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( Oakmont Country Club)
Oakmont Country Club is a prestigious "top five" country club and the "oldest top-ranked golf course in the U.S.".[1] It is located in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Plum and Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA. The club saddles the scenic Allegheny River Valley though uniquely has virtually no water hazards, and now virtually no trees. Some 4000 trees were removed during a recent renovation, but the course has some 200 bunkers and severely undulated greens which greatly contribute to its reputation as one of the most challenging courses in the world. Besides being ranked annually in the top 5 of every course list since the 1960s, it was the first golf course to earn merit as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[2] It hosted its eighth U.S. Open in 2007, the most of any course. The Pennsylvania Turnpike separates the eastern seven holes (2–8) from the rest of the course. The course has been consistently ranked as one of the five best by Golf Digest 100 Greatest Golf Courses in America. In 2007 Oakmont was placed in 5th by the magazine.[3] It is one of only a few courses ranked every year in the top ten of the publication's history. The top 50 toughest courses ranks Oakmont also at _5,[4] while GolfLink.com ranks it at _3 overall.[5] Oakmont has been selected as host of the U.S. Open eight times (more than any other course)[1], including the current 2007 tournament. It has also played host to three PGA Championships, five U.S. Amateurs, and the U.S. Women's Open once, and will host it again in 2010. The course, the only one in the world designed by Henry Fownes (pronounced as "Phones"), was opened in 1903 and is generally regarded in the golf community as one of the most difficult in the United States. It's USGA course rating of 77.5 is among the highest in the county.[citation needed] It features large, extremely fast, and smooth greens that tilt and undulate in unique ways. All the greens are original except for the 8th which was moved several yards to the left to make way for the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the late 1940s. Par for the members is 71. For the 2007 U.S. Open it plays to a par of 70 with number 9 playing as a long par 4 instead of a par 5 as it does for member play.
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