The greens at Oakmont during the U.S. Open will be the quickest golf has ever seen

Can Jordan Spieth tame Oakmont's greens?

A few weeks ago, we told you that Oakmont was going to give players in this year’s U.S. Open one of the toughest challenges they’re ever likely to face. With a 300-yard par-3 and rock-hard fairways, players will have their work cut out just getting to the greens. When they do reach the dance floor, things are only going to get tougher. 

“To maintain green speeds for the U.S. Open Championship, putting greens will be mowed four times and rolled twice daily,” says Darin Bevard, director of championship agronomy. “Soil moisture levels will be constantly monitored to provide a balance between turfgrass health and desired firmness.”

Bevard explains that work to get the greens in shape for the U.S. Open began over two years ago.

“Preparation for the U.S. Open Championship begins several years in advance of the event,” he says. “Often, the frequency of aeration and topdressing is dramatically increased one to two years before hosting a U.S. Open Championship. Extra aeration and topdressing provides the best opportunity to present firm, fast conditions and promotes healthy turf. In the last two growing seasons, the putting greens at Oakmont Country Club have been double drilled-and-filled four times, core aerated five times, deep verticut five times and deep-tine aerated four times. The aeration programs implemented at Oakmont Country Club are very aggressive and represent a significant disruption to playability that most golfers would not tolerate.”

The result is greens that could make Augusta National’s putting surfaces look slow in comparison. 

“The best golfers in the world will be challenged by fast greens and firm conditions,” says Bevard, in what could be a huge understatement.