Oakmont as a Viewing Experience

[Forged4ever]

2 hours ago, beamlith said:

Do you think this it would be pretty easy to get a spot if I'm in at 6 am on Friday? I'm hoping to see as many shots as I can before my volunteer shift. Is there a better spot on the course for seeing a lot of the back nine at once?

Near the flagpole at the 9th hole, and around the 15th green/16th tee

 

 Enjoy🍻

RP

Edited June 10 by Forged4ever

[Hankshank]

15 hours ago, Forged4ever said:

Are you speaking to the logo?

 

That's a squirrel...

 

Introduced in 1962 for the US Open...

 

Maddie just informed me that I'm an idiot cuz a chipmunk is a type of squirrel though in my defense, the animal chosen was in fact a "squirrel," not a chipmunk and while all chipmunks are squirrels, and the Tamias Striatus chipmunk is found in Western PA, not all squirrels are chipmunks, and besides Madison🥰,  it's name is "Rocky The Flying Squirrel," NOT "Rocky The Flying Friggin Chipmunk," lol 🐿️

 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friend⛳️

RP

And I suppose the logo logic is that there are Oaks at Oakmont and squipmunks eats acorns? There might even be a lot of little chip and dales running about on the Oakmont property?

[aiyyer]

At one point the course was full of trees and squirrels. Marketing wise the image worked and it has stuck.

[mshills]

5 hours ago, Hankshank said:

And I suppose the logo logic is that there are Oaks at Oakmont and squipmunks eats acorns? There might even be a lot of little chip and dales running about on the Oakmont property?

I think it’s more a play on the name of the club to come up with that mascot, the acorn-loving squirrel. 

[grm24]

5 hours ago, Hankshank said:

And I suppose the logo logic is that there are Oaks at Oakmont and squipmunks eats acorns? There might even be a lot of little chip and dales running about on the Oakmont property?

 

https://www.usga.org/clubhouse/2016-ungated/06-ungated/oakmont-squirrel.html

 

The Oakmont Country Club squirrel was introduced to the golf world in 1962, largely because the trees that once filled the property provided a perfect sanctuary for the nut-hoarding rodents. Now, as the 116th U.S. Open gets underway, the squirrel is almost as synonymous with Oakmont as the Church Pews bunker and the notoriously thick rough.

 

“That little squirrel sells a lot of merchandise,” said Annie Vanzant, director of merchandise for Oakmont Country Club. “He started off with a whole different look, with a tam o’ shanter. He had kind of a cartoon feel, but it was the start of what has become an icon for Oakmont and its championships.”

[Shilgy]

On 4/27/2025 at 1:07 PM, Forged4ever said:

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

I’m think what you’re missing is they had a membership drive which offered free firewood for life. 🧐

[Forged4ever]

15 hours ago, Hankshank said:

And I suppose the logo logic is that there are Oaks at Oakmont and squipmunks eats acorns? There might even be a lot of little chip and dales running about on the Oakmont property?

Though I prefer the "OCC" logo and that is on the majority of my hats/shirts/sweaters, the squirrel logo🐿️ is a huge hit on the Opens'/Majors' apparel🤙

 

If ya get the chance to grab an "OCC" logo hat/shirt/sweater, grab it🤙

 

Everyone and their Mother has the squirrel logo🐿️ stuff...

 

OCC??

 

Not so many😉

 

Stay Well👊

RP

Edited June 11 by Forged4ever

[StoutKing]

3 hours ago, Forged4ever said:

Though I prefer the "OCC" logo and that is on the majority of my hats/shirts/sweaters, the squirrel logo🐿️ is a huge hit on the Opens'/Majors' apparel🤙

 

If ya get the chance to grab an "OCC" logo hat/shirt/sweater, grab it🤙

 

Everyone and their Mother has the squirrel logo🐿️ stuff...

 

OCC??

 

Not so many😉

 

Stay Well👊

RP

Who had the squirrel first - Oakmont or Brookline?

[Forged4ever]

1 hour ago, StoutKing said:

Who had the squirrel first - Oakmont or Brookline?

Brookline, as it was founded in 1882, same year as my Club, with the squirrel🐿️ bein there from day one, while Oakmont adopted the squirrel🐿️ for the 1962 Open

 

Cheers🍻

RP

Edited June 12 by Forged4ever

[mshills]

3 hours ago, Forged4ever said:

 

If ya get the chance to grab an "OCC" logo hat/shirt/sweater, grab it🤙

Yep! Not finding that one in the merch tent. 😁

 

An aside….what I found funny on Monday, and used to chuckle about it at The Masters (when I lived in ATL and it was much easier to attend for many reasons) are the guys showing up in FULL FORCE GEAR from their home club. 
 

“Hey, you must be a member at Slapahoochee CC! I’ll have you out here to play next month, let’s do it!” said no host club member, ever.  😂

[Carolina Golfer 2]

On 6/10/2025 at 12:04 PM, beamlith said:

Do you think this it would be pretty easy to get a spot if I'm in at 6 am on Friday? I'm hoping to see as many shots as I can before my volunteer shift. Is there a better spot on the course for seeing a lot of the back nine at once?

Yeah i think if you are in that early you’ll see alot.  From the bleachers i mentioned you’ll 10  and 12 tee shots.  Then about 2 hours later you’ll see groups coming up 9 and 18 plus still 10/12 

 

Definitely get the top row if you can 

[Forged4ever]

1 hour ago, mshills said:

Yep! Not finding that one in the merch tent. 😁

 

An aside….what I found funny on Monday, and used to chuckle about it at The Masters (when I lived in ATL and it was much easier to attend for many reasons) are the guys showing up in FULL FORCE GEAR from their home club.
 

“Hey, you must be a member at Slapahoochee CC! I’ll have you out here to play next month, let’s do it!” said no host club member, ever.  😂

Spot on Bro😂😂🤙

 

We mocked the living 💩💩 outa the guys that wore stuff from the club over there, lol

 

It's so funny that you bring this up cuz I was gonna bring this very subject up and Maddie was chirpin, "don't be negative, they're just proud of their club,"😂😂

 

I love her dearly though sometimes she's a putz🥰😂🤣

 

Have a Great Week Brotha👊

RP

Edited June 12 by Forged4ever

[StoutKing]

5 hours ago, Forged4ever said:

Though I prefer the "OCC" logo and that is on the majority of my hats/shirts/sweaters, the squirrel logo🐿️ is a huge hit on the Opens'/Majors' apparel🤙

 

If ya get the chance to grab an "OCC" logo hat/shirt/sweater, grab it🤙

 

Everyone and their Mother has the squirrel logo🐿️ stuff...

 

OCC??

 

Not so many😉

 

Stay Well👊

RP

The members' logo is low key pretty cool.

[beamlith]

13 hours ago, mshills said:

Yep! Not finding that one in the merch tent. 😁

 

An aside….what I found funny on Monday, and used to chuckle about it at The Masters (when I lived in ATL and it was much easier to attend for many reasons) are the guys showing up in FULL FORCE GEAR from their home club. 
 

“Hey, you must be a member at Slapahoochee CC! I’ll have you out here to play next month, let’s do it!” said no host club member, ever.  😂

Worked the merch tent yesterday, every single Pittsburgh Field Club member made sure to wear their club apparel. I must have seen the same grey PFC vest hundreds of times.

[beamlith]

11 hours ago, StoutKing said:

The members' logo is low key pretty cool.

I believe you can get a few OCC items at the club's public gift shop but parking is very, very limited.

[StoutKing]

10 minutes ago, beamlith said:

I believe you can get a few OCC items at the club's public gift shop but parking is very, very limited.

Thanks.  I'll buy some swag when I get the chance to play there.

[mshills]

58 minutes ago, beamlith said:

Worked the merch tent yesterday, every single Pittsburgh Field Club member made sure to wear their club apparel. I must have seen the same grey PFC vest hundreds of times.

Ha. Look, most of my shirts are from my place so I get that. What made me chuckle are the guys with the hat, shirt, vest, belt, shorts, and socks with their club logo. 
 

I am also on the record here of saying us golfers should be less concerned about what others are wearing….so my above post is meant to be humorous. 🙂

[Hankshank]

TV Experience :

First experience , watching Ludvig and his boys going through 10 to 18, The layout is at first glance pretty like onedimensional. You hit it long, you hit it straight you will be fine, except on hole 17 with seems like the only risk-reward down the stretch.

But watching the main feed evening time here over big waters, some aspects probably more noticeable for people on-site starts to unfold. mostly the elevation changes. It seems like players have to consider those strategy wise. A pity the camera technology cannot make those elevation changes more visual on TV. And its hard to like appreciate the bunker strategies, one should need a little hole profile on every hole, one does not go like uh oh left, its going for the left bunker. On courses like AN the hole layouts make it more obvious what is going to be good or bad watching those graphic lines after the shots made by players. 

 

 

Edited June 13 by Hankshank

[Petethreeput]

21 hours ago, mshills said:

Ha. Look, most of my shirts are from my place so I get that. What made me chuckle are the guys with the hat, shirt, vest, belt, shorts, and socks with their club logo. 
 

I am also on the record here of saying us golfers should be less concerned about what others are wearing….so my above post is meant to be humorous. 🙂

I make an exception if they are wearing golf shoes to spectate.

[TiScape]

On 6/11/2025 at 6:51 PM, Forged4ever said:

 

It's so funny that you bring this up cuz I was gonna bring this very subject up and *Maddie was chirpin, "don't be negative, they're just proud of their club,"😂😂

 

Have a Great Week Brotha👊

RP

Oh man, I didn’t think of that! I need to have my lady green light my content here! 🤦🏼‍♂️ 

I bet the “confused” reactions I receive would go down at least 90%!! 
 

🤣

[Forged4ever]

10 hours ago, TiScape said:

Oh man, I didn’t think of that! I need to have my lady green light my content here! 🤦🏼‍♂️ 

I bet the “confused” reactions I receive would go down at least 90%!! 
 

🤣

That's only half of the equation Brotha😂😂

 

Unfortunately those idiots that drop the "confused" emojis would still be members and no less clueless and confused🤷🏻‍♂️🤪

 

Have a Great Day👊

RP

[FootWedge16]

Oakmont sucks from a viewing perspective. The treeless look is stupid and there are very few risk/reward holes. I still enjoy watching every major, but I'd be fine if they removed it from the US open rotation. 

[Ole3wiggle]

13 minutes ago, FootWedge16 said:

Oakmont sucks from a viewing perspective. The treeless look is stupid and there are very few risk/reward holes. I still enjoy watching every major, but I'd be fine if they removed it from the US open rotation. 

L-O-L the guy who lifted the trophy on Sunday literally won because he drove the green on a par 4 in the closing holes of the event...

[mshills]

2 hours ago, FootWedge16 said:

Oakmont sucks from a viewing perspective. The treeless look is stupid and there are very few risk/reward holes. I still enjoy watching every major, but I'd be fine if they removed it from the US open rotation. 

Username checks out. 

[TiScape]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:58 PM, Forged4ever said:

Though I prefer the "OCC" logo and that is on the majority of my hats/shirts/sweaters, the squirrel logo🐿️ is a huge hit on the Opens'/Majors' apparel🤙

 

If ya get the chance to grab an "OCC" logo hat/shirt/sweater, grab it🤙

 

Everyone and their Mother has the squirrel logo🐿️ stuff...

 

OCC??

 

Not so many😉

 

Stay Well👊

RP

Real players prefer the OCC logo.
The “normies” love that adorable little squirrel! 🐿️

[Scotty1140]

I was there on Friday.

 

On the whole tree vs no trees thing, I never saw the course in person before the redesign, so I can't make a comparison. What I saw when I was there was great IMO. I loved the openness a lot. The grand size of the property and the rolling terrain are really showcased. Beautiful course.

[johnseg]

14 minutes ago, Scotty1140 said:

I was there on Friday.

 

On the whole tree vs no trees thing, I never saw the course in person before the redesign, so I can't make a comparison. What I saw when I was there was great IMO. I loved the openness a lot. The grand size of the property and the rolling terrain are really showcased. Beautiful course.

I love the look of fewer trees. Looking at the terrain is what I like. Being able to see almost the whole course from whatever hole you are playing is what I like.

 

I will take open over Parkland any day. We all have different preferences, so I never like to say one is better than another. I only say what I enjoy more.

 

I hate playing hilly, but I like the way it looks.

Edited June 19 by johnseg
added more

[Forged4ever]

6 hours ago, FootWedge16 said:

Oakmont sucks from a viewing perspective. The treeless look is stupid and there are very few risk/reward holes. I still enjoy watching every major, but I'd be fine if they removed it from the US open rotation. 

Forget loooooove😍, I absolutely ADORE this place🥰‼️

 

"very few risk/reward holes"

 

You all are the absolute friggin Best😂🤣😂🤙

 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friends⛳️

RP

Edited June 19 by Forged4ever