US Open to return to Oakland Hills Country Club
The Oakland Hills Country Club has been awarded arguably golf’s most prestigious tournament, and by far the most challenging tournament, the US Open in 2034 and 2051.
Andy Morrison, Detroit News
Detroit. The monster has woken up. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Oakland Hills Country Club has been awarded perhaps golf’s most prestigious tournament, and by far the most challenging, the US Open of Golf in 2034 and 2051, the US Golf Association announced Tuesday at a dinner at the Detroit Athletic Club.
Oakland Hills has been unable to host lunch since a devastating fire last month that destroyed the stately 90,000-square-foot pillared clubhouse at the Bloomfield Township Club. It will be at least a year before the groundwork for the club’s new building is laid, and three years before it is completed, but enough time to host the seventh US Open, but the first since 1996.
“From the ashes, triumph will rise,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Chief Championships Officer. “We look forward to new memories.”
On Tuesday, Bodehamer made the long-awaited announcement and was joined by Andy North, a two-time US Open champion who won one in the Oakland Hills in 1985; Gil Hance, the architect who oversaw the recent $12.1 million restoration of the iconic South Field, a revamp that put the Oakland Hills back on the map from a USGA perspective; and Rick Palmer, President of the Oakland Hills Club.
Oakland Hills hosted the US Open in 1924, 1937, 1951, 1961, 1985 and 1996.
In the 2000s, it hosted two iconic events hosted by the USGA’s rival, the PGA of America, including the 2004 Ryder Cup and the 2008 PGA Championship – a period in which the Oakland Hills-USGA rift occurred amid a change in leadership and changing the landscape of the game.
But the USGA connection is clearly back and stronger than ever. In January, Oakland Hills was awarded the US Women’s Open for 2031 and 2042 – the strongest hint that that day is coming, as the USGA recently awarded historic clubs, “cathedrals of golf” as the USGA likes to stay, as the men’s and women’s Open Championships. USA.
On Tuesday, the USGA also awarded the Oakland Hills four high-profile amateur tournaments – the 2024 US Junior Amateur Tournament, the 2029 US Women’s Amateur Tournament, the 2038 US Junior Amateur Tournament, and the 2047 US Amateur Tournament, i.e. from 2024 to 2051 Oakland Hills will host eight USGA championships. .
“Wow,” said Palmer, who has had more bad days than good days lately, after the Oakland Hills clubhouse was engulfed in flames on the morning of Feb. 17. “This is really a great day to end an emotional month for us. “
The road to this began about five years ago, when Oakland Hills representatives attended the annual USGA meeting in San Antonio. Oakland Hills officials came with the club’s detailed plans, and USGA officials took notice and took them seriously.
A big step towards another US Open was the renewal of the famous South Course, which, interestingly, meant a return to the past. Oakland Hills South Course was closed for the entire 2020 season and part of 2021 as Hans, Jim Wagner and their architecture firm intended to restore the property to the way designer Donald Ross envisioned it when he built the layout in early 2020 century. property which is on Maple Road between the Telegraph and Lacer, “The Lord ordained this for a golf course.”
“What we talked about a lot was Donald Ross,” said Hans, whose research in developing recovery plans included watching a copy of the 1929 “Amateur Women USA” program, which included scaled pictures of holes at the time, and also photographs.
Hanse and Co. expanded the bunkers and greens, and added a state-of-the-art weather system under each of the greens to help clear rain quickly and cool the greens on hot days. This is a big argument in favor of the US Open, which has a large field, large galleries and a large TV audience, so any adherence to the tournament schedule is a huge advantage.
In addition, dozens of trees were removed from the track, serving several purposes. First, it helps the grass grow without all that shade. (It also opens up a better view for the galleries.) In addition, it created stunning views of the entire property, huge for television purposes, as well as views of the 100-year-old clubhouse, modeled after George Washington’s Mount Vernion, from all over. grounds.
This club, or what’s left of it, will soon be demolished. The fire started during construction work on the patio and quickly spread, resulting in total damage that will force the club to fully recover. (Members and firefighters were able to salvage many key artifacts, including trophies, as well as items from storage in the basement.) The club membership, which has more than 700 members, plans to build a replica of the club’s historic building with updated infrastructure; it won’t open, in all likelihood, until 2025; it would cost over $50 million. It will cover the club’s history while preparing for the future, line club member Chris Ilich, CEO of the Tigers and Red Wings, recently said at a members’ meeting.
The club wasn’t just a place to shower and eat a hamburger. For the past 100 years, this has been the playground for the best players and shakers in the area; presidents dined there; most of the best golfers have ever set foot here, including champions such as Ben Hogan, who named the course “The Monster” after winning in 1951. 7 over par (and collecting $4,000!); Jack Nicklaus; Arnold Palmer; Gary Player; David Graham; North; and others.
“It’s been a magical week for me,” said North, who was the only under-par player in 1985, one under, in what is considered golf’s toughest tournament due to difficult qualifying and course conditions.
“I love the fact that the denomination was a really good result.”
As a former major champion, North is an honorary member of the Oakland Hills and played at the rebuilt course in the fall. He was impressed, especially on the seventh par-4 hole, which has a creek running along the hole to the left of the green. He called the change “impressive” and said the circuit “would be a fantastic venue for all championships.”
The race, announced on Tuesday, will run until the 2051 US Open, a date so far away that it drew laughter on social media and even Bodenhamer. The rationale for this, according to Bodehamer, was twofold. First, it will ensure that the USGA’s relationship with Oakland Hills is maintained for decades to come, even as management changes; and secondly, it will coincide with the 100th anniversary of Hogan’s triumph.
Bodenhamer credited former Oakland Hills presidents Tom Stacey and Mike Dietz for launching the renewed partnership and Palmer for seeing it through. Also mentioned is current top pro Steve Brady, who has played in two US Opens. The deal was closed a few months ago. Bodenhamer was traded after playing the field in April 2021 with several USGA officials and former PGA Tour player Jason Gore.
It was also sold due to what three-time major tournament winner Nick Price once told him, “It matters to golfers where they win their big games, and historic Oakland Hills is on par with the best golf courses.”
“These ghosts of the past are really important to the players,” said Bodenhamer.
After the fire, Oakland Hills received widespread support from all corners of the golfing world, locally and nationally, including from the USGA, who offered any assistance needed – they could help the club create temporary structures, such as what is used during main weeks championship so that the club can still have canteens, locker rooms and other amenities while there is no club, and assured Oakland Hills that the fire would not affect future major championships.
The USGA even offered to postpone the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur, but Palmer said thanks, but no thanks.
“We need it,” Palmer said. “We won’t have a club, but we’re going to be hosting the best junior amateur tournament the US has ever had.”
And this is just the beginning.
Major tournaments in Oakland Hills
►1922 Western Open (Mike Davis)
►1924 US Open (Cyril Walker)
► 1929 USA Amateur Women (Glenna Collette)
►1937 US Open (Ralph Gouldal)
►1951 US Open (Ben Hogan)
►1961 US Open (Gene Littler)
►1972 PGA Championship (Gary Player)
►1979 PGA Championship (David Graham)
►1981 US Senior Open (Arnold Palmer)
►1985 US Open (Andy North)
►1991 US Senior Open (Jack Nicklaus)
►1996 US Open (Steve Jones)
►2002 USA Amateur (Ricky Barnes)
►2004 Ryder Cup (Europe)
►PGA Championship 2008 (Padraig Harrington)
►2016 USA Amateur (Curtis Luck)
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