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#36 in the United States

Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan · designed by Donald Ross (original), Robert Trent Jones Sr. (renovation 1951) · opened 1918

By the topcourses.golf Editorial Team · · · How we rank →

Course card
Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Par
70
Yardage
7,037yds
Holes
18
Opened
1918
Access
Private
Design
Classic
Plan of Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) showing its fairways, greens and bunkers, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
Course plan of Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course), drawn from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL). It shows what volunteer mappers have recorded, not an official plan, and the level of detail varies from course to course.

History

Oakland Hills Country Club's South Course, Donald Ross's 1918 creation in suburban Detroit later overhauled by Robert Trent Jones Sr. for the 1951 U.S. Open, became famous when Ben Hogan called it the Monster after taming it with a final-round 67. Jones narrowed fairways and added 61 bunkers, creating a course so penal that competitors despaired. Hogan's mastery is considered among the five greatest rounds ever played. The South Course subsequently hosted six more U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, including Padraig Harrington's 2008 triumph. The club underwent a full restoration by Gil Hanse in 2021.

Signature Hole

16th hole, par 4, 408 yards — a demanding mid-length par-4 with a stream crossing that felled many U.S. Open contenders

Notable Tournaments

  • 1924 U.S. Open
  • 1937 U.S. Open
  • 1951 U.S. Open
  • 1961 U.S. Open
  • 1985 U.S. Open
  • 1996 U.S. Open
  • 1972 PGA Championship
  • 1979 PGA Championship
  • 2008 PGA Championship
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In the context of the top 100

Where this course sits against every ranked course on the list.

Opened 1918 — older than 15 of the 100 ranked courses.Opened 1918 — older than 15 of the 100 ranked courses.Opened1918189119572023
7,037 yards — longer than 38% of the ranked top 100.7,037 yards — longer than 38% of the ranked top 100.Yardage7,037 yds3,4187,876

Frequently asked questions

Is Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) public or private?

Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) is a private club. Play is generally limited to members and their accompanied guests.

Who designed Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)?

Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) was designed by Donald Ross (original), Robert Trent Jones Sr. (renovation 1951) and opened in 1918.

Where does Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) rank among the top golf courses in America?

Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) ranks #36 on our consensus ranking of America's 100 greatest golf courses, synthesized from Golf Digest, Golfweek, and GOLF Magazine.

What is the signature hole at Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)?

The signature hole at Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) is the 16th hole, par 4, 408 yards — a demanding mid-length par-4 with a stream crossing that felled many U.S. Open contenders.

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan · 42.5339, -83.2377 · nearby top-100 courses shown in outline · open in Google Maps →

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