"The Monster is back."
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Oh My! The 10th and 11th holes at Oakland Hills South. Look at that land! (Larry Lambrecht)
That’s what the Detroit Pree-Press’ Carlos Monarrez says about one of America’s most storied championship venues sidelined while undergoing reconstructive surgery to repair damage done by the Jones family.
Oakland Hills South has seen Hanse Design attempt to bring back more Donald Ross and prepare it for 21st century tournaments. The course reopened Thursday but has no events locked in right now.
Last week the USGA announced more future sites for the U.S. Open. The next open date is 2028, a year after Pebble Beach hosts the tournament. That could bode well for Oakland Hills’ chances since the USGA likes to alternate eastern and western sites every year for the Open.
“Restoring the South Course at Oakland Hills was a master class in scale from architect Donald Ross,” Hanse said in a statement Thursday. “By returning the proportions of the features to the large scale of the property, we learned so much about how to create interest, strategy and beauty. This was a truly thrilling project for us to be involved in and we are excited about the transformation that has occurred.”
Quadrilateral readers know 2028 is out barring some sort of last minute change, while 2024 and 2029 are already locked in at Pinehurst #2. So the likely next option is 2030 but there is a certain anniversary that makes Merion a possibility that year. Time will tell!
