used. The Fownes' were serious about tormenting golfers.