Travelogue: Oakmont CC

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting one of the most famous, well-respected, “major” golf courses out there… legendary Oakmont (Pa.) CC.

The last time I was there was back in 2007 when they hosted that year’s U.S. Open. I was excited to get back and see what looked familiar and what looked different.

First, the familiar: John Zimmers warmly welcomed me, as he did nine years ago, as the course’s director of operations. Another familiar face was Dave Delsandro, who in the ensuing years had left to be a superintendent on his own before returning to take the position of Director of U.S. Open Operations and Projects (more on that in the GolfdomTV video, which goes live today — apologies for the wind in the audio, I’ll fix that in future videos.)

The different: the views across the course, which are now wide-open, and one Mike McCormick, assistant superintendent, a Boston-bred disciple of Dick Bator.

I’ll get more into this for our upcoming feature story on the 2016 U.S. Open, and I’ll again refer you to the GolfdomTV video… but there’s been some serious work done at Oakmont since I was last there. Not to the way the course plays, but to the views of the property. Many more trees and brush were removed and massive work was done to beautify the area surrounding the Pennsylvania Turnpike that bisects the course.

Mike McCormick

On my short visit, McCormick was directing a crew of four Toro ProCores and about eight guys shoveling cores. I got some good action shots of that… they were doing some serious work! Almost felt bad being the guy standing there holding a three-pound camera while these guys were burning calories at an alarming rate. Every time I got caught up in a conversation, I’d turn around at the conclusion and the crew would be done clearing the green and moving on to the next one…

I’ve got my notebook out now, I’m getting ready to transcribe these interviews I did for my feature story. So stay tuned for that in the next couple issues…

In the meantime, one last thing: if you make it to the US Open this year, go out the front gate, take a left and stop in at Somma Pizza & Sports Bar… and order the Roethlisberger. You won’t regret it (unless you’re on a diet.)

Photos: Golfdom