Drone’s Eye View: The Coolest 18 Hole Review of Oakmont

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PGW Staff
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Few venues in the world of golf have the championship tradition of Oakmont.

Introduced in 1903 by designer Henry Fownes, Oakmont Country Club has hosted more major golf championships than any other golf course in the United States, including eight United States Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, three PGA Championships, and two U.S. Women’s Open.

Below is a video review of this historic golf course.
(Credit: Video by USGA. Copy by Oakmont Country Club.)

Hole 1

Par 4 | 482 yards

Use a long iron off the teeing ground and approach this green with short irons.  This very undulating green makes putting difficult but there should be some birdies here.

Hole 2

Par 4 | 340 yards

On this short par 4, a long iron off the teeing ground avoiding the ditch on the left and the bunkers on the right sets up a short iron to an infamous green. You must approach your putt from below the hole; three putts are common from above it.

Hole3

Par 4 | 428 yards

The Famous Church Pews bunker on the left and severe fairway bunkers on the right make for a difficult driving hole. A good drive sets up a short iron to an elevated, but fairly flat green (by Oakmont Standards) that slopes slightly away from you.

Hole 4

Par 5 | 609 yards

The Church Pews again penalize an errant drive left and the bunkers in the right rough are very severe.  However, for the long hitters, this par 5 is reachable and definitely a birdie hole.

Hole 5

Par 4 | 382 yards

Use a long iron off the teeing ground and approach this green with short irons.  This very undulating green makes putting difficult but there should be some birdies here.

Hole 6

Par 3 | 194 yards

On the first of Oakmont’s par 3 holes, go with a mid-iron shot to a small green that slopes from right to left.  Missing the green to the right leads to a sure bogey.

Hole 7

Par 4 | 479 yards

A good drive on this longish par 4 leaves a long iron to another severe green that slopes left to right.  To miss this green left is disastrous.  Par is a great score on this difficult par 4.

Hole 8

Par 3 | 288 yards

This extremely long par 3 requires a long iron or fairway wood to a fairly large green without undulation.  A bunker called “Sahara,” some 100 yards long sits to the left of the green, making the tee shot very intimidating.

Hole 9

Par 4 | 477 yards

This very difficult, blind, uphill driving hole has a severe ditch left and severe pot bunkers right.  This pivotal hole, which plays as a par 5 for the members, will play as a long par 4 for the U.S. Open.  The huge severely undulating green also serves as the practice putting green.

Hole 10

Par 4 | 462 yards

This par 4 features yet another downhill, narrow driving lane with severe fairway bunkers right and left. A short iron follows to a very difficult green that slopes from front right to back left. Four is a great score here.

Hole 11

Par 4 | 379 yards

This short par 4 is best played with a long iron or 3-wood to reach the plateau in the fairway. The short iron approach shot is to a flattish green that slopes from back to front.

Hole 12

Par 5 | 667 yards

Typically a three shot hole, this final par 5 is the toughest one at Oakmont. You may use a 3-wood to hit the sloping fairway, then a long iron for the second shot to set up a wedge third shot. The severe green slopes away from you, making approach shots and putts very difficult.

Hole 13

Par 3 | 183 yards

The Church Pews again penalize an errant drive left and the bunkers in the right rough are very severe.  However, for the long hitters, this par 5 is reachable and definitely a birdie hole.

Hole 14

Par 4 | 358 yards

This short par 4 requires a long iron off the teeing ground. A short iron second is to a very large green with a lot of subtleties to it. The green generally slopes from right to left, so stay left of the flagstick to have an uphill birdie putt.

Hole 15

Par 4 | 499 yards

This long par 4 features a blind tee shot to a fairway that slopes from left to right. The Church Pews left and severe ditches and bunkers on the right call for another straight drive. A mid-to-long iron sets up a second shot to a very large green with many difficult subtleties. Take four here and smile going to 16!

Hole 16

Par 3 | 231 yards

A long iron is needed on this par 3, which has a fairly large green that slopes from left to right. To miss this green to the left is to ask for trouble.

Hole 17

Par 4 | 313 yards

Although some of you can drive this par 4, severe bunkering 50 yards from the green will make you think twice before trying to do so. Either a long iron and wedge over “Big Mouth” or a driver to the green makes this hole very exciting.

Hole 18

Par 4 | 484 yards

This is by far the most picturesque hole at Oakmont and perhaps the greatest finishing par 4 in golf. You must drive the fairway to avoid the “chip out” bunkers left and right. An uphill mid-iron to a very undulating green makes for a great finish.

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