The 5 Most Stunning Changes In Oakmont Country Club's 'Before And After' Restoration For The 2025 U.S. Open
The dramatic "before and after" pictures of Oakmont Country Club are currently dominating golf discussions, showcasing one of the most significant and historically ambitious course restorations in modern golf. This transformation is not merely a cosmetic update but a profound return to the course's original, fearsome "inland links" identity, spearheaded by renowned architect Gil Hanse. As of late 2025, the full scope of the multi-year project is complete, fundamentally altering the visual and strategic challenge ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 U.S. Open.
The changes, which concluded with the full 18 holes reopening to members in April 2024, have stripped away decades of evolutionary growth to reveal the raw, exposed brilliance of the original William Fownes design. The project was driven by a desire to reclaim the course’s architectural heritage and prepare the iconic Pittsburgh-area venue for its record-setting 10th U.S. Open. The results are startling, proving that sometimes, the best way forward is to look back.
The Complete Historical Restoration of Oakmont Country Club
The recent work at Oakmont Country Club is best described as a historical restoration, a movement to peel back layers of subsequent changes and return the course to the vision of its founder, William Fownes, Jr., and his father, Henry C. Fownes, who first laid out the course in 1903. For decades, a trend of tree planting had fundamentally altered the course's character, creating a tighter, more traditional parkland feel that was a stark contrast to its intended design.
The restoration was a multi-phase effort that began in March 2023, following an earlier, less comprehensive tree-removal program in the 1990s. The club hired architect Gil Hanse, known as an "Open Doctor" for his work on major championship venues, to guide the process. Hanse's mandate was clear: to restore the wide-open, wind-swept aesthetic that defined the course’s early years, enhancing the strategic challenge and preparing it for the world's best golfers.
Key entities involved in the restoration:
- Oakmont Country Club: The historic host of 9 U.S. Opens, located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Gil Hanse: The lead golf course architect responsible for the restoration.
- William Fownes, Jr.: The course's primary designer, whose original vision was the blueprint for the restoration.
- The United States Golf Association (USGA): The governing body hosting the 2025 U.S. Open, which will showcase the restored course.
- The Fownes Family: The original founders and architects who established the "inland links" concept.
1. The Great Tree Removal: A Return to the Inland Links Concept
The single most dramatic element of the "before and after" comparison is the extensive removal of thousands of trees. Over the mid-20th century, Oakmont, like many American courses, adopted a trend of planting trees, which eventually narrowed fairways, blocked sightlines, and softened the strategic challenge by protecting players from the wind. The restoration reversed this trend, eliminating nearly every tree that was not part of the original landscape or essential for property separation.
The "before" state showed a course framed by dense foliage, creating a sense of separation and enclosure. The "after" reveals a vast, rolling landscape, exposing the course to the elements and connecting holes visually. This change restores the original inland links character, making the wind a major defensive factor on nearly every shot. The wide-open vistas now allow a clear view of the entire property, a signature of classic links architecture. This move was crucial to reclaiming the Fownes' legacy.
2. Fairway Widening and Strategic Line of Play
With the trees gone, the course superintendent, led by Mike McCormick, was able to widen the fairways significantly. The "before" fairways were comparatively narrow, forcing a premium on accuracy with little room for error. The "after" fairways are much broader, but this apparent leniency is deceptive. The wider fairways now open up more aggressive lines of attack and bring the infamous Oakmont Church Pews and other hazards back into play from different angles.
The restoration emphasizes the strategic value of the course. Players now have more options off the tee, but the choice of angle is critical. A drive on the wrong side of the newly widened fairway can lead to a more difficult approach shot to the green, often over or around one of the course's 200+ bunkers. This strategic complexity is a hallmark of the original design that had been lost over time.
3. Restoring the Green Complexes and Run-off Areas
Another crucial element of the restoration focused on the green complexes. Hanse's team meticulously studied historical photographs and blueprints to restore the original contours and edges of the greens. Over the years, the greens had subtly shrunk and their surrounding run-off areas had become less severe due to maintenance and top-dressing.
The "after" greens are larger and feature more pronounced slopes and fall-offs, making recovery shots incredibly challenging. The surrounding short-grass areas, a signature defense of Oakmont, have been expanded and sharpened. A slightly mishit approach shot is now more likely to roll 20-30 yards away from the green, demanding world-class short-game creativity and precision. This change alone will be a major factor in the 2025 U.S. Open.
4. Irrigation System Overhaul and Subsurface Work
While less visually dramatic, the replacement of the 20-plus-year-old irrigation system was a major catalyst for the entire project. The old system was outdated and inefficient, making consistent course conditioning a challenge. The new system provides state-of-the-art control over water application, which is essential for maintaining the firm, fast, and fiery conditions that define a true links-style course.
This technical upgrade allows the maintenance team to keep the course playing firmer and faster, thereby enhancing the strategic defenses. Firm fairways lead to more roll-out, bringing bunkers and hazards into play, and firm greens make holding approach shots more difficult. The improved subsurface drainage and irrigation are key to the "after" course's ability to challenge the modern professional golfer.
5. The Visual and Strategic Connection of Holes
Perhaps the most compelling "before and after" difference is the visual connectivity of the course. In the "before" era, the dense tree lines created a series of isolated holes, where a player focused solely on the hole they were playing. The "after" course is a sprawling, unified landscape.
From many vantage points, players can now see multiple holes stretching out across the property, creating a sense of scale and exposure. This visual change is also a strategic one, as the lack of trees means wind patterns are more consistent across the entire course. The restoration of the original sightlines allows the Fownes’ architecture to be understood as a singular, cohesive design, where the wind, bunkers, and firm turf work together to create the ultimate examination of a golfer’s skill. The course is now a true "inland links" in every sense of the word.
The Legacy and Future of the Restored Oakmont
The restoration of Oakmont Country Club by Gil Hanse is a powerful statement about the value of architectural heritage in golf. By looking back to the early 20th-century design of William Fownes, the club has ensured its continued relevance and difficulty for the modern era. The "before and after" transformation from a tree-lined parkland course to an exposed, sweeping inland links is a testament to the club's commitment to its founding principles.
The restored course, with its wider fairways, expansive vistas, and severe green complexes, is now poised to host its 10th U.S. Open in 2025. The changes will undoubtedly challenge the world's best players, demanding not only power and precision but also strategic thinking and a masterful short game. The new Oakmont is, in fact, a very old Oakmont, and it is ready for its close-up on the global stage.
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