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Oakmont

Oakmont Country Club
1927, '35, '53, '62, '73, '83,

'94, & '07 U.S. Opens
Course: 18 Hole Private
Architect: Henry Fownes
Founded: 1903
Location: Oakmont, PA
Website: www.oakmont-countryclub.org
Date Last Played: Summer of 2008
Score: 81

Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Johnny Miller. Is this a short list of some the greatest golfers of all time? No. It's just a short list of some of the golfers who have won a Major at Oakmont. All in all the "Okey-doke" has hosted 16 mens Major Championships. Not to mention they will also host their second Women's U.S. Open this year (2010).

But who cares about history right? Who cares about the "greatest" round of golf ever played (Yohnny Miller's 63...notice "greatest" is in quotes as this is a matter of opinion. I still feel my 67 in a NOPGA Stroke Play was pretty good!). Who cares about being ranked consistenly as one of the top 20 courses in the world and top 5 in the States? Who cares that Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open more than any other course? Um....ME!

Now, I love the U.S. Open. I love the fact that anyone has a chance of winning it. I love the idea of setting up a course to be so challenging that it forces the cream to the top. But there is only one fault that lies within this great championship. Too many venues. WHAT? This coming from a guy who wants to play all of them? Yeah..I typed it. TOO MANY! If it were up to me there would be 9 regular rotating U.S. Open courses with a 10th spot to be filled at the discretion of the USGA. I have not narrowed down the list of 9 as of yet, but I do know which track would be at the very top of my list....

Henry Fownes (with the help of satan himself) designed Oakmont and this beast was introduced to the world in 1903. Since then, golfers from across the globe have been praising and cursing its hollowed grounds within the same breath.

Not every golfer may have the opportunity to play a round of golf on the links of Oakmont, but millions of non-members take a "drive" at Oakmont every year. Although I'm sure most of them have no idea that while traveling on the PA turnpike they pass under two walking bridges that connect holes 2 through 8 with the rest of the course. This is my sly way of "bridging" into one of the best stories I've heard regarding Oakmont. Although I am uncertain of the exact details, the story goes something like this.

Bob Ford, the Head Professional at Oakmont, was presented with a serious problem. The USGA had come to him with concerns regarding spectator traffic over the single walking bridge that allowed players and galleries to avoid playing frogger with crazy Pennsylvania drivers. Mr. Ford was in a tight spot. He needed to convince the membership to ante up for an additional bridge over the turnpike or Oakmont's string of championships might come to an end. While sitting in his office (more than likely trying to figure out how many car washes the junior golf program was going to have to host in order to fund the project) an unnamed member walked, or as I like to image, sauntered into his office. Mr. Member sat down at Bob's desk (which I image is a really nice desk) and asked how much the bridge project was going to cost the club. After Bob shared with him the facts and figures, Mr. Member proceeded to pull out his checkbook and wrote a check for the full amount. After placing the check on the desk he simply said, "Here's your bridge.  Don't tell my wife."

I was fortunate enough to be invited to play Oakmont in the summer of 2008 by one of my interns. It was even more fortunate that I was able to bring my father along with me for this momentous occasion. Having my father along was very appropriate. For a golfer, playing what I hope is the hardest golf course in the world (because I have no desire to play one more difficult) can be a symbolic "coming of age" for oneself. Much like when a Native American boy must prove their manhood by braving some inordinate task such as slaying a buffalo with his bare hands, for a golfer, playing Oakmont makes you a man (or woman...for you lady purists).

My day started in Oakmont's locker room. It is a bit intimidating changing your shoes and walking past the scoreboards that record the final results for the U.S. Open's hosted there. You look at the "63" by Miller's name and think to yourself "Well....if he can do it maybe...naaaa!"

Our round started on the 10th (which threw me for a loop as I had been studying the course and planning on teeing off on 1. This added at least 5 shots to my score.) I hit a great drive, smacked my second shot on the green and two putted for par. I thought to myself "Well that wasn't too tough". Seven holes later I made another par.

Notable Holes: The first hole at Oakmont has been called "the hardest opening hole in championship golf". I agree.

The 3rd and 4th holes surround the world famous Church Pew bunker but the bunker is not the dominate characteristic of either hole. The second shot on hole 3 demands precise distance control as any shot short will be sucked away from the green by a sharp false front. A long shot will suffer a similar demise, as the rear of the green complex is shaved "a la Pinehurst". The 4th hole is 609 yards long and plays alllllll of it. It should be a par 6 (which would make the 4 that I scored look even better!).

Me and "The Church Pews"

Hole #8 is a 288 yard par 3 which features the "Sahara Bunker". The fact that there is a bunker that is named after one of the largest deserts in the world on a "two-shot" par 3 pretty much sums up Oakmont. The 9th is a very good hole that is unique in the fact that the putting green for the hole doubles as the practice green. This design feature helps answers the question that wanders into your head while warming up... "The greens can't really be THIS fast?" They are.

Hole #17. I put this hole down as a "notable" hole for the shear fact that my tee shot on #17 came to rest closer to the green then the tee shot I hit on the 8th hole. Think about it. Not to mention it is also the home of the "Big Mouth" bunker (which is just a really good name for a bunker).

All in all, Oakmont is not just a difficult golf course, but also is a historic landmark in the world of golf. It is very deserving of whatever rank it receives in whichever ranking system you follow. The most refreshing fact about Oakmont is that the membership is not afraid to make decisions that protect the integrity of the course. In 1960, members decided to put the "oak" back in Oakmont by planting hundreds of trees. By the early 90's Oakmont had lost it's original identity as a inland links course. The membership made what might be considered an "environmentally unfriendly" decision and returned the course to it's original glory by removing the trees. They couldn't have been more right.

I feel very honored to have played this amazing U.S. Open course and look forward to being invited back to offer myself up to the golfing "gods" on the sacrificial alter that is known as Oakmont Country Club.

Fairways & Greens...and burns!

Joe

Canterbury

Canterbury Golf Club
1940 & '45 U.S. Opens
Course: 18 Hole Private
Architect: Herbert Strong
Founded: 1921
Location: Cleveland, OH
Website: www.canterburygc.org
Date Last Played: 9/16/09
Score: 73

Canterbury Golf Club was founded in 1921 and is by far the most famous Major Championship Venue you have never heard of. So famous that it holds a record that is shared with only one other golf course/club in the world. Canterbury Golf Club has hosted the U.S. Open, the Senior U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, and the U.S. Amateur Championship. Do you know what all of those are? Those are the 5 rotating men's major championships that are held in the States. Only one other course (Oak Hill) can lay claim to this distinguished honor. Although I do believe Canterbury has "one up" on Oak Hill, but I will discuss that later on. Canterbury also is the place where Jack Nicklaus won his record breaking 14th major championship ('73 PGA) overtaking the previous record held by Mr. Bobby Jones.

Canterbury came about when a group of prominent Clevelanders gathered to discuss the opening of a golf club in the area. They weren't sure on where it would be located or who would design it, but they were sure what the course would be build for... Championship Golf. Renowned golf course architect Herbert Strong was given the task of creating a course that measured up to the length, layout, fairness, and condition that is expected of a championship course. In modern golf term slang, he "pure'd it". This is proven by the golf associations continuing to bring major championship back to its hollowed grounds (as recent as the 2009 Senior PGA Championship).

Although Canterbury is considered a "golf club", it has much more to offer than just world class golf. Members can enjoy a relaxed yet refined atmosphere in the newly remodeled club house, work up a sweat on the tennis and paddle tennis courts, or lounge pool side while enjoying the beautiful Ohio summer weather (well...at least they have paddle tennis!).

But we're not here to talk about all that country club fluff. Let's get to the course. I have had the pleasure of playing the "burr" (very appropriate nickname due to it's geographic location) several times, and as it is with most great courses, it keeps getting better every time. One of my most recent rounds was played one week before the 2009 Senior PGA. Needless to say the course was absolutely delicious.

For my "Notable Holes" portion, I would like to let it be know that we will be playing the normal rotation that is used day-to-day at Canterbury and was used during both U.S. Opens (during the 2009 Senior PGA they moved around the rotation to better accommodate crowds).

So...Notable Holes: There are a bunch. Start with hole #2 which has one of the most severely sloped greens on the course. If you find yourself above the hole, you won't be for long.

Hole #3 is a great little par three (177 yards) that plays back towards the club house. If you look closely at this picture you can see the grandstands and TV tower that were set up for the Senior PGA. What you can't see is the small pond that guards the front of the hole and the beautiful "tudor style" club house located behind the hole.

Hole #4 is one of my personal favorites. During the Senior PGA it played 457 yards, but from the tips it can max out close to 500 yards. Your tee shot must avoid the fairway bunkers on the left to leave you with a longish shot into this non-bunkered receptive green. I believe the green structure on #4 is one of the best in the world when it comes to long par fours (of course I've only played a hundred or so courses so I may not be the expert on this) as it is receptive to a multitude of different approach shots.

Moving right along, I would be doing Canterbury a disgrace if I did not mention the challenging Par four 5th hole. Avoiding fairway bunkers that guard the left side of the fairway and a burn that runs along the right side is your first goal. If your approach shot is lucky enough to find the green, you are then faced with one of the most challenging greens at Canterbury. This green may be the stat leader in "de-greened" putts.

Not that there is anything wrong with holes #6 and #7, I'm going to fast forward to the 8th. A shorter par 4 that demands extreme accuracy off the tee and precise club selection on ones approach. The green's drastic false front will take any shot that comes up short back down some 30 yards. Since Canterbury's greens are always in great shape and kept very "speedy", only about 60% off this green is playable. The picture to the left was taken by myself from a TV Tower located between 8 and 9 (the steps on those towers are tricky with golf shoes on!).

My next notable hole is the 13th. Not only is it a great hole, it holds a significant place in U.S. Open history. Check out my "Ultimate U.S. Open Course" to find out what happened there.

The 15th at Canterbury makes my Notable Holes list and also is on my Nemesis Hole list. Your tee shot MUST find the fairway in order to have hopes of hitting this severely elevated green. I can't tell you how many times I've missed this green long...and short. (Notice the stairs leading up the hill...there's a lot of them.)

That brings us to "The Finish". In the summer of 2009, I took an intern to play Canterbury. Unfortunately our round was ended prematurely due to severe weather. When asked about his round, he couldn't have said it better. "I didn't get to play Canterbury. We got rained out on 15." I could give you a play by play of holes 16, 17, and 18 but I feel that I couldn't do them justice. Visit canterburygc.org for a tour of "The Finish".

Now in the beginning of this blog I mentioned that there was something at Canterbury that gave it a leg up on Oak Hill. That "something" is a Green Jacket that was won by Canterbury's former Head Professional Henry Picard at the 1938 Master's Tournament. I haven't convinced the professional staff to let me try it on, but it is still amazing just standing a foot away from one. No other club in the world can boast about the possession of a Green Jacket as the only other jacket that is not inside Augusta is Gary Player's (which is located in his home in South Africa).

In closing, Canterbury is unfortunately part of the group of past U.S. Open venues that may never host the great event again. Not because of the merit of the course, but because the lack of infrastructure to host such a "major" event. It will, hopefully, continue to host other events and bring back championship golf to the Cleveland area.