U.S. Open Returns to Oakmont CC for Tenth Championship

The U.S. Open will return to Oakmont Country Club in June, marking its tenth time hosting the championship at one of golf's most challenging courses, renowned for its fast greens, penal rough, and severe elevation changes. Oakmont, designed by Henry Clay Fownes in 1903 with the goal of creating the toughest course in America, emphasizes precision and mental endurance, featuring design elements that leave little room for error. Meanwhile, Fort Bragg officials are considering rebranding the Donald Ross-designed Stryker Golf Course as the Stryker Entertainment Complex after a plan to relocate a high school to the site was rejected, seeking various funding sources to support the project. Golf Digest's recent rankings highlight that great courses balance aesthetic quality with strategic design, rewarding thoughtful play with multiple shot options rather than merely penalizing length or difficulty, which aligns with the design philosophies seen at iconic courses like Oakmont. These developments reflect ongoing efforts in golf course management and design to balance tradition, challenge, and community use.