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Oakmont has a reputation as the world’s toughest course, but where does it rank among the best?
Fred Vuich /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
At this week’s U.S. Open, the field will take on venerable Oakmont Country Club, located just outside of Pittsburgh, Penn. Oakmont is hosting America’s national championship for a record 10th time.
Built in 1903 by architect Henry Fownes, Oakmont hosted its first U.S. Open in 1927. That tournament was won by Tommy Armour. Subsequent champions include the likes of Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Ernie Els and Dustin Johnson.
The course has a reputation for being kick-your-teeth-in tough, with impossible rough and lightning-fast greens. “I put a dime down to mark my ball,” Snead famously said of Oakmont’s slick greens in 1962, “and the dime slid away.”
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‘As penal as possible’: Why Oakmont’s rough is more brutal than ever
This year, the players will take on an eye-popping yardage: 7,372 yards, par 70. There are seven par-4s over 450 yards and two par-5s over 600 yards. The par-3 8th clocks in at 289 yards. There are 168 bunkers — including the famously diabolical “Church Pews” between the third and fourth holes, pictured in the photo above.
Oakmont’s impressive pedigree and championship history have made it a staple on Top 100 Courses lists for decades, but where exactly does it stand?
Where Oakmont ranks on Top 100 Courses lists
On GOLF’s most recent ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S. (2024-25), Oakmont sits at No. 5, behind Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock Hills and National Golf Links of America, but ahead of Augusta National, Sand Hills, Merion, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Los Angeles County Club.
On GOLF’s most recent ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World (2023-24), Oakmont sits at No. 8, supplanted by only three other courses: The Old Course at St. Andrews (No. 3), Royal County Down (No. 6) and Royal Melbourne (No. 7).
Oakmont’s difficulty is a large part of its enduring allure. Course rankings panelist Ran Morrissett aptly surmised its challenge earlier this week: “Once the course exposes whatever your weaknesses are, it will mercilessly drill down on them time and time again,” he said. “Remember: Oakmont was built to be hard and that’s what it is. If there is a more challenging course on a daily basis, I haven’t played it.”
Players are fans alike are surely in for a treat this week: Golf’s toughest test on arguably the world’s toughest course.
