Oakmont as a Viewing Experience

[PrincipalsNose]

Thoughts on how the USGA sets up Oakmont and if fans will be able to get close and the overall viewing experience in general. (For example, some courses have elevated greens/is hard to see the action). How is the sightlines? Unique course with an interstate running through it.

 

Also, where has the parking been in the past and where do you think itll be in June?

[CT007]

Sightlines can be hard to explain,  but I think it is pretty good.  Oakmont is a big property.  Lot of places to get to and get around     Interstate is the PA Turnpike.  The 2 bridges is big deal , IYKYK

 

parking is really good - the parking north is a local park (Hartwood) that has easy access to Turnpike, then the bus gets a special exit off turnpike that is for emergency use, but opened for US Open.  Drop off near 3rd hole (old Oakmont East).     May be best parking , fastest to an event I have ever seen   

[PrincipalsNose]

17 minutes ago, CT007 said:

Sightlines can be hard to explain,  but I think it is pretty good.  Oakmont is a big property.  Lot of places to get to and get around     Interstate is the PA Turnpike.  The 2 bridges is big deal , IYKYK

 

parking is really good - the parking north is a local park (Hartwood) that has easy access to Turnpike, then the bus gets a special exit off turnpike that is for emergency use, but opened for US Open.  Drop off near 3rd hole (old Oakmont East).     May be best parking , fastest to an event I have ever seen   

Hartwood Acres Park? 

[Shilgy]

I’ll let ya know in 3 months. Or just watch video of the last Open there in 2016. Should be great!

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/oakmont-country-club-us-open-trees-2016-6

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Didn’t go in 2016 but did in 2007.   
 

Thursday we walked the course and the front 9 wasn’t too bad.  Back was near impossible as so many holes were closed off for crossing.  So on Friday we camped out early in the top row of bleaches behind 10 tee and 18 green.   You could also see 9 green (behind us) 11 green and 12 tee.  We were there from 7 am to 7:30 or 8:00 PM
 

The back 9 access may have changed with all the tree removals before the 2016 Open 

[Guest]

I hope they fixed the problem from the US Am.  There were about 6 holes the long hitters intentionally busted it down wrong fairway.  (1 down 9, 9 down 1, 10 dow 11, 11 down 10.  11 down 10.  14 down 12.  As a spectator balls could be coming over your head from everywhere

Edited March 16 by Oliver Klozoff

[grm24]

2 hours ago, Oliver Klozoff said:

I hope they fixed the problem from the US Am.  There were about 6 holes the long hitters intentionally busted it down wrong fairway.  (1 down 9, 9 down 1, 10 dow 11, 11 down 10.  11 down 10.  14 down 12.  As a spectator balls could be coming over your head from everywhere

Some of the course enhancements made by Gil Hanse since then are supposed to address some of that. Not certain (protecting the tee shot lines) if that was done. Guess we will see in June.

Edited March 16 by grm24

[StoutKing]

59 minutes ago, grm24 said:

Some of the course enhancements made by Gil Hanse since then are supposed to address some of that. Not certain if that was done. Guess we will see in June.

They definitely did the work.  Whether it affects the lines is another question.  I doubt they will take the lines because there will be tons of fans for the Open but let's see.

[grm24]

 

32 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

They definitely did the work.  Whether it affects the lines is another question.  I doubt they will take the lines because there will be tons of fans for the Open but let's see.

I was unclear about the lines in my reply. Corrected that. Some new bunkers supposedly were to have been added to help with that.  Again we shall see.

 

Gil Hanse was then tagged in 2023 to restoratively reconfigure bunkers and expanding greens to their original sizes. Hanse also addressed the issue of golfers taking advantage of alternate routes on adjacent holes by restoring and adding bunker complexes, including the return of the hook bunker between the Tenth and Eleventh. A new practice area is currently in the works, all in advance of hosting the 2025 U.S. Open.

 

Looking forward to seeing the changes in person in June. Here is a very recent article from local Pittsburgh paper. I live in the area.

 

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/golf/2025/03/02/us-open-oakmont-country-club-design/stories/202503010002

 

The biggest is at the par-4, 461-yard 10th hole, where the grassy ditch that runs alongside the right side of the fairway has been angled across the fairway to connect with the grassy ditch on the left side. At the uphill 400-yard 11th, a new tee was built to add another 25 yards, and the right side of the fairway was extended to slope all the way to another grassy ditch, bringing the hole back to the way Fownes originally intended.

 

But the change that best epitomizes what Hanse intended to do at Oakmont was at the 485-yard 7th, where a cross bunker was moved to create additional fairway on the right side, giving players an option for how to play the par-4 hole.

 

Other fairways, such as No. 2, the drivable 346-yard par-4, have been widened beyond the right-side bunkers to give players additional options off the tee. And the greens at the par-3 13th and par-4 18th have been greatly enlarged to create more pin positions, some not so favorable.

 

What’s more, an additional two rows were added to the famous Church Pews bunker on the left side of the third hole, making it more difficult for players to carry the hazard to set up a better angle to the green. A new tee has been constructed behind the second green to make the hole play 25 yards longer.

Edited March 17 by grm24

[luke1333]

I volunteered there in 2016 and played there many times a number of years ago as well. Decent views I thought, I always enjoyed sitting behind #2 green and having a view of multiple holes on the front. Parking was at a random park, don't remember exactly where but took a bus down a whole bunch of service roads and got dropped off right at front gate. May have been special volunteer parking like I said I don't remember that was 9 years ago!

[chillybilly]

2007 attendee. Like most (?) majors elsewhere we had to park some distance away - across the river in a large retail lot - go through security screening there and then take shuttle buses. Not my cup of tea. This was also when golf was still fighting the tide of mobile phones so screening inevitably got bogged down by people who intentionally or unintentionally brought their phones along. I think The Masters phone ban is still in place for tournament days - more strength and wisdom from the green jackets.

 

At the risk of being a wet blanket majors simply bring too many people onto the property. Combine this with the hospitality, merchandise and other temporary structures including that plastic decking and there's even less ground for crowds to diffuse - to say nothing of the fact that the golf course itself is off-limits. Valhalla, Quail Hollow...same issue. I can't speak to the redesign but despite the hilly topography around Pittsburgh Oakmont is on a plateau and relatively flat which made sightlines from outside the ropes difficult especially when standing 8 or 10 deep.

 

At that point the infamous narrow bridge over the Turnpike was still in place with one side reserved for tournament personnel - players, caddies, officials etc. The mother of all bottlenecks had people grumbling and the conventional wisdom was that the USGA told Oakmont to sort it before the Open would return. Now there are two rather wide bridges in place.

 

This was also the peak of Tiger as golf god, superhero, living statue. Snake hips and broad torso.

 

There was also much discussion at the time about The Great Tree Removal project which was controversial including among the membership but probably overdue and certainly necessary from a tournament perspective.

 

Still, the course itself is breathtaking in person.

Edited April 1 by chillybilly

[Forged4ever]

On 3/7/2025 at 9:22 AM, PrincipalsNose said:

Hartwood Acres Park? 

Yah, there were two areas, one, Hartwood Acres(red lot) & the Galleria Mall at Pittsburgh Mills(blue lot), both providing free parking with shuttles running from early morning on.

 

The only parking up around the club and in surrounding neighborhoods is permit only, and they will tag & tow. A lot of residents have parking in their driveways/yards, and depending on proximity to the club, the spaces run from $25-$100/spot.

 

The PA Turnpike runs directly through the course, separating holes #2 through 8 from the rest of the course. The course has three bridges and for the 2016 Open the Club unveiled a set of steps from the first green near the turnpike to the shoulder of Hulton Road, which runs along the southern edge of the track.

 

 A lil side story regarding the replacement of the first bridge when the USGA basically gave Oakmont an edict of "if you don't replace/expand the bridge and increase the access for spectators between the course divide, you're not gonna host a Junior USGA event, much less a Major." So as Oakmont crunched the numbers and prepared to assess the members, fellow member, Hedge Fund Manager Extraordinaire & Uber Billionaire Stan Druckenmiller said bag the assessments, he asked what the number was, got it, then wrote a check for the bridge, end of subject. 

 

Having Played the course 12-14 times a season from the mid-80's up till my health issues, I'm not gonna get into the tree(s) debacle, lol🌳🌲 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friends⛳️

RP

Edited April 2 by Forged4ever

[Shilgy]

On 4/2/2025 at 1:54 PM, Forged4ever said:

Yah, there were two areas, one, Hartwood Acres(red lot) & the Galleria Mall at Pittsburgh Mills(blue lot), both providing free parking with shuttles running from early morning on.

 

The only parking up around the club and in surrounding neighborhoods is permit only, and they will tag & tow. A lot of residents have parking in their driveways/yards, and depending on proximity to the club, the spaces run from $25-$100/spot.

 

The PA Turnpike runs directly through the course, separating holes #2 through 8 from the rest of the course. The course has three bridges and for the 2016 Open the Club unveiled a set of steps from the first green near the turnpike to the shoulder of Hulton Road, which runs along the southern edge of the track.

 

 A lil side story regarding the replacement of the first bridge when the USGA basically gave Oakmont an edict of "if you don't replace/expand the bridge and increase the access for spectators between the course divide, you're not gonna host a Junior USGA event, much less a Major." So as Oakmont crunched the numbers and prepared to assess the members, fellow member, Hedge Fund Manager Extraordinaire & Uber Billionaire Stan Druckenmiller said bag the assessments, he asked what the number was, got it, then wrote a check for the bridge, end of subject. 

 

Having Played the course 12-14 times a season from the mid-80's up till my health issues, I'm not gonna get into the tree(s) debacle, lol🌳🌲 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friends⛳️

RP

Is your blue dot parking the Monroeville Mall? That’s where the USGA suggested we pick up the shuttle which is great as our motel is just a couple blocks away.  Shuttling will be a pain but better than fighting traffic and getting gouged by homeowners wanting to finance a trip to Cabo with parking fees.

Hope to see you and Maddie in a few months.  Would be fun to meet in person.👍

[Forged4ever]

20 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

Is your blue dot parking the Monroeville Mall? That’s where the USGA suggested we pick up the shuttle which is great as our motel is just a couple blocks away.  Shuttling will be a pain but better than fighting traffic and getting gouged by homeowners wanting to finance a trip to Cabo with parking fees.

Hope to see you and Maddie in a few months.  Would be fun to meet in person.👍

Yes, the Monroeville Mall(Blue) has replaced the Pittsburgh Mills Mall for this Open, along with Hartwood Acres(Red). Politics forced the change, and though it's a tad longer, you're better off in Monroeville, as you said, there are motels all up and down Rt.22/30. It's 6 to 1, half dozen the other between Hartwood Acres & Monroeville Mall. Plus, you're not drivin, so relax and enjoy the ride. 

 

Yan, for sure count on gettin together. I'll message you with my tele # and we can set something up🤙

 

Have a Great Week Brotha👊

RP

[DJDJ]

I’ll be there for the final round. Any recommendations on good holes to watch or advantageous spots to sit are welcome!

[PrincipalsNose]

On 4/19/2025 at 7:58 AM, DJDJ said:

I’ll be there for the final round. Any recommendations on good holes to watch or advantageous spots to sit are welcome!

Yeah likewise! Looking for a spot with a lot of greens and tees close together 

[Gr8Balls]

We spent a lot of time in the grandstands behind 18 Green back in '16

 

Could see 10 tee clearly, along with 12 and 15 tee.  I think I recall sitting up top and watching 9 Green over the back of the stands, too.

 

It was a fun course to spectate, imo.  Much better than Chambers Bay the year before, at least.

[412BryanC]

I went to the last one but wasn't into golf then and much younger than now. My dad and I are planning on going Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday. Does anyone know if there is typically a lot of action with practice rounds Tuesday? Our goal is to walk the grounds and get some good pictures since I've never played there. 

[Duct Tape]

On 4/2/2025 at 1:54 PM, Forged4ever said:

Yah, there were two areas, one, Hartwood Acres(red lot) & the Galleria Mall at Pittsburgh Mills(blue lot), both providing free parking with shuttles running from early morning on.

 

The only parking up around the club and in surrounding neighborhoods is permit only, and they will tag & tow. A lot of residents have parking in their driveways/yards, and depending on proximity to the club, the spaces run from $25-$100/spot.

 

The PA Turnpike runs directly through the course, separating holes #2 through 8 from the rest of the course. The course has three bridges and for the 2016 Open the Club unveiled a set of steps from the first green near the turnpike to the shoulder of Hulton Road, which runs along the southern edge of the track.

 

 A lil side story regarding the replacement of the first bridge when the USGA basically gave Oakmont an edict of "if you don't replace/expand the bridge and increase the access for spectators between the course divide, you're not gonna host a Junior USGA event, much less a Major." So as Oakmont crunched the numbers and prepared to assess the members, fellow member, Hedge Fund Manager Extraordinaire & Uber Billionaire Stan Druckenmiller said bag the assessments, he asked what the number was, got it, then wrote a check for the bridge, end of subject. 

 

Having Played the course 12-14 times a season from the mid-80's up till my health issues, I'm not gonna get into the tree(s) debacle, lol🌳🌲 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friends⛳️

RP

I like it better w/o the trees.   Same for several other recent classic courses changes.

 

Others which are much improved post-tree removal:

National GL

Winged Foot

Southern Hills

Merion

Chicago GC

 

But I’ll admit I may be an outlier.  
 

 

 

 

Edited April 27 by Duct Tape

[StoutKing]

1 hour ago, Duct Tape said:

I like it better w/o the trees.   Same for several other recent classic courses changes.

 

Others which are much improved post-tree removable:

National GL

Winged Foot

Southern Hills

Merion

Chicago GC

 

But I’ll admit I may be an outlier.  

 

 

I can't believe people are arguing for more trees.  The clear landscape is what makes Oakmont awesome.  98% of American courses are overgrown with trees.

[Forged4ever]

31 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

I can't believe people are arguing for more trees.  The clear landscape is what makes Oakmont awesome.  98% of American courses are overgrown with trees.

Hey @StoutKing, how goes it👊

 

Have you ever Played Oakmont, and if so, what years?

 

Have a Great Week🍻

RP

[Forged4ever]

How bout Pine🌲, Oak Hill(though like Oakmont, it has gone back and forth), Bethpage Black & Augusta?

 

That said, I do agree, Oakmont went overboard with the trees as when Johnny won in 1973, there were 3200 trees strewn about the course. By the early 1990's, one could not see from one hole to the next on myriad holes due to the 4500+ trees lining the track🌲. 

 

The below areal pic, from circa 1950, was discovered in the Club archives in the early 1990's and over the next 20+ years became THE architectural road map for the restoration to the "Old" Oakmont, which by the 2016 Open, had removed 4000+ trees.

 

I, and a few others, happen to believe that like many things in today's world, if "some" is good, then "many many more" is not necessarily the best path forward. 

 

There was a happy medium, which I just happen to believe Oakmont ignored, though one, I'm not a member there, and two, I didn't have a voice or get a vote, so I'm nothing more than another voice from the gallery, though I have Played the course many many hundreds of times over the decades, from its 4500+ trees conditioned to its current condition. The USGA sorta dropped their typical low keyed passive aggressive threat at our Club, which co-hosted many of the past US Ams with Oakmont, where I am a member and did have a voice/vote, and while we most definitely cleared out trees that benefitted the upkeep and longevity of the course, we did not go hog wild in an effort to make the course look like it did in 1953, when Hogan had to qualify there for that year's US Open, held at Oakmont, across the river. 

 

For both Clubs, it was the late 20th, early 21st century, NOT the 1950's. To me, tryin to make the later look like the former is akin to a 50+ some adult dressin and tryin to look like an 18-21yo kid🤷🏻‍♂️

 

Look, I understand the other side of this debate, as I respect the well thought out opinions of those who do not share mine, which include my Wife & Bro. I will just continue to harmoniously and in good sportsmanship voice my view😊

 

As always, just my .05🪙 

 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friends⛳️

RP

Edited April 27 by Forged4ever

[StoutKing]

3 hours ago, Forged4ever said:

Hey @StoutKing, how goes it👊

 

Have you ever Played Oakmont, and if so, what years?

 

Have a Great Week🍻

RP

What’s up Forged?  No I haven’t played it.  Watched US Opens going back to 94 and really enjoy the treeless version more.  I’m not averse to begging for access though. 😉 Looks awesome.  

[Ferguson]

 

[bcjim]

I don't know enough about Oakmont to comment specifically but as a spectator, going to summertime golf tournaments is tough in general.  If there's no shade anywhere, that's a hard pass.

[Stevens24]

I believe the USGA can also declare those fairways "in play OB" regarding hitting down a different fairway. 

[italianstallion]

Oakmont was designed to mimic the classic links courses, and thus why all the trees were removed. Like links courses, the lack of trees does allow for alternate routes to the green which in some cases make things easier and in other cases makes things harder. Here's my thoughts on cross country golf out there and how it only makes sense on a couple of holes:

• Prior to the US Amateur I always played the first hole down the fairway and had a lot of success doing so. After seeing what the amateurs did in 2021, the next time I returned I tried the alternate route down 9. Sitting in the middle of the 9th fairway you have zero look at the first green, you're approaching from a hanging lie, you're hitting downhill a solid 40 feet, and you know the green is running strongly away from you. Tough stuff. But so is hitting a 23 yard wide fairway with your first shot of the day with O.B. on the right and stroke penalty bunkers lurking left. In this situation I'll take the awkward second shot every time. +1 cross country route
• From the new tee on three, it just doesn't make sense to try and carry the Church Pews to hit the smaller 4th fairway which runs away from you from the angle of the 3rd tee. +1 traditional route
• On the ninth hole, aiming up 1 is probably the best alternative option if you're trying to avoid the ditch on the left side of the ninth fairway. But here you are bringing the fairway bunkers on the first hole into play which also come with a one stroke penalty of their own. Wash.
• On 10 it makes no sense to play down 9 or 11 so I'm not even going to count this.
• A new tee positioned back and to the right on 11 makes getting to the 10th fairway more difficult than in years past. If you can get to the 10th fairway you get a clear approach to the green, however some pins may be more accessible from straight on from the 11th fairway than from the 10th fairway due to how strongly this green slopes front to back with a tier in the middle. Wash, but probably won't see may trying to go up 10 here.
• On 14 the route up to the 15th fairway doesn't make too much sense but coming in from the left via the 12th fairway does. It's actually a bigger target to hit and you can get closer to the green. The approach will be semi-blind and guarded by a large greenside bunker, but with wedge in hand it's not too difficult to navigate. +1 cross country route

It will be interesting to see how the pros handle these tee shots, but I doubt the USGA is going to put putting up internal O.B. and the negative publicity that comes with it to address only two holes where there's a clear advantage.

 

As for best places to watch without moving around too much, 10 tee, 11 green, 12 tee, 14 green, 15 tee, and 18 green all exist in the same corner. @Gr8Balls suggestion is spot on if you can snag the right edge of that grandstand. For the front nine, left of the 2nd tee, long of the 4th green/behind the 5th tee/left of the 8th green is another solid spot to see a lot provided they put a grandstand here.

 

[Forged4ever]

Some nice best bang for your buck grandstand spots is the grandstand behind the 3rd hole as it provides views of the 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th holes. Anothet nice grandstand is behind the 13th hole as it also provides views of the 2nd & 3rd shots into 12, while also catching the approaches into 14.

 

Not grandstands, though an open area with great views is over by the "1895 Club(Poor Man's Berckmans Place😂🤪)," where one can watch action on the 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th & 18th. 

 

Though I didn't read the whole article who's link that I posts below, Neil's a Great Guy & knows the course so I have no doubt that his recommendations are legit and about the best that you'll find🤙

 

Apologies if mine are redundant, though Neil's spot behind the grandstand  at #3 is gold👌🏼

 

My one recommendation to all who attend is just for a minute, if even that long, before ya leave, take a walk over to the flagpole by 9 green and take a look out over the course. I know that I throw some shade at Oakmont, though that's more at the Boys, who, when they're not drooling all over themselves over their Club, are Great Guys, however they do have a lot to drool over as it is a phenomenal track and the view from the flagpole is spectacular, as you can see every hole save #'s 16 & 18. It's definitely worth a snapshot🤙

 

Have Fun My Friends👊

RP

 

https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/top-spectator-spots-at-the-u-s-open/

 

 

Edited April 30 by Forged4ever

[chillybilly]

Jumping on the first Oakmont thread I saw...as many know Pittsburgh area had severe weather/wind Tuesday night. Estimates of power out for 4-5 days in many places.

 

One big 'tent' took a big hit.

 

https://golfdigestme.com/u-s-open-2025-giant-fan-structure-at-oakmont-damaged-by-storms/

 

Edited May 1 by chillybilly

[aiyyer]

What are the practice rounds like?