Edmond, Oklahoma
Oak Tree National is Pete Dye at his most demanding—a relentless, water-woven shotmaker’s gauntlet built to challenge the world’s best. Expect a fearsome but fair test, surgically maintained greens, and championship pedigree from the opening tee to the notorious closer.
Find the oak on No. 5 — it’s the actual tree the entire club is named after, on a course Pete Dye was originally instructed to make “the hardest golf course in the world.”
Oak Tree National is championship golf at its most unflinching—Pete Dye’s vision let the Oklahoma wind and terrain dictate every punishing nuance. Forced carries, sharp doglegs, and boldly contoured TifEagle greens demand a planner’s mind and a nerveless short game. Yet it’s not brutal for the sake of brutality: variety, risk/reward choices, and relentless pressure reward those who master angles and account for the breeze. Thanks to careful restoration and modern reconstructions, Oak Tree is as strategically sharp and visually striking as ever.
Dye declared Oak Tree National his 'finest inland golf course,' with renovations and restorations ensuring his original vision remains razor-sharp and relevant in the modern era.
A long, visually intimidating par 3 that plays over water with bunkers guarding both left and right. It marks the start of Oak Tree’s best three-hole stretch and sets the tone for relentless shot-making requirements.
Precision with a long iron or hybrid is mandatory—bail right and you'll be bunkered, left is a watery grave.
Water left, deep bunkers, and wind funneling across the green make missing short or left especially costly.
Fast, firm, and pristine—expect championship speed on the TifEagle greens, crisp fairways, and perfectly rebuilt bunkers.
Traditional private-club pace, typically steady and player-driven.
Serious, formal, competitive—expect an atmosphere where reputation and tradition are honored.
Private club standards—collared shirt, golf slacks or high-quality shorts, no denim.
The new TifEagle greens are slick and tiered; expect major distance-control tests.
The Better Billy Bunker system makes for consistently tricky sand—practice all lies inside deep Dye traps.
Dye’s design rewards planning—use course guides to pick safe angles and good approaches.
Bring all your knockdowns and trajectory control—the wind is a constant, unseen hazard.
Course opens as Oak Tree Golf Club, Pete Dye design
Youngest course ever named to Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest
Hosts PGA Championship (Jeff Sluman wins)
Redesign/extension by Pete Dye
Hosts U.S. Senior Open
Greens restoration to TifEagle ultradwarf Bermuda
Set to host U.S. Senior Open
The club’s founders told Pete Dye to build 'the hardest golf course in the world.' What resulted was a rolling, water-laced monster demanding pure shot-making and total focus on every shot. From the beginning, championship DNA was baked into every contour.
From the very start, Oak Tree National has attracted major championship golf and served as a yardstick for meaningful difficulty. Hosting the 1988 PGA, a U.S. Amateur, and multiple senior majors, it’s Oklahoma’s biggest-stage venue.
Ownership changes and over-planting softened the monster once, but with Tripp Davis and Pete Dye’s restorations and a major greens upgrade in 2022, the course has returned to its fearsome roots—now with elite modern conditioning.
The fifth hole isn’t just signature in name—it literally wraps around water and the club’s namesake tree, daring you to take on the hazard and live up to the logo’s challenge.
Hosted the 1988 PGA Championship, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Senior Open, and Senior PGA
Pete Dye called it 'the finest inland golf course' he ever built
Greens were converted to TifEagle ultradwarf Bermuda in 2022 for elite putting surfaces
The course was once men’s-only—now famed for inclusivity and modern tradition
Oak Tree's logo hole incorporates the namesake tree into its design in dramatic fashion
High-end private club, excellent championship test and conditioning
Upscale, modern design with elite club atmosphere
Localized Dye-influenced layout, shorter and more playable
Best public-accessible play near the city; reliable and fun
Historic city golf, two courses, classic public value
Edmond or north Oklahoma City for proximity, quick drives, and easy access to metro golf.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course) asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to Oak Tree National Golf Club.
Why it matches: If Oak Tree National Golf Club is your kind of course, Southern Hills Country Club is worth a look because it brings a comparable level of challenge and demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface.
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in TPC Southwind's own setting.
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