Oakmont

[Jeff Taylor]

Had the pleasure of playing Oakmont earlier this week. Wow.
No breather holes. No breather shots.
A few images for addicts like me.

#9 with the clubhouse behind.


Behind #18


The big putting green.


The downhill 12th. A truly great hole.


#11 from the left side.


#17. My favorite hole. Carry oblivion to get the right angle. Play safe right and hit over a big bunker to a sliver of a green. Perfect.


#18 from left of the 17th green. What can one say?


#2 Plenty of options. Plenty of danger.


#5 Small undulating green. Precision is required.


#6 Sets into the land nicely.


#8 A 100 yard long bunker on a long par 3.


#9 A 4 iron away from glory, or a 3 putt if you are me.

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks much, Jeff.  I know I don't have the right stuff to play Oakmont, because in that photo of #9 my eye gravitates not in joy to the clubhouse or the flag in the wind or even the fairway, but instead lingers in fear and trembling over the rough and the bunkers.

My limitation, not Oakmonts!!

Peter

[Jeff Taylor]

The fairways are the only chance of survival. Oakmont puts the biggest premium of driving that I have ever experienced.

[JLahrman]

I can't get over how great this course looks without the trees.

[Ben Sims]

I wish more tree-lined classics with good shaping would take cues from Oakmont and Planfield.  The no tree look is so appealing from an aesthetic, playability, and agronomy standpoint. 

As an aside, I must heap praise on Oakmont as a members club.  The camaraderie of the SWAT was cool.

[Ronald Montesano]

First time seeing Hadrian's Wall...had no idea it existed in western PA. That must be the tea, errr, the turnpike.

[CJ Carder]

I know a lot of people have Augusta, Pine Valley, Cypress Point, etc atop their "must play before I die" list, but Oakmont has always been my #1 since I joined this website and Ryan Farrow's course tour pre-2007 Open sucked me in. 

[Bill_McBride]

I know a lot of people have Augusta, Pine Valley, Cypress Point, etc atop their "must play before I die" list, but Oakmont has always been my #1 since I joined this website and Ryan Farrow's course tour pre-2007 Open sucked me in. 

George Pazin wrote an amazing series on Oakmont, which I wish was permanently posted as an In My Opinion piece.   Maybe someone could do that.....

[Gene Greco]

     Oakmont is as good as any golf course on Earth.

 If I remember correctly there are five par 4s under 400 yards.

 As stated above by JLahrman, if you are not in the correct position off the tee, to some pins you are going to fight for par.

The ambiance of the entire club is understated and relaxed.

Chrisitian and I shot 67 best ball from the 6600 yard tees. It was an 18 hole perfect ham and egg. I was about a 9 or a 10 at the time, Christian a 2. When we stood on the 13th tee I noted to him we were dormie in our match against the member and his guest (both 5s), something the member overheard. I was immediately met with a glare. I then turned to Christian and said,"Take a good look around."

After a few drinks, the member brought us into the card room and went through many leather bound books trying to find any of the Swat Matches held among single digits at Oakmont which matched our score. After half an hour the member gave up and we headed down for one last beer.

I love Oakmont and have stayed out of the Huckaby-Pazin battles of yesteryear comparing OM to Pebble (love that one, too).

[PCCraig]

I can't get over how great this course looks without the trees.

About 1000x better.

[George Pazin]

I know a lot of people have Augusta, Pine Valley, Cypress Point, etc atop their "must play before I die" list, but Oakmont has always been my #1 since I joined this website and Ryan Farrow's course tour pre-2007 Open sucked me in. 

George Pazin wrote an amazing series on Oakmont, which I wish was permanently posted as an In My Opinion piece.   Maybe someone could do that.....

I never compiled it into the right format. Here is a link to the threads, this was the final summary thread :

Summary thoughts on Oakmont - please add yours

I haven't checked recently to see if the pics still are active. I think mine are, don't know about Ryan's.

Great pics, Jeff T, thanks for sharing them. You opened with my favorite view on the course, nicely done!

[Ben Sims]

    Oakmont is as good as any golf course on Earth.

 If I remember correctly there are five par 4s under 400 yards.

 As stated above by JLahrman, if you are not in the correct position off the tee, to some pins you are going to fight for par.

The ambiance of the entire club is understated and relaxed.

Chrisitian and I shot 67 best ball from the 6600 yard tees. It was an 18 hole perfect ham and egg. I was about a 9 or a 10 at the time, Christian a 2. When we stood on the 13th tee I noted to him we were dormie in our match against the member and his guest (both 5s), something the member overheard. I was immediately met with a glare. I then turned to Christian and said,"Take a good look around."

After a few drinks, the member brought us into the card room and went through many leather bound books trying to find any of the Swat Matches held among single digits at Oakmont which matched our score. After half an hour the member gave up and we headed down for one last beer.

I love Oakmont and have stayed out of the Huckaby-Pazin battles of yesteryear comparing OM to Pebble (love that one, too).

Thanks for echoing my sentiments Gene.  Oakmont must be the most unpretentious top 10 club in the nation. 

[Jeff Taylor]

Thanks for looking and commenting folks. The one thing that stands out in my mind is that every shot required a plan. There was never a chance to say "just hit it".

[Bill_Yates]

I read this quote a number of years ago. I'm not sure who said it but I think it sums up Oakmont's position in golf.

"With the exception of St Andrews, it is the oldest course in the world where national championships are still being played."

[Cliff Walston]

I am guessing everyone had a moment where they really started developing a keen interest in architecture.  For me, it was attending the US Open at Oakmont in 2007.  I was totally awestruck by the course.  I knew it was a famous course in Pittsburgh, but not much more than that.  I came back and starting researching Oakmont and came upon Ran's review of it on this site.  That was the beginning of really studying the architectural merit of courses and holes for me.  Bought Doak's Anatomy of a Golf Course, and its been an obsession ever since.  Still dream of teeing it up there someday.  Like CJ, its been my #1 must play ever since.  Congrats on playing it and thanks for sharing the pictures.

Cliff 

[David Davis]

Bill, don't believe everything you read. Certainly nothing against Oakmont but if you consider The Open (British Open) a national championship then there are few other courses in the Open rota that predate Oakmont. Namely all of them...

Oakmont - 1903

Scotland

Muirfield - 1891
Carnoustie - 1857
Royal Troon - 1878
Turnberry - 1902

England

Royal St. Georges - 1887
Royal Birkdale - 1897
Royal Lytham & St. Annes - 1886
Royal Liverpool - 1868

Australia

Australian Open is played at Royal Melbourne:

Royal Melbourne - 1901 (although completely changed in 1931

There are likely others as well in other countries.

[George Pazin]

David, I believe you are talking more about clubs than courses, as your parenthetical remark on Melbourne alludes.

Still, I think Bill's comment was more about the spirit that he intends than the literal truth of it.

[Jeff Taylor]

A few final images.

[George Pazin]

First time seeing Hadrian's Wall...had no idea it existed in western PA. That must be the tea, errr, the turnpike.

  It is indeed. You should see it from the road - they painted it with levels, to make it look like it had been carved out of the stone, ala the various levels of the Grand Canyon and other such natural features. Kinda funny, kinda sad.

[Bob_Huntley]

Talking of Oakmont reminds me 'of one of the best amateurs with whom I played. Frank Souchak was a member at Oakmont and won the Club Championship in 1947, '48, '50 '51 '55 and '56. I believe he did at one time, lead the 1953 Open for  a while finishing tenth behind Ben Hogan.

Frank was a strong man and his steel shafts came out at something like an E Nine,

Bob

[Michael George]

I love Oakmont, but be clear - it is one difficult and penal golf course.  You miss your drive by 5-10 yards right or left and it is a one stroke penalty as the bunkers are really severe.  Best way to describe it is penal and uncompromising and the club is just fine with that.  I really don't think it is a golf course for an average or below average  golfer (even though it is not that long).  

While the golf is great, what I love most about Oakmont is the clubhouse.  It is just a very special feeling to always look up and see that amazing clubhouse among the fescue and clear summer sky.  And the locker room with the old benches with the old metal spike marks in them and old school feel.  Just special.

However, it is much more pretentious than Sand Hills in terms of top 10.  While it may be less pretentious than ANGC, PV, CPC, Shinny and NGLA, nothing compares to Sand Hills and the general welcome nature of the place.    


 

[cary lichtenstein]

What I loved most about Oakmont was walking off the 18th green...never to return

[Patrick_Mucci]

I wish more tree-lined classics with good shaping would take cues from Oakmont and Planfield.  The no tree look is so appealing from an aesthetic, playability, and agronomy standpoint. 

Ben,

It is VERY difficult to convince memberships that their course will be improved by the removal of trees
They just can't visualize the "after" look and play.

Ridgewwod in NJ, which had become narrow over the years is currently engaged in this tug of war.

Hollywood and Mountain Ridge removed a good number of trees and the courses are healthier and play better, and, the WIND is more of a factor.

Shinnecock has undertaken a significant tree removal program and the course looks incredible, and the wind is even more of a factor.

Slowly, more and more clubs are starting to get it.
As an aside, I must heap praise on Oakmont as a members club.  The camaraderie of the SWAT was cool.

[Gene Greco]

What I loved most about Oakmont was walking off the 18th green...never to return

Did you play in the US Open?

[Bill McKinley]

I feel I must comment on a couple things on this thread...

Cary,

I cannot fathom anyone having your viewpoint about Oakmont.  Yes it's hard, but I've played courses that are harder.  But I find it very fun to play, even though it is difficult. 

Michael,

I agree with your thoughts on Oakmont being much less pretentious than other top 10 venues.  There is a great vibe about the place with the SWAT room, as Patrick mentioned, and that really makes you want to come back again!

The wow factor is one of the best i've experienced, standing on the putting green and getting ready to tee off.  The expanse that's in front of you is so impressive.  Again, as many have said before the no tree look makes it stand out even more.  The 15th hole may be my favorite on the course.  The blind tee shot, the cant of the fairway and the amazing greensite that will give the player lots of options on how to play the approach.

Great pics too Jeff!  Thanks for posting