Oakmont Country Club’s iconic course and clubhouse will welcome the U.S. Open for a record 10th time in 2025, cementing its status as one of the championship’s most storied venues. The 120-year-old club is renowned as perhaps the toughest test in golf, famous for its lightning-fast greens and punishing “Church Pews” bunkers that have humbled even the greatest players.
Oakmont on the National Stage
This year’s U.S. Open, the third of golf’s four major championships, takes place June 12–15, 2025 at Oakmont Country Club just outside Pittsburgh. It’s the 125th U.S. Open and a homecoming of sorts, Oakmont has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other course, dating back to 1927. The world’s top golfers will be vying for the coveted U.S. Open Trophy and a share of one of the richest purses in the sport. With national TV coverage on NBC and international broadcasts, millions of eyes will be on Oakmont’s rolling fairways and treacherous greens.
Key dates
Practice rounds and fan events will kick off earlier that week, leading into four days of championship play from Thursday June 12 through the final round on Sunday June 15.
Notable players
Virtually every big name in golf will tee it up at Oakmont. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler comes in as a hot favorite on a recent winning streak. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will seek to repeat, and past U.S. Open winners like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and more are expected in the field.
Media coverage and fan experience
Over 200,000 spectators are expected to attend throughout the week, packing the grandstands along Oakmont’s fairways. The championship will beam Pittsburgh’s skyline and Oakmont’s lush course to a global audience, giving this region a moment to shine on live broadcasts and highlight reels. NBC Sports will televise the weekend action, with cable and streaming coverage capturing every twist and turn from the first tee shot to the final putt on the 18th green. Beyond the competition itself, the U.S. Open is a festival-like experience: a Fan Village will offer interactive games, merchandise, and local food favorites.
A Community Prepares to Welcome the World
For the borough of Oakmont (pop. ~6,500) and the greater Pittsburgh area, hosting the U.S. Open is far more than four days of golf, it’s an all-hands-on-deck civic event years in the making. Local officials, businesses, and residents have been preparing to ensure a warm welcome. The numbers are staggering: the USGA projects an economic impact of around $200 million for the region, with about 1,500 temporary jobs created during U.S. Open week. Every hotel for miles around is fully booked, and with few hotels in Oakmont proper, homeowners are cashing in by renting out their houses to players, media, and fans. “With few hotel options in Oakmont, renting out homes near Oakmont Country Club is big business,” notes one local news report.
On Oakmont’s charming brick-lined Allegheny River Boulevard, the heart of its small business district, shops and restaurants are gearing up for what may be their busiest week ever. “We’re really excited to just see them all here,” says Tom Dinnin, president of the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce, about the incoming wave of visitors. The whole town is leaning into the Open’s arrival.
During tournament days, many spectators will be shuttled directly to the course, so downtown might actually be quiet until evening. In response, local entrepreneurs have formed a bit of a coalition: “A lot of us business owners have collaborated to extend our hours and be open later, when hopefully people are enjoying the restaurants and what Oakmont has to offer,” explains Brandi DiMatteo of Straight Line Boutique.
Beyond the immediate buzz, local leaders emphasize the broader benefits. John Lynch, president of Oakmont Country Club, points out that hosting a national championship brings tangible and intangible positives. “There’s so much good that comes from hosting a national championship, and we want to shed light on all of it,” Lynch says. “This year, we’re showing the golf community what the City of Champions is all about, and making sure golf is part of its sports legacy.” Indeed, Pittsburgh earned the “City of Champions” nickname through its Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates – now the U.S. Open is adding big-time golf to that legacy.
And then there are the volunteers – the army of local golf fans who power this event behind the scenes. Over 4,000 volunteers have signed up to work at the Open, handling everything from marshaling the crowds to manning the merchandise tents. In fact, the volunteer slots filled so quickly that more than 2,000 additional people ended up on a waitlist, hoping to still nab a role in the action. Many are repeat helpers who have worked past Oakmont championships. “Oh, my blood pressure’s going up – it’s exciting,” laughs Jonathan Spatz, an Oakmont resident who’s been volunteering at Opens since 1992.
Golf Boom in Western PA
The U.S. Open’s return is happening at a fortuitous time – golf is booming in the Pittsburgh region. In fact, interest in the sport has surged over the past few years, a trend that the upcoming Open is likely to accelerate even further. TeachMe.To (for the full golf report for 2025 visit here) , a platform that connects students with coaches for various activities, reports that golf lesson inquiries doubled from 2023 to 2024 in the Pittsburgh area, and then jumped another 21% from 2024 to 2025. This mirrors a national uptick in golf participation, but it’s especially pronounced here as the Open shines a spotlight on the game. Local golf organizations are seeing similar growth: the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (WPGA) noted that 2024 was a “banner year” with participation in regional golf competitions up 27% overall. Competitive events for juniors and amateurs set records, for example, the West Penn Junior Championship had a 35.5% increase in players, and even the venerable West Penn Amateur saw over 40% growth in entrants. The WPGA’s membership has now exceeded 40,000 golfers across the region, illustrating just how many Western Pennsylvanians are hitting the links.
What’s driving this golf craze? Part of it is the pandemic-era sporting resurgence – golf proved to be a safe, outdoor activity and attracted many new players starting in 2020. But even as life normalized, those newcomers kept playing and others have joined in, drawn by golf’s social appeal and now the excitement of a major tournament in their backyard.
Importantly, golf here is not just for those at elite country clubs. The region offers a wealth of public courses and driving ranges that have been bustling with players of all ages. In fact, the USGA and Oakmont Country Club have recognized the importance of public golf to sustain the sport’s growth. As part of the U.S. Open’s legacy, they’re investing $1 million into area public golf facilities to keep them accessible and thriving. North Park and South Park Golf Courses and the Bob O’Connor Golf Course in Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park, all popular, affordable courses where a round often costs under $20, will receive upgrades and funding to help increase participation. These courses are the everyday gateways for new golfers; they’re where a kid picks up a club for the first time or where friends try a bucket of balls at the range on a summer evening.
Beyond those marquee public courses, Western Pennsylvania boasts dozens of venues for golf enthusiasts. There are scenic public layouts like Cranberry Highlands or Birdsfoot Golf Club, challenging private clubs like Fox Chapel Golf Club and Longue Vue Club, and plenty of driving ranges and practice centers. One notable trend has been the rise of indoor golf facilities and simulators, which allow for year-round golf despite Pittsburgh’s snowy winters. Places like the Oakmont Golf Center and OnPar Now in the city offer high-tech simulators where you can play 18 holes virtually or get a lesson from a pro using swing analytics.
Local Voices: How Golf Brings People Together
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of golf’s rise in the region is the human stories that come with it. In Oakmont and greater Pittsburgh, golf has become a conduit for social connection, personal growth, and community pride. Talk to local players and you’ll hear it in their voices.
Take Jim, a retiree from Oakmont, for example. He picked up golf at age 65 after losing his wife, as a way to stay active and meet new people. “I was nervous showing up alone at first, but within a few weeks I had a regular group of buddies,” he says. “Now we walk nine holes every Tuesday and then grab breakfast. Golf gave me a new circle of friends when I needed it most.”
Local instructors have witnessed this surge in camaraderie firsthand. “My lesson slots filled up faster than ever this year,” notes one Pittsburgh PGA teaching professional. “I’ve had entire families coming to learn together. It’s amazing seeing golf become a multi-generational thing. You get teens giving swing tips to their grandparents and vice versa!” The upcoming U.S. Open is only adding fuel to that friendly enthusiasm.
The volunteer corps we mentioned earlier also exemplifies how golf is knitting the community together. Many volunteers are locals who might not be avid golfers, but they want to be part of this shared civic experience. People like Jonathan Spatz, who has donated his time at every Oakmont Open in the past three decades, say the friendships made among volunteers and the collective pride of pulling off a massive event are what keep them coming back.
Get in the Game: Attend, Learn, and Enjoy
With the U.S. Open upon us, now is the time to soak up the excitement – and maybe even join in the action yourself. If you’re in the area, consider attending the championship: tickets are available for practice rounds and tournament days, and witnessing the drama of a major championship in person is an unforgettable experience. There’s nothing like standing along the ropes as a pro hits a towering tee shot down Oakmont’s narrow fairways, or cheering from the grandstand as a long birdie putt drops.
Perhaps the greatest legacy of the Open would be inspiring you to play or learn golf. If you find yourself captivated by the competition, why not pick up a club? Whether you’re a total beginner or dusting off an old set of clubs, there are ample opportunities to play around Oakmont and Pittsburgh year-round. TeachMe.To makes it easy to book a golf lesson with local instructors, you can browse coaches who teach at nearby courses or driving ranges and schedule a session to get started.
After the Open leaves town, the passion for golf it sparks can keep burning. The summer is prime golf season here, you can explore public courses like those in North Park or South Park for a casual weekend round, or head to a local driving range with a few friends to smack balls and share laughs. Many courses offer inexpensive evening rates if you just want to play a few holes after work.
Much More Than a Sporting Event
In closing, the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont is much more than a sporting event – it’s a celebration of golf’s past, present, and future in a region that’s falling in love with the game. It’s a chance for the nation to see what Western Pennsylvania has to offer, and for local fans to create lifelong memories. So, whether you’re watching the drama unfold on Oakmont’s 18th green or practicing your own putting at a local course, take part in this moment. Attend the Open if you can, get involved in the local golf scene, and maybe even book that lesson to jumpstart your own golf journey. As Oakmont embraces the world this week, there’s no better time to embrace golf for yourself. Who knows – with a little help, maybe you’ll be ready to take on Oakmont’s famed church pew bunkers by the time the U.S. Open returns in the future! Until then, enjoy the championship, support the community, and see you on the course.
