Oakland Hills Country Club is set to host a US Open and said it is more than ready to host its first major since 2008 and its first Open since 1996.
The 104-year-old club leaders in Bloomfield Township held a press conference on Monday to discuss the progress of a $ 12.1 million restoration focused on the ability to control the speed of its greens, a key feature for U.S. host sites. Open.
Chief pro Steve Brady said the club has a good relationship with the US Golf Association, which awards and manages the US Open, and that he was confident that the famed Oakland Hills South Course would be the jewel in the championship course. region once the restoration is finished. completed in July.
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“In the Midwest,” Brady said, “this is probably going to be the place, I’d say. No offense to Oakmont, Medinah, all those other places.
“And the club goes to great lengths to make sure these relationships (with the USGA) are encouraged. We communicate with various other organizations annually, monthly, whatever it is. They had a great time at the US Amatuer in ’16. They loved it. “
Oakland Hills reconnected to the USGA when it hosted the Amateur four years ago. Since then, course architect Gil Hanse has modernized the course that has hosted six US Open, three PGA Championships, the 2004 Ryder Cup, and the 2002 and 2016 US Amateurs.
The project involves the removal of 137 trees and other structural changes. But chief among the changes is installing a state-of-the-art PrecisionAire cooling, drying and heating system for its greens. The USGA is fiercely protective of its playing conditions, prefers to win close to par scores, and is adamant in not having debacles on its greens, such as the near-unplayable conditions at Shinnecock Hills in 2004.
“So our relationship with the USGA, I think, is wonderful,” Brady said. “I think one of the problems was that the greens retain moisture. For a stroke play event like the US Open, I’m not sure if you want it here. “
The next US Open opening date is 2028. Brady said Oakland Hills checks nearly every box for what the USGA might want from a host venue for the Open, although it is impossible to predict the economic climate in Detroit that would facilitate the sale of corporate sponsorships that support the event.
“I’ll tell you this: are we going to do a US Open?” Brady said. “I don’t know. Who knows? What are their criteria? Is there 10 they need? We have 11 now. The story: Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan won here. …
“But going forward, I think the USGA has the golf course, has the tradition, has the members, has the volunteers, has a love of the game. The economic part? Sure, I hope so. “
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