Oakland Hills Country Club
Encyclopedia
Oakland Hills Country Club is a private golf club in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan
Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan
Bloomfield Charter Township, known officially as The Charter Township of Bloomfield, is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 41,070....

. It has hosted many prestigious professional golf tournaments throughout its history. The club consists of two 18 hole courses: the South Course and the North Course. The South Course has hosted all of the tournaments played at Oakland Hills (one round of the 2002 U.S. Amateur was played on the North Course).

History

In 1916, Printer Joseph Mack (who was also Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...

's ad-man and Norval Hawkins, the accountant and first sales manager for Ford), purchased a parcel of farmland on Maple Road – 15 miles (24.1 km) northwest of Detroit in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Construction began in 1917. Mack was elected as the first president of the club. When the South Course of Oakland Hills was formally opened on July 13, 1918, it already enjoyed a certain degree of prestige. After all, the course was designed by the foremost golf course architect of his day – Donald Ross and the Club had engaged, as its first professional – Walter Hagen
Walter Hagen
Walter Charles Hagen was a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of eleven professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods . He won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win the British Open, which he went on...

 who had already won the United States Open. The enjoyment of country club life in those days was pretty well restricted to the golf course. The "Clubhouse" was the Miller farmhouse on the North side of Maple Road and the old chicken coop served as Walter Hagen's pro shop. Memberships were sold to 140 members at $250.00 each.

The Clubhouse which is still the basic structure we recognize today was completed and formally opened in August, 1922, at a cost of $650,000.00 unfinished. The original Clubhouse had accommodations for 48 overnight guests and, in those days, it was not uncommon for members to stay at the Club for weeks at a time. Some of these guest rooms were retained until the major remodeling of the second floor which took place in 1968. Modern roads and nearby motels obviated the necessity of retaining accommodations for overnight guests and the need for additional space to meet the needs of our expanded membership meant the end of our hotel operation.

In looking through the archives, it is interesting to note that a full social program was in effect more than fifty years ago. In fact, informal dances were held every Wednesday and Saturday nights. The tradition of O.H.C.C. friendships started in the early days and has prevailed since that time among the members. Walter Hagen, who broke the barriers of social ostracism against golf professionals, attested to this when he said that the treatment he had received at Oakland Hills had spoiled him and made him accustomed to being treated as any golfer, pro or amateur, should be. Guest play was most popular in the early days. In 1923 there was more guest play on our South Course than any other course in the Midwest.

Work on the North Course began in 1922 and was completed at the end of the 1923 season ready for play in 1924. For the first several years it was operated as it is today, i.e., a second course for the members. During the depression, however, it became necessary to operate it as North Hills, a semi-private Club open for daily green fee play. It was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones and reestablished as a second private course for the members at the beginning of the 1969 season. The barrier which Maple Road presented between the two courses was effectively overcome by installation of the world's largest arched aluminum pedestrian bridge. The bridge connecting the two courses is 210 feet long, 11 feet wide, and weighs 40,000 pounds. It was delivered to the site already assembled and erected in less than 2 1/2 hours early one morning.

Oakland Hills' South Course is now world-renowned and is consistently picked among the top ten tests of golf in the United States and, indeed, the world. Its reputation is well earned.

The first major tournament hosted was the Western Open in 1922 which was won by our host pro Mike Brady, who had succeeded Walter Hagen, by ten strokes over runner-up Jock Hutchinson.

Two years later, in 1924, the club played host to the first of four United States Open Championships. This was won by Cyril Walker
Cyril Walker
Cyril Walker was an English golfer born in Manchester who emigrated to the United States in 1914....

 with a 297 total. Runner-up that year was Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...

, the defending champion, at 300.

The Open returned to Oakland Hills again in 1937 when Ralph Guldahl, then a twenty-four year old, won his first of two successive Open Championships with a 281 total. Two shots back in his oft-denied quest of an Open title was the great Sam Snead.

Although many tournaments have been held throughout the years at Oakland Hills, the one which gave the course its greatest reputation as "The Monster" was the 1951 Open. The result was a tournament in which only two subpar rounds were shot during the entire 72 hole affair. Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...

 won with a total of 287 by shooting a final round 67 after which he was quoted as saying "I am glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees." He also said that it was "the greatest test of golf I have ever played and the toughest course." The late Clayton Heafner who had a final round of 69, the only other sub-par of the tournament, finished second two strokes back. There was some comment after the last round of the tournament of the effect that the tee markers had been moved so far forward that last day as to take some of the fairway traps out of play. In any event, the natural result of this extremely difficult Open was that from that point on the USGA no longer permitted the host Clubs to control the layout for an Open tournament.

The Club once again hosted the U.S. Open in 1961 when Gene Littler's 281 nosed out Doug Sanders and Bob Goalby by a single stroke. But for bad luck on two holes on the back nine of the closing round, a young amateur by the name of Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...

 might have taken home all the marbles.

The next major tournament held at Oakland Hills was the 1964 Carling World Open which was won by Bobby Nichols whose 278 total beat out Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...

 by a single stroke in an exciting finish.

Next in line of major championships hosted by Oakland Hills was the 1972 P.G.A. Championship. The long range planning and unstinting efforts of volunteer members working on this tournament resulted in, what was to that time, the most successful tournament in P.G.A. history. The tournament was won by Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...

 with a 281 total highlighted by an exciting, pressure-packed birdie on our world famous 16th hole. Tommy Aaron and Jim Jamieson tied for second.

In 1979, Oakland Hills once again hosted the P.G.A. Championship. According to most golf experts, this Championship drew the largest gallery in the history of golf. Certainly, the three hole sudden-victory win by David Graham
David Graham (golfer)
Anthony David Graham is a former professional golfer from Australia.Born in Windsor, Australia, Graham turned professional in 1962 at age 16 and spent much of his career in the United States, playing on the PGA Tour. Turning age 50 in 1996, he joined the Senior PGA Tour, later known as the...

 over Ben Crenshaw
Ben Crenshaw
Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973...

 was one of the most exciting finishes in golf history. During this Championship, the "Monster" yielded a little to sub-par rounds occasioned by soft greens, low rough and some absolutely superb golf played by an extremely qualified field of top-flight golfers.

Nine contestants finished the regulation 72 holes under par, with David Graham and Ben Crenshaw both finishing at 272 – eight under par. In the suspenseful three-hole playoff, David Graham sunk phenomenal putts on the first and second holes to stay alive and clenched his victory with a birdie on the third hole.

In 1981, the Club hosted the second Annual U.S. Seniors Open Championship sponsored by the U.S.G.A. Many of the legends of golfing lore participated. The Championship was eventually won by Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...

 in an 18 hole playoff with Billy Casper and Bob Stone.

In 1985, Oakland Hills became one of only three courses in the country to have hosted the U.S. Open five times. With many of the big names missing the cut, a relative unknown from Taiwan, T.C. Chen, found himself leading the field into the final round with the help of a rare double eagle on the second hole during the first round of play. While millions watched on television, T.C. blew a four stroke lead with a quadruple bogey on the fifth hole primarily by hitting his ball twice on one approach shot.
Despite a valiant effort on his part in a head to head duel with Andy North
Andy North
Andrew Stewart North is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open twice.- Early years :North was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, and raised in Monona, Wisconsin...

, the eventual winner, he was never able to recover from his disastrous experience on the fifth hole.

In winning his second U.S. Open, Andy North's 279 was the only sub-par total score for the Championship. Three "foreigners" tied for second one stroke back at even par. Once again, "The Monster", had triumphed.

During the past few years, the Club has spent several million dollars in improvements, renovations, and additions to the Clubhouse and Club property. Very extensive renovations to the main Clubhouse were made in 1968 which resulted in the removal of the sleeping rooms and the building of a new ladies locker room on the North end of the second floor of the Club. Rooms for private parties were also added on the second floor, a new Mixed Grille was built on the second floor, a new pro-shop was built, and the Men's Grille was expanded and refurbished. A new pool and pool house opened in 1971. Additional tennis courts were added so that there are now six courts available to play. Paddle tennis courts were also added to accommodate the growing popularity of this sport. Before the opening of the 1974 season, the first floor of the Clubhouse was redecorated and a new half-way house was built on the South Course.

In 1976, both the downstairs and upstairs kitchens were completely remodeled and equipped to meet the demands of increased utilization by members of the Club's dining facilities.

In 1982, the Galleria was installed along the walls of the second floor hallway from the Mixed Grille to the Ladies Lounge and Locker area. Over 200 pictures of past tournaments as well as views of the early Clubhouse and grounds were hung.

Remodeling and expansion of the Men's Grille was completed in 1986. At this time major remodeling and decorating brought complete new looks in the Great Room, South Dining Room, Casino Bar as well as the Mixed Grille and Director's Room.

The 1991 U.S.G.A. Senior Open Championship started with 37 amateurs and 119 professionals. Michigan's Mike Hill enjoyed the first day lead of 68. Gary Player second with 69, and tied for third at 70 Lee Trevino, Dick Siderowf and our own 17-winner of OHCC club championship, amateur Hunter McDonald. The second day of play showed the MONSTER'S difficult greens and J.C. Snead took the lead with a 69. One shot behind we find Chi Chi Rodriquez and Jack Nicklaus. On Sunday when the troops fell behind, Chi Chi and Jack tied on the 18th green with 282. With the play-off on Monday, and a 2-hour rain delay, there was no way Chi Chi could stop a determined Jack Nicklaus remembering his not making the cut in the 1985 Open here at OHCC, finished with 69 to Jack's 65.

Oakland Hills celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1991. With this Diamond Jubilee, a coffee-table book of its history was printed. The members enjoyed a celebrity auction, fireworks after a candle-lit dinner and dancing to the music of Lester Lanin's New York Orchestra.

Members and guests were introduced to the WALK OF CHAMPIONS in 1993. Huge boulders, each 8–10 tons, containing commemorative plaques honoring twelve golfing greats, were installed along the first tee. Extra variegated stones will carry on future winners.

In 1996 the first extra "Stone" was used after the U.S. Open. This Open will long be remembered for Steve Jones winning with a par on the 18th green. Tom Lehman
Tom Lehman
Thomas Edward Lehman is an American professional golfer.Lehman was born in Austin, Minnesota, but Alexandria, Minnesota is credited as his official Minnesota hometown. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Business/Accounting and turned professional in 1982. It took...

 and Davis Love, III, tying for second. The Open will also be remembered for the storm, which washed out the 18th hole bunker. The Grounds Crew worked throughout the night draining water from many holes and reconstructed the damaged bunker in time for play on Thursday morning.

In January 1999 the club began a $16.25 million dollar renovation project that included the Pro Shop, Bag Room, and remodeling and restoration of the clubhouse. The club reopened to the membership in May 2000 with a gala event more grand than the tremendous scope of the renovation. The club's effort furthers the long standing commitment the membership has to be effective stewards to what many feel is a national treasure.

The lore and world-wide renown of Oakland Hills cannot be captured in such a brief description. It is hoped however, this review will give all a sense of the role this great Club has played in the history of golf and Club life in America. Oakland Hills Country Club hosted the 2002 United States Amateur Champoinship won by Ricky Barnes. It was considered to be the most successful U.S. Amateur ever conducted at the time. The club also hosted the 2004 Ryder Cup and the 2008 PGA Championship.

While being consistently rated in the Top 25 courses in the world by various golf magazines, Oakland Hills is among the favorite courses of many golf legends. Arnold Palmer, Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...

, and Raymond Floyd
Raymond Floyd
Raymond Loran "Ray" Floyd is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour....

 all rank Oakland Hills in their top 10 courses in the US.

Oakland Hills was recently selected as the site for the 2016 U.S. Amateur.

Major tournaments hosted

YearTournamentWinner
1922 Western Open
Western Open
The Western Open, a professional golf tournament, was first played in 1899. At the time of its 2006 playing, the Western Open was the 3rd oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after the British Open and U.S. Open...

 
Mike Brady
Mike Brady (golfer)
Michael Joseph Brady was an American professional golfer. He was born in Brighton, Massachusetts. He lost in a three-way playoff to John McDermott in the 1911 U.S. Open. He lost to Walter Hagen in a celebrated playoff in the 1919 U.S. Open at the Brae Burn Country Club...

1924 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...

 
Cyril Walker
Cyril Walker
Cyril Walker was an English golfer born in Manchester who emigrated to the United States in 1914....

1937 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...

 
Ralph Guldahl
Ralph Guldahl
Ralph J. Guldahl was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the sport for three years in the late 1930s.-Early life until 1939:Guldahl was born in Dallas, Texas...

1951 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...

 
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...

1961 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...

 
Gene Littler
Gene Littler
Gene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years...

1972 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...

 
Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...

1979 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...

 
David Graham
David Graham (golfer)
Anthony David Graham is a former professional golfer from Australia.Born in Windsor, Australia, Graham turned professional in 1962 at age 16 and spent much of his career in the United States, playing on the PGA Tour. Turning age 50 in 1996, he joined the Senior PGA Tour, later known as the...

1981 U.S. Senior Open  Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...

1985 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...

 
Andy North
Andy North
Andrew Stewart North is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open twice.- Early years :North was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, and raised in Monona, Wisconsin...

1991 U.S. Senior Open  Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...

1996 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...

 
Steve Jones
Steve Jones (golfer)
Steven Glen Jones is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open in 1996.- Early life and education :Jones was born in Artesia, New Mexico. He was a semi-finalist at the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1976...

2002 U.S. Amateur  Ricky Barnes
Ricky Barnes
Richard Kyle Barnes is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Barnes was born in Stockton, California. He played college golf at the University of Arizona...

2004 Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...

 
Team Europe
2008 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...

Pádraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington
Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:...


Bolded Years are major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...

 on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...

.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK