We’re just a few weeks away from the 2025 U.S. Open, and iconic yet treacherous Oakmont Country Club is set to host the event. But already we’re hearing complaints about the course, from current pros and golf legends alike. One specific hole has drawn the ire of Viktor Hovland and 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus: the monstrous par-3 8th hole, which will play to nearly 300 yards this year.
Oakmont’s terrifyingly-long par-3 8th hole
This year’s 125th U.S. Open will be the 10th time the tournament has been held at Oakmont. The historic course, ranked No. 8 on GOLF’s Top 100 Courses in the World ranking, has always been a fearsome test.
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Much of the pain pros experience at Oakmont is from its devilishly-quick greens, inventive bunkers and, during U.S. Open week, its wrist-breaking rough.
But as with all old, iconic courses that host majors, Oakmont has been lengthened significantly in response to modern equipment helping golfers hit the ball much farther.
Oakmont’s 8th has always been one of the longer par-3s in golf, but for the 2025 U.S. Open its expected to play at or even over 300 yards.
Hovland not a fan of long par-3s
If you think 300 yards is starting to stretch the limits of what can be considered a par-3, you’re in good company.
One pro who was asked about Oakmont’s 8th in his Memorial Tournament press conference on Tuesday was Viktor Hovland.
Though Hovland has never been to Oakmont, he’s played plenty of long par-3s in his five years on Tour. And when a reporter told him about the 300-yard 8th, he shared a general criticism of long par-3s.
“Yeah, I mean, it just becomes hard. I just don’t think when you have to make a hole that long, it just doesn’t become that great,” Hovland explained. “It just becomes like, okay, you got a certain target here and then you got to hit a shot around there and make a par and get out of there instead of a shorter par-3 that entices you to get close to it, but if you’re a little bit off, you’re either in the water or in a short-sided spot or if you bail out, yeah, you still have a tricky little putt.”
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He continued by arguing that what he considers the top par-3s in golf are all relatively short.
“I just think all the best par-3s are under 200,” Hovland said on Tuesday. “You can maybe have it just over 200, but as soon as you start to take head covers off on par-3s, I just think it gets a little silly.”
Nicklaus takes aim at Oakmont’s ‘crazy’ par-3 8th
Memorial Tournament host Jack Nicklaus also sat down with reporters for his annual press conference on Tuesday. When a reporter asked about Oakmont’s lengthy 8th, Nicklaus first responded with some jokes.
“I haven’t played it since they lengthened it to be a short par-5,” Nicklaus said smiling. “I don’t know how long it is. It’s about 275 yards or something like that.”
When a reporter revealed that the 8th would actually play to 299 yards this year, Nicklaus shot back, “Well that’s crazy. But that’s what they do. But it is downhill.”
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Nicklaus went on to reveal that he thinks it’s hard to make a long par-3 that is also a quality design.
“I think it’s difficult to make a good, long par-3. I think it’s a very difficult thing to have a hole where you’re standing back hitting a wood at a par-3.”
When asked if golf “needs” long par-3s, Nicklaus demurred, then explained his philosophy behind par-3s for courses he designs.
“I don’t know. I don’t have any on my golf courses. But do you need them? Probably not. I can’t answer your question because I don’t like them. How is that?” Nicklaus said. “I always liked — I always liked to take — on a golf course I liked to have one par-3 in the 220 to 235 range. I liked to have two of ’em right in the 190 to 210 range. And then one usually somewhere shorter, 170 or shorter. I like to get a short par-4, a three, a longish one, and two middle ones. And then hopefully play in different directions so the wind conditions will be different.”
It’s important to note that Nicklaus has serious experience playing Oakmont. He won his very first major there, the 1962 U.S. Open.
Hovland and the rest of the pros will take on the newly-lengthened 8th hole at Oakmont for the first time when the 2025 U.S. Open gets underway Thursday, June 12.
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