Looking to the future while also keeping in mind the proud past at Oakland Hills Country Club, the US Golf Association on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with the iconic Detroit facility that includes a slate of eight championships, including the US Open in 2034 and 2051. The last mark marks the 100th anniversary of Ben Hogan’s Open Triumph on the South Course that he famously called “this monster”.
The USGA held a press conference at the nearby Detroit Athletic Club in Oakland Hills talking about its challenging current circumstances after a fire on Feb. 17 destroyed its sprawling neocolonial clubhouse, causing damage estimated at $ 80 million. The news of additional USGA events planned for one of America’s biggest championships could not have come at a better time, and it improved USGA’s commitment to Oakland Hills after they revealed in January that it would be joining the club in 2031. and awarded the 2042 U.S. Women’s Open. .
Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, which hosted most USGA championships, was scheduled to host the 2034 US Open, but instead hosted the 2033 edition.
“This is a testament to our relationship with Oakland Hills and the incredible history we share together,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Chief of Staff. “Given the breadth of this championship today, it’s just remarkable. From all that the club has gone through in recent weeks, we are honored to be with this announcement in this course of the championship in the years we originally discussed, wanted to continue.It’s very amazing.
“The USGA believes that our places distinguish our championships from all others,” said Bodenhamer, who described the Oakland Hills as one of “the Gulf Cathedrals.”
“Does it matter where a player wins his USGA Championship? It does not matter where they win,” he said.
“I think this is what makes big championships so beautiful that you get the chance to come back,” said ESPN broadcaster Andy North, who won the second of his two U.S. Open titles in Oakland Hills in 1985. look at our big championships, the Masters is so unique because it is played on the same golf course every year, but I think the other three majors have an identity to play wonderful facilities as well. You may remember the last time it was there. … you remember great shots from games.
The USGA also awarded Oakland Hills four amateur tournaments: the 2024 US Junior Amateur, 2029 US Women’s Amateur, 2038 US Girls’ Junior Amateur and 2047 US Amateur. It last hosted a national championship in 2016 when Curtis Luck won the US Amateur.
Club president Rick Palmer fought back emotions to celebrate the 29-year relationship between the USGA and Oakland Hills. “It really is a great way to end what was an emotional month for us,” he said. “It comes to mind, I’m pretty modest today, I feel like the offensive lineman who recovered a fumble in the end zone, and the referee blew a whistle and said, ‘Hey, we won the game.’ “
The USGA’s extensive commitment to Oakland Hills reflects not only its appreciation for the club’s historic role in the Golf Championship, but also for the recent upgrade of its South Course overseen by architect Gil Hanse. The South Course was closed in 2020 and early 2021 for a $ 12 million restoration of the layout originally designed by Donald Ross. Robert Trent Jones redesigned it before the 1951 US Open, which saw Hogan win his second straight national title with a final 67 and seven-over 287 overall and then remarked that “I’m glad I took this course – this monster – on his knees. “
“I think we have a golf course that will be an adequate challenge even in this age,” said Hanse, who tried with his design partner Jim Wagner to represent the South Course to Ross’ original work. “We looked at what we could do, by looking at the prism of Donald Ross and the original design, to first and foremost create a great golfing experience for the membership, and then secondly to see what it takes to have a great championship in this. to organize time.We really tried to do our best to bring back what Donald Ross created.
Opened in 1918, the club hosted 11 USGA championships, north of Detroit in Bloomfield Hills, starting with the 1924 US Open. The 2034 Championship will take a break of 38 years since their last Open in 1996 won by Steve Jones. In all, Oakland Hills has played six U.S. Open. Three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup have also been contested on its South Course.
As for the clubhouse, membership has already voted to build an exact replica of the 90,000-square-foot structure, which was modeled after George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate at an estimated cost of $ 50 million. It is expected to be ready by 2024, but may not be in time for the US Junior Amateur. USGA gave the club the option to postpone this championship to another year, but Oakland Hills declined the offer.
“Our members not only said we were ready, we needed it,” Palmer said.
The agreement between the USGA and Oakland Hills, which Bodenhamer said would last five years, was concluded before the announcement in January that the club would host two US Women’s Open championships. “I think for us, for this partnership to really be a partnership, you’re going to be fat and thin, and we’ll be there for Oakland Hills Country Club in the long run,” said Bodenhamer, who reiterated that the club’s history was a central tenet for USGA engagement.
Among the champions, including Hogan and North, crowned in Oakland Hills are Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Glenna Collett-Vare and Gene Littler. Padraig Harrington won the last major on the South Course, the 2008 PGA Championship.
“The special moments from the past, whether they’s Hogan or Palmer or Nicklaus, are special moments, and the ghosts of the past are important to the players,” Bodenhamer said. “They want to win where the special moments were created. It makes winning their championship, whether an opener or an amateur, so much more special. And the ghosts are wandering the property here at Oakland Hills Country Club, and we look forward to more memories to do.
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