Hole 1 at Oakmont Country Club

Par 4 • 482 Yards • Oakmont, Pennsylvania

Enhanced Content

Brutal

Oakmont Country Club's opening hole immediately announces the championship pedigree that has hosted nine U.S. Opens. This demanding 482-yard par 4 presents a deceptively straightforward challenge that sets the tone for one of America's most revered tests of golf. The straight layout demands precision from the tee, where players must navigate to an optimal position for their approach to a small, well-guarded green complex. Despite the absence of major hazards, Oakmont's legendary conditioning and subtle undulations create plenty of difficulty. The green's compact size places a premium on accurate iron play, rewarding those who can dial in their distance control. This opening hole epitomizes Oakmont's philosophy: no tricks, just pure golf execution under pressure.

Tees:

482y441y423y418y

Green:39y × 33y

Fairway @250y:12y wide

11 Bunkers dogleg

Loading map...

Oakmont Country Club

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Play This Course at Home

Practice Oakmont Country Club Year-Round

Launch monitors from $600 and simulators from $2,500 include real course data. Play every hole without leaving home.

Browse Launch Monitors & Simulators

Amazon · Top brands compared · Free returns on most items

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 482 yds
Green: 7293 sq ft
Bunkers: 11
Course Slope: 147
Course Rating: 77.5

Navigate

Hole 2

Par 4 • 340y

Back to Oakmont Country Club View Full Scorecard

Recommended Gear

Bunkers everywhere — a versatile wedge is your scoring club on this hole.

Shop Wedges →

Strategy Tips

tee shot

Target the left side of the fairway on your tee shot to take advantage of the wider landing area. The fairway measures 24 yards wide at the 200-yard mark, giving you room to work with for positioning your approach shot.

hazard warning

Avoid aggressive drives beyond 250 yards as the fairway dramatically narrows to just 12 yards wide, creating a high-risk target that could easily result in missed fairways and difficult recovery shots.

approach

Plan your approach shot carefully as bunkers positioned at 258 yards will come into play for longer hitters or those attempting to get closer to the green. Consider laying up short of these hazards if your tee shot doesn't find the optimal position.

green

The large green measuring 7,292 square feet (39 yards by 33 yards) offers multiple pin positions and generous landing areas. Use this size to your advantage by aiming for the center of the green rather than attacking tight pin positions.

tee shot

At 482 yards, this long par 4 requires strategic course management. Consider hitting a controlled tee shot to the 200-yard area where you'll have 24 yards of fairway width, leaving a manageable approach of around 280 yards to a large target.

train this shot at home

This 482-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

See launch monitors & simulators

Scoring Tip

With bunkers guarding the green, pick the side with the most room and let the slope feed the ball toward the pin.

Play Oakmont Country Club from Your Living Room

Launch monitors and simulators now include real course data. Practice your strategy on every hole before your round — or just for fun.

Compare Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 482-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 1?

This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: long par 4, large green requiring good lag putting.

How big is the green on hole 1?

The green is fairly large with multiple pin positions. Lag putting becomes important on longer putts.

What's a good score on hole 1?

This hole is one of the tougher holes where par feels like birdie. A challenging par 4. Accept that bogey happens and avoid big numbers.

Can I practice hole 1 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Oakmont Country Club. You can play this exact 482-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →