Ask golfers their favorite U.S. Open venue and you’re likely to get a plethora of responses, from the breathtaking beauty of Pebble Beach Golf Links to historic landmarks such as Shinnecock Hills, Merion Golf Club and The Country Club.

But inside the walls of the USGA, the organization that annually conducts the most democratic major championship in the game, folks will tell you the most challenging layout is arguably Oakmont Country Club.

No venue has hosted more U.S. Opens than Henry Fownes’ masterpiece in suburban Pittsburgh, Pa. This June, the game’s premier players will gather at Oakmont for a record 10th time.

So why does this venue possess such a label? Start with some of the most difficult putting surfaces, thick, gnarly rough and penalizing bunkers, including the famous Church Pews located between the third and fourth fairways. Members and staff will tell you the course is always U.S. Open-ready.

Gil Hanse’s recent renovation enhanced Oakmont’s green complexes and bunkering. A previous restoration prior to the 2007 U.S. Open saw the club remove thousands of trees to “open” up the course and provide breathtaking vistas to this stiff test of golf.

“It’s a magnificent place,” said Scott Langley, the USGA’s senior director of player relations and former professional who also assists with course setup.

“We are ready to rock,” added Oakmont’s grounds superintendent Michael McCormick. “We just have to grow the rough up a little bit. The nice thing about the U.S. Open at Oakmont is from a fine-turf playing surface perspective – greens, approaches, fairways and tees – we really don’t do anything much different.”

The USGA’s mission is to identify the best player, and Oakmont has lived up to that moniker since hosting its first national championship, the 1919 U.S. Amateur.

World Golf Hall of Famers such as Jones, Sarazen, Hogan, Snead Nicklaus, Miller, Nelson and Els have all captured titles here.

Bob Jones won the second of his five U.S. Amateur titles here in 1925. Ben Hogan claimed his fourth and final U.S. Open in 1953, the year he captured all three majors he entered (he didn’t play in the PGA Championship). In 1962, Jack Nicklaus produced the first of his record 18 majors with a memorable 18-hole playoff victory over hometown hero Arnold Palmer. More impressive is the fact the Golden Bear didn’t have a single three-putt the entire championship, a remarkable feat considering the severity of Oakmont’s greens.

Eleven years later, Johnny Miller fired what many consider the finest final round in major-championship history, shooting an 8-under 63 to rally from a six-stroke deficit to edge John Schlee by a single stroke.

Another Hall of Famer, Ernie Els, would win the 1994 edition at Oakmont in a playoff that would eventually last 20 holes over Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie.

Come Father’s Day weekend, Oakmont should be more than ready to add another chapter to its illustrious U.S. Open legacy. Bryson DeChambeau will return to defend, seeking a third title. Other stars in the field include world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, four-time major winner and last year’s runner-up Rory McIlroy, two-time major champ Xander Schauffele, plus past champions Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick and Gary Woodland.

But no matter which worthy player emerges from the talented field of 156 to hoist the U.S. Open Trophy on June 15, the star will once again be Oakmont Country Club.

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