Oakmont is nicknamed ‘The Beast’, but contenders at the 2025 US Open will try to find the beauty within it.

The US Open always provides the toughest test in golf but at Oakmont, that is taken up a notch.

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All you need to know about 2025 US Open at Oakmont

The 7,342-yard Par 70 course is one of the oldest and most prestigious courses in the USA, hosting the showpiece major a record nine times.

It was last held in Pennsylvania in 2016 when Dustin Johnson held off Shane Lowry to claim glory.

Now, the brutal track is back to provide the perfect stage for the third major of the year.

With treacherous bunkering, lightning-quick greens and five-inch rough, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau has said Oakmont makes you ‘question your sanity’.

But as golf’s best gather once again, someone will master the famous course to claim the trophy.

Here’s a hole-by-hole guide to Oakmont…

1st, 488 yards, par 4

Oakmont’s opener is one of the hardest first holes in world golf and played as the toughest overall in 2016.

After a tight tee shot, the second is blind to a green that slopes from front to back down to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

2nd, 346 yards, par 4

Many players take an iron off the tee with a ditch left and bunkers right, but downwind some will try to get as close as they can to a green where three putts are common.

This hole yielded the second most birdies on a par 4 in 2016 so offers a chance to potentially bounce back from the tough start.

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3rd, 462 yards, par 4

The famous 100-yard long Church Pew Bunker is up the left of the fairway while the new bunkers on the right are no fun either. 

This hole has been lengthened by 40 yards for this year’s event, but the elevated green is relatively flat by Oakmont standards.

4th, 611 yards, par 5

The Church Pew Bunker is again in play on this mammoth par-5 while further traps in the right rough are very severe.

Despite the length of the hole, the driver might not be the best option off the tee due to the premium on accuracy.

5th, 408 yards, par 4

Irons for position the usual course of action, leaving an approach to one of the most undulating greens.

Oakmont has added an extra 35 yards to the tee shot on this hole.

6th, 200 yards, par 3

The first of the short holes offers little respite and the small green has a wicked slope from right to left.

Six large bunkers surround the putting surface with going long probably the best miss.

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7th, 485 yards, par 4

Another hole where par is a real achievement. 

Left of the green is the main danger, while the putting surface itself is angled severely from left to right.

8th, 289 yards, par 3

The longest par three in major history. 

Anything slightly left is likely to find Sahara bunker that is 100 yards long while a new cross bunker has been put in to make running the ball up even harder.

9th, 472 yards, par 4

Played as a par five for club members, a blind drive has to go back up the steep hill to the clubhouse and must avoid a ditch left and pot bunkers right. 

The hole has another demanding green which is shared with the practice green meaning long is no good.

10th, 461 yards, par 4

Another tough hole to begin the back nine plays downhill to a very a narrow fairway.

The bunkers down the right must be avoided while the green again plays downhill towards the Route 76 highway.

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11th, 400 yards, par 4

Usual approach involves an iron or three-wood to reach a plateau on the fairway.

That will leave an approach to a green which slopes from back to front but this will be a birdie chance.

12th, 632 yards, par 5

Longest par five ever in majors when it played to 684 yards in 2016 and strategy will play a big part. 

As with the fourth hole, some may keep the driver in the bag, even though it will mean a far longer third shot.

13th, 182 yards, par 3

Hourglass green is very narrow and the crucial thing is to leave an uphill putt.

This hole played as one of the easiest in 2016.

14th, 379 yards, par 4

Driveable in favourable conditions but 15 bunkers await anything slightly offline.

Making birdie or better will depend on coping with a large green that has a lot of subtlety to it.

15th, 507 yards, par 4

Another blind tee shot to a fairway that is tough to hit on a beast of a hole.

A second Church Pew Bunker awaits down the left, with ditches and another 80-yard bunker on the right.

16th, 236 yards, par 3

The large green slopes left to right and while much shorter than the eighth, it could prove the tougher of the two.

With severe run offs to the right of the putting surface and a thin bunker circling the left and back, accuracy will be needed.

17th, 312 yards, par 4

The easiest hole on the course and an opportunity to make up lost ground, but there are risks attached. 

Bunkers lie in wait 50 yards short while the green is a small target.

18th, 472 yards, par 4

One of the toughest closing par fours in golf. 

Long and straight shots are needed for both the drive and the approach to a huge, undulating green.

The 2016 event did see one eagle on 18 but also 22 doubles and it could prove pivotal to whoever will win this year.