Tulsa, Oklahoma
Southern Hills is a national pilgrimage for golfers who appreciate championship test, history, and architecture. It’s a relentless, beautifully restored Maxwell course where every shot is a decision and every green a riddle. The mystique, history, and demanding layout make it a bucket-list ‘must’ for serious players.
Take a shower before you leave — the old marble-lined men’s showers are one of Southern Hills’ great little traditions and feel like standing under a waterfall.
Southern Hills embraces its rolling Oklahoma terrain with a routing that flows naturally across creeks and ridges. Perry Maxwell sculpted fairways and green sites to reward creative, strategic golf, blending severe and subtle elevation changes with legendary green contours. Restored by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, the course now plays wider and firmer, with signature chipping runoffs and bold bunkers returning Southern Hills to its roots as a true championship crucible. Each hole offers multiple lines of attack and defense, but the battle is always settled on the greens—complex, canted, and treacherously quick—embodying Maxwell’s architectural genius.
Perry Maxwell’s vision is alive and well, with Hanse’s restoration amplifying the land’s movement and the greens’ challenge—faithful to championship tradition and architectural excellence.
A daunting early test, this long par 4 features a creek cutting the landing zone and angled bunkers demanding a bold, perfectly shaped drive. The green, subtly canted, resists anything but precise approach play, often turning the hole into a survival game even for the world’s best.
Take on the corner for a shorter, clearer approach—but flirt with water and tricky bunkers, or play safe and face a tough uphill shot.
Errant drives find creek or sand; missing the green brings treacherous up-and-downs.
Championship-level firmness, quick greens, immaculate surfaces—expect tournament-ready presentation.
Deliberate but smooth; member and event play ensures attentive marshals and well-paced rounds.
Classic, formal, and steeped in golf tradition—a serious, golf-first atmosphere.
Traditional country-club attire; collared shirts and golf slacks/shorts expected. Confirm with club directly.
Practice chipping and putting from every angle—up-and-downs from tight runoffs are vital here.
Scour hole-by-hole guides or flyovers to understand green contours—proper approach angles are everything.
Bring your full bag; you’ll hit every club from long irons to wedges on demanding par 4s and 3s.
Wear supportive shoes; it’s walkable but you’ll climb plenty of valleys and slopes.
Southern Hills Country Club established by Waite Phillips and Tulsa backers during the Great Depression
Perry Maxwell’s original layout opens for play
Robert Trent Jones Sr. alters course to modernize for championships
Hosts first U.S. Open, affirming major-championship pedigree
Keith Foster completes significant renovation
Hosts PGA Championship after celebrated restoration
Oilman Waite Phillips donated the land and local citizens matched funds to make Southern Hills possible during the Great Depression. WPA workers camped out on-site, turning Oklahoma prairie into championship ground—a grassroots origin that echoes in every round played here.
Perry Maxwell’s undulating greens—famous Maxwell rolls—define Southern Hills, requiring precise placement and imagination on every approach and putt. Major champions and mere mortals alike agonize and strategize over their spellbinding movement.
After Gil Hanse’s 2019 restoration peeled back tree lines, recaptured classic bunkers, and restored green contours, Southern Hills returned to its Golden Age roots—hosting a dazzling 2022 PGA Championship that drew rave reviews from the world’s best.
WPA workers built the course during the Depression, living in tents on-site.
Water hazards shape play on 13 of the 18 holes.
Hosted more than 17 national championships since 1945.
Greens are world-renowned for their Maxwell rolls—slopes and undulations that flummox even the pros.
The 12th hole is consistently ranked among the greatest par 4s in America.
Tulsa’s best walk-in public option for all skill levels
Modern, tourist-friendly course with destination feel
Traveler-approved, affordable championship-style round
Elite, scenic modern layout for those with connections
Upscale traditional private option if membership access
South Tulsa or Midtown/Downtown for best club access and amenities
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Aronimink Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Southern Hills Country Club.
Why it matches: Bay Hill Club & Lodge is a natural next stop after Southern Hills Country Club: it asks for the same disciplined decision-making.
Why it matches: The Heritage Club is a natural next stop after Southern Hills Country Club: it makes the greens a central strategic puzzle.
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