Oakmont: The data behind the Church Pews

Shot Scope recently measured numbers at this week’s U.S. Open site Oakmont.

Oakmont Country Club, known for its narrow fairways, Church Pew bunkers and challenging layout, is the 2025 US Open venue this week and promises drama.

Previously, having hosted the Championship in 2016, Oakmont provided PGA Tour professionals with one of the toughest tournaments of the season, where only four competitors broke par, three of whom were at -1. With the rough lush and the bunkers deep, accuracy off the tee is paramount, pars are crucial, and every stroke will be a test of the players’ skill.

What Makes Oakmont So Brutal?

Oakmont’s reputation as a challenging course is well-deserved, with hurdles ready to trip competitors at every step from tee to green. Where some courses have wide fairways and less than penal rough, Oakmont’s fairways are a mere 31 yards wide on average, significantly lower than the typical US course’s 42-yard average. Accuracy is nonnegotiable off the tee if players want to have any chance of hitting and holding greens.

When missing the green at Oakmont, Shot Scope data reveals that being in the rough is almost as bad as being in the bunker. From the rough, golfers have an up and down success rate of 16% compared to 14% from the sand. Both lie types guarantee a tricky par save and can easily result in dropped shots. Brutal bunkers. The most iconic and daunting feature of Oakmont CC, its bunkers and one in particular, the Church Pew bunker. It’s a vast sprawling bunker with a series of grass mounds that resemble church pews.

Hole 3 – The Impact of the Church Pews on Scoring

When the average golfer visits a bunker, they typically lose 0.5 strokes. However, on hole 3, when they find themselves in the Church Pew bunker, it costs them 1.25 strokes compared to not being in the bunker.

On hole 4, pews are slightly less penalizing but still cost golfers 0.61 shots compared to those who avoid the hazard. Players who find themselves in the Church Pew bunker typically hit clubs between an 8 iron and 54 54-degree wedge. Getting out the first time is crucial, so taking your medicine, albeit at times a tough pill to swallow, is advisable.

Who will raise the U.S. Open Trophy Sunday?

As with every major, the golfing world is buzzing with anticipation as the game’s best players prepare to tee it up at Oakmont. Given the incredibly challenging course setup and the history of low scores being a rarity, the question on everyone’s mind is: how many pros will manage to shoot under par in 2025? If 2016 has taught us anything, the victor is not guaranteed until the final putt is holed on the 72nd hole.