(Photo of USGA’s John Bodenhamer making announcement by Andy Morrison/The Detroit News)
The storied club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. got a much-needed shot of good news as it recovers from the fire that destroyed its century-old clubhouse in February, with the USGA awarding it the Opens in 2034 and 2051. Oakmont (Pa.) CC, previously scheduled to have the Open in 2034, will now host it in 2033. The club also declined to bow out of hosting the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2024, even though its new clubhouse probably won’t be ready. “Our members said not only are we ready, we need it,” said club President Rick Palmer. “We won’t have a clubhouse, but we are going to host the best U.S. Junior Amateur ever.”
Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., reeling from a fire that destroyed its century-old clubhouse in February (https://clubandresortbusiness.com/oakland-hills-cc-looks-for-bright-spots-in-fires-aftermath/), has landed the U.S. Open in 2034 and 2051, with the United States Golf Association (USGA) making the announcement on March 22nd at the Detroit Athletic Club, the Associated Press reported.
The USGA also said that Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, previously scheduled to have the U.S. Open in 2034, will now host that major in 2033, the AP reported.
Oakland Hills couldn’t host the media announcement following the devastating fire that destroyed its 90,000-sq. ft., stately, pillared clubhouse, The Detroit News reported. It will be at least a year before ground is broken on a new clubhouse, and three years before it’s finished, but it will rise in plenty of time to host the club’s seventh U.S. Open, and its first since 1996.
“From ashes will come triumph,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer. “It really is an amazing time of renewal, and we look forward to celebrating all of that and more with our partner at Oakland Hills Country Club.
“We look forward to making more memories,” Bodenhamer added.
Bodenhamer was joined in making the announcement, The News reported, by Andy North, a two-time U.S. Open champion who won one of those at Oakland Hills at 1985; Gil Hanse, the architect who oversaw the recent $12.1 million restoration of the club famed South Course, renovations that helped to put Oakland Hills back on the map for the USGA’s consideration as a major tournament site; and Rick Palmer, Oakland Hills’ club President.
“Wow,” said Palmer. “It really is a great day to end what has been an emotional month for us.”
North said Oakland Hills’ golf course can safely be considered among the country’s top 10 in historical significance, The News reported. “Before the new equipment, this was one of the hardest golf courses in the world,” North said. “It’s one of the great courses, and it’s fantastic that it’s back in the U.S. Open rotation.”
The South Course renovation included adding length on some holes, moving fairway bunkers to put them in play for the pros, and rebuilding each of its undulating greens, The News reported. “If we can get firm greens, I think we’ll have the best challenge possible,” Hanse said. “The putting greens are some of the finest anywhere. We’ve got a golf course that will be an appropriate challenge, even in this day and age.”
The USGA had previously announced that Oakland Hills will host the U.S. Women’s Opens in 2031 and 2042, as part of a run of eight USGA championships from 2024 to 2051. The club is currently focused on hosting the U.S. Junior Amateur in two years, when the new clubhouse likely won’t be completed. “We gave them the opportunity to defer the U.S. Junior Amateur and they said `No, we’re going to do this and it’s going to be amazing,'” Bodenhamer recalled.
“Our members said not only are we ready, we need it,” added Palmer. “We won’t have a clubhouse, but we are going to host the best U.S. Junior Amateur that’s ever been hosted.”
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