2008 US PGA Championship Venue HistoryGolfers and spectators make their way down the 5th fareway past the clock tower during a practice round 13 June 2001 in preparation for the 2001 US Open at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event runs 14-17 June

Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan is no stranger to major golf tournaments. In fact the world renowned course has a long history of hosting many premier events and seeing many top golf champions walk across its greens.

Oakland Hills Country Club is a private golf club in Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County, Michigan, and is made up of two courses, North and South Course. The South Course, designed by Donald Ross, was formally opened in 1918 while the North Course was completed at the end of the 1923 season.

The Clubhouse which is still the basic structure we recognise today was completed and formally opened in August 1922. The original Clubhouse had accommodation for 48 overnight guests and some of these guest rooms were retained until the major remodelling of the second floor which took place in 1968.

The first major tournament hosted was the Western Open in 1922 which was won by host pro Mike Brady and two years later in 1924, the club played host to the first of four United States Open Championships.

The Open returned to Oakland Hills again in 1937 when Ralph Guldahl won his first of two successive Open Championships with a 281 total, two shot ahead of the great Sam Snead.

Although many tournaments have been held throughout the years at Oakland Hills, the one which gave the course its greatest reputation as The Monster was the 1951 Open. The result was a tournament in which only two sub par rounds were shot during the entire 72 hole affair. Ben Hogan won with a total of 287 by shooting a final round 67 after which he was quoted as saying I am glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees.

The Club once again hosted the U.S. Open in 1961 when Gene Littler's 281 nosed out Doug Sanders and Bob Goalby by a single stroke. The next major tournament held at Oakland Hills was the 1964 Carling World Open which was won by Bobby Nichols whose 278 total beat out Arnold Palmer by a single stroke in an exciting finish.

Next in line of major championships hosted by Oakland Hills was the 1972 US PGA Championship. The tournament was won by Gary Player with a 281 total highlighted by an exciting, pressure-packed birdie on its world famous 16th hole.

In 1979, Oakland Hills once again hosted the US PGA Championship. According to most golf experts, this Championship drew the largest gallery in the history of golf. Certainly, the three hole sudden-victory win by David Graham over Ben Crenshaw was one of the most exciting finishes in golf history.

In 1985, Oakland Hills became one of only three courses in the country to have hosted the U.S. Open five times.

Over the years the Club has spent several million dollars in improvements, renovations and additions to the Clubhouse and Club property. It celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1991 in style and in 1999 began another multimillion dollar renovation project.

This is why Oakland Hills retains its reputation as one of the top courses in the USA. Its consistent and dedicated efforts to renovate and improve itself means the Club can retain its top spot for future championships.

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