Oakland Hills Lands 2031, 2042 US Women’s Open

Oakland Hills Lands 2031, 2042 US Women’s Open

With its breathtaking restoration of the legendary South Course less than a year old, Oakland HIlls has landed the 2031 and 2042 US Women’s Open.

The appearance of the women’s national championship at the site of six US Opens is part of a seeming renewed interest in women’s championship golf at the USGA. On the same day, the USGA announced that — thanks to presenting sponsor Promedica — the purse for the US Women’s Open would double, from $5 million to $10 million.

The upgrades are no doubt due to the presence of Mike Whan as the USGA’s new Chief Executive Officer. Whan previously was the commissioner of the LPGA, where he led that tour through an impressive rebirth.

Whan obviously has an affinity for women’s golf that his predecessors did not possess.

Oakland Hills club president Rick Palmer noted: “This is truly a banner day for Oakland Hills Country Club as we proudly say we’ll be the site of the 2031 and 2042 U.S. Women’s Open Championships. We have added to our heritage and our long-standing relationship with the USGA with this great news. We are also pleased it has come so soon after we re-opened our restored and iconic South Course. It’s a momentous time for Oakland Hills.”

Oakland Hills has a long championship history. In addition to the six US Opens, the club has hosted three PGA Championships, two U.S. Senior Opens; a U.S. Women’s Amateur; two U.S. Men’s Amateurs; the Western Open; the Carling World Open and the 35th Ryder Cup in 2004.

After 2031, Oakland Hills will join a fairly exclusive list of clubs that have hosted both a US Open and US Women’s Open, including Olympic, Pinehurst, Oakmont, Interlachen, Cherry Hills, Colonial, Winged Foot and Hazeltine. Pebble Beach, Erin Hills, Inverness and Merion also will join that list going forward.

Oakland Hills surely is hoping to be added to the USGA’s list for another US Open. The next opening is 2028 — six years hence. Signs look favorable, for the USGA seems to be looking for long-term partnerships. Oakland Hills hosted the US Amateur in 2016 and now has the US Women’s Open twice in the next twenty years.

Read more about the $12 million restoration of Oakland Hills’ Donald Ross-designed South Course.