U.S. Open hole by hole: Church Pews a landmark hazard on No. 3 at Oakmont Country Club
From the pristine fairways and lightning-fast greens to the punishing bunkers and club-twisting rough, Oakmont Country Club is one of the toughest tests for even the world’s best golfers, who will descend upon Western Pennsylvania for the 125th U.S. Open from June 12-15.
TribLive is producing a hole-by-hole look at what makes Oakmont Country Club one of the most popular and anticipated stops for the USGA.
Hole 3 breakdown
Length: 462 yards, Par 4
Handicap: 7
2016 U.S. Open stroke average: 4.32
Description
Seeing a dozen bunkers on a championship golf hole isn’t terribly uncommon. Unfair, maybe. But not completely rare.
Now putting a dozen wispy grass-covered mounds in the middle of one giant, well-groomed bunker, that’s a unique hazard that has become the signature landmark of Oakmont Country Club’s storied tradition.
The famed “Church Pews” along the left side of the third fairway include thick strips of grass pews spaced throughout a lengthy sand trap, creating a large hazard that can take more than one shot to escape. It is a photogenic bucket list item to witness from above and around the course, and it’s a popular place for drones and TV camera shots. But the Church Pews can be a nightmare for golfers unfortunate enough to spray a tee shot to the left off the third tee.
For those trying to avoid the more than 100 yards of Church Pews on the left, five cavernous bunkers sit along the right side of a narrow landing zone.
Outside of the club’s marquee hazard, the third hole offers a tabletop green, adding importance to an accurate approach with spin. The shot into the green is between 10 and 20 yards longer than it appears from the fairway because of the elevation.
Memorable moment from U.S. Open
In 2007, Tiger Woods was chasing his 13th major and in contention. In the third round, he landed his tee shot in the fairway next to the Church Pew bunkers. He drilled a short-iron approach shot to within 12 feet and pocketed the putt for birdie. That helped propel him to a third-round 69, two strokes off the lead. The next day, he double-bogeyed No. 3 and then finished in a tie for second place after shooting 6-over, one stroke behind winner Angel Cabrera.
How the locals play it
Mike Van Sickle, a Pine-Richland graduate, played in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont after earning an alternate spot in qualifying. The two-time WPIAL champion shot 76-80 and missed the cut. He has been a regular visitor to Oakmont as part of his play in Tri-State PGA events.
“The No. 3 Church Pews? Yeah, you just have to lay up to 151 to 160 yards. In the 2016 U.S. Open, I tried to hit driver out there in front of the fourth tee and then you’re in the rough and you can’t control your ball. So you don’t get enough spin on it to actually stop it on the green, if the greens are firm at all. I would think a lot of long iron or 3-woods, kind of play it to the base of the hill, which kind of puts the pews in play. But you kind of have to.
“(The green) used to be kind of front left, tilted, running away from you, which makes kind of coming out of the rough not as doable.”
Around the U.S. Open
Spotlight
Bryson DeChambeau
Two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau enters this year’s event as one of the favorites after strong performances at the Masters (fifth) and PGA championship (runner-up).
DeChambeau won the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot and last year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He shot 6-under-par to claim the 2024 title but not without some excitement. He hit a 54-yard bunker shot to within 4 feet of the pin on the par-4 18th hole in the final round and sank the par putt to seal the one-stroke victory over Rory McIlroy.
The fan favorite boasts 14 victories between the PGA Tour and now with LIV Golf.
He also won an NCAA title when at SMU, was a U.S. Amateur champion and played on the 2018 and ’21 U.S. Ryder Cup team and 2019 Presidents Cup team.
In his second year as a pro, DeChambeau finished tied for 15th at 5-over in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
By the numbers
26,000 — Square feet of sand within the Church Pew bunker
24 — Double bogeys on the third hole during the 2016 U.S. Open
48 — Birdies on the third hole during the 2016 U.S. Open
Quotable
“Always proud to (finish) top five in a major. I feel like I’m playing good when I’m doing that, but I mean, it’s disappointing not to get the job done because that’s what I came here to do. … I’m going to work my butt off to make that happen (at Oakmont).”
— Bryson DeChambeau after finishing second at the PGA Championship
Oakmont history
Golf Digest compiled a list of the America’s 100 greatest golf courses in 2023. Here’s a look at the top 10:
1. Pine Valley Golf Club (Pine Valley, N.J.)
2. Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, Ga.)
3. Cypress Point Club (Pebble Beach, Calif.)
4. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Southhampton, N.Y.)
5. Oakmont Country Club
6. Merion Golf Club: East (Ardmore, Pa.)
7. National Golf Links of America (Southampton, N.Y.)
8. Sand Hills Golf Club (Mullen, N.E.)
9. Fishers Island Club (Fishers Island, N.Y.)
10. Seminole Golf Club (Juno Beach, Fla.)
If you missed it
No. 1: U.S. Open hole by hole: No. 1 at Oakmont among world’s toughest opening tests
No. 2: U.S. Open hole by hole: Sloping green among challenges on No. 2 at Oakmont
Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.
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