Oak Tree National

Pete Dye's 1976 course in Edmond, built to be extremely hard, with water on 13 holes; host of the 1988 PGA Championship and 2014 U.S. Senior Open.

Oak Tree opened in 1976 in Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City, and Pete Dye built it with the stated goal of making it one of the hardest courses anywhere. It is long, with heavy rough, deep bunkers, oak trees that block shots and greens that are hard to read. Water, in lakes and creeks, comes into play on 13 holes. Dye returned in 2002 to add tees and rebuild the greens with softer contours, and again in 2008, when new owners rebranded it as Oak Tree National.

Its championship record started early, less than a decade after opening. Scott Verplank won the 1984 U.S. Amateur here, Jeff Sluman took the 1988 PGA Championship, Jay Haas won the 2006 Senior PGA and Colin Montgomerie the 2014 U.S. Senior Open. The club, owned by Everett Dobson, has another U.S. Senior Open scheduled for 2027, which will be its fifth national championship.

The 5th, named Oak Tree, is a 592-yard par 5 where players must steer around the oak in the club's logo. The 8th has water down its entire left side, and the 13th, called Postage Stamp, has a famously tight green. Fairways and greens are Bermuda grass, and from the tournament tees the course carries a slope rating of 155, among the highest anywhere.

Holes to know

5

Par 5 · 592 yd

Named for the oak that appears in the club logo, which players must work around on the way to the green.

8

Water runs down the entire left side of the hole.

13

Called Postage Stamp for its very tight target.

Championships

• U.S. Amateur 1984
• PGA Championship 1988
• Senior PGA Championship 2006
• U.S. Senior Open 2014
• U.S. Senior Open (scheduled) 2027

Design history

• 2002: Pete Dye update, adding tees and rebuilding the greens with gentler contours
• 2008: Pete Dye renovation after the change of ownership and rebrand as Oak Tree National