The suburban Pittsburgh golf course is preparing to host over 200,000 people for the annual U.S. Open.
The U.S. Open is held every decade in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. This year, it will be held from June 12th to June 15th.
Located in Allegheny County, the Oakmont Country Club transformed in anticipation of hosting more than 200,000 people for the event. “The only constant at Oakmont is change,” said Devin Gee, the course’s head professional, during a recent interview.
Every decade in preparation for the championship, the golf course undergoes alterations and the club’s facilities are altered to accommodate more than 200,000 guests and visitors.
The United States Golf Association leases Oakmont for the week of the Open. The association is also the primary architect of the structural changes taking place at the club for this year’s event.
The association spends three to four years leading up to the Open on planning and preparation.
About two years ago, five association employees moved to the Pittsburgh area to facilitate planning operations. Several dozen interns and more full-time staff joined them earlier this year.
When the Open begins, more than 300 association staff will be on the ground in Oakmont.
For the 2025 Open, approximately 95% of Oakmont’s infrastructure will be temporary. According to Senior Director of the U.S. Open Tim Lloyd, this includes a hospitality tent over the club’s pool and the 1895 Club structure.
In all, Lloyd says there will be 270 tents at Oakmont during the Open.
Part of the planning process includes extensive planning for transportation. With hundreds of thousands of people in attendance at the U.S. Open each year, the association prioritizes planning for extra bus loops, shuttle services, parking, and road closures.
The 2025 championship will utilize Hartwood Acres Park as a general shuttle lot, along with Monroeville Mall. Attendees have been encouraged to reserve parking spaces ahead of the event.
Local, state, and federal police forces will be involved in the U.S. Open. According to Oakmont Police Chief Michael Ford, police began monthly briefings in November to prepare.
Volunteers are a large part of hosting the Open in Allegheny County.
“They had more demand for volunteers than they could accommodate, which just speaks to the enthusiasm and the pride that Western Pennsylvania takes in hosting a championship like this and showcasing Oakmont,” Gee said.
Oakmont originally opened in 1903. It was established by the United States Golf Association as an anchor site in 2021, setting future Opens to come in 2034, 2042, and 2049.
