Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Oakland Hills set to reopen South course following Gil Hanse restoration

Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, will reopen its South course in early July following a restoration by Gil Hanse.

The South has hosted six US Opens, three PGA Championships, the 2004 Ryder Cup, and many more tournaments since opening in 1918 to a design from Donald Ross, who also designed the club’s North course that opened in 1924.

Hanse, along with partner Jim Wagner and on-site coordinator Kye Goalby, reviewed original plans and photographs as well as a programme from the 1929 US Women’s Amateur to guide restoration plans, with construction beginning in October 2019.

“Restoring the South course at Oakland Hills was a masterclass in scale from architect Donald Ross,” said Hanse. “By returning the proportions of the features to the large scale of the property, we learned so much about how to create interest, strategy, and beauty. This was a truly thrilling project for us to be involved in and we are excited about the transformation that has occurred.”

All 18 greens have been rebuilt to USGA specification with expansions and modifications made to the original Ross design, as well as the installation of a PrecisionAire system to control moisture and temperature.

Original bunkering, course widths and angles have been restored. State-of-the-art drainage has been installed, irrigation systems upgraded, with tree removal opening up original vistas of the course and the clubhouse.

Hanse and the team have also restored the original location of the seventh green as well as the original size of the creek, which bisects this par four.

“Oakland Hills is proud to reopen the South course after a masterful restoration by Gil Hanse,” said club president Michael Dietz. “Our Donald Ross classic has been transformed into a contemporary course that will challenge and delight our membership while hopefully continuing our rich tradition of hosting championship golf at Oakland Hills.”

Previous Article Kevin Norby completes bunker renovation at The Meadows in Iowa
Next Article PGA National set to unveil new nine-hole ‘The Staple’ course
Print
5114 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Oakland Hills
    Larry Lambrecht

    Oakland Hills Country Club will reopen its South course in early July following a restoration by Gil Hanse

  • Oakland Hills
    Larry Lambrecht

    The project has included the restoration of original bunkers and the rebuilding of every green

ADd Image Credit here for home page
Larry Lambrecht
Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x

Subscribe to the Golf Course Architecture newsletter


  • ©2025 Tudor Rose. All Rights Reserved. Golf Course Architecture is published by Tudor Rose.