Oakmont's Course
The course, the only design by Henry Fownes, opened in 1903. It straddles the Allegheny River Valley and uniquely has virtually no water hazards, and, since 2007, almost no trees. With a USGA course rating of 77.5 and some two hundred bunkers it is generally regarded in the golf community as one of the most difficult in the United States. It features large, extremely fast, and undulating greens. All are original but the 8th, which was moved several yards to the left to make way for the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the late 1940s. Originally a links course, trees were added in the 1950s-1960s. Most were removed beginning after the 1994 U.S. Open, with between 5,000 and 8,000 eliminated during a 2007 renovation alone. Greens are planted with Poa annua. Par for members is 71.
The course is also noted for its slope. Most noted on holes 1, 3, 10 and 12, Oakmont's greens pitch away from the fairway.
One of Oakmont's most famous hazards is the Church Pews bunker, a large roughly one hundred by forty yard bunker that that features twelve grass covered traversing ridges which comes into play on the 3rd and 4th holes.
For many years Oakmont's bunkers were groomed with a rake with wider than normal tines, creating deep furrows. The rakes were last used in U.S. Open competition in 1962 and eliminated from the club in 1964.
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