Oakmont Country Club, located northeast of Pittsburgh, claims a reported 500+ members, a number that would certainly be more if not for the club’s intended exclusivity.
Becoming a member at the club near the Allegheny River is no accident, but also not something one can act upon solely. People can become an Oakmont member by means of invitation only. For those hoping to receive an invite, you might want to master the game first. ESPN reported in 2007 that 35% of the members held single-digit handicaps.
That being said, the course is not exactly members-only. Guests are seemingly encouraged, even (and sometimes especially so) at their own peril.
Former Oakmont President Bill Griffin once told ESPN, “The members love to be punished out there, but nothing satisfies us more than a guest walking off the course shaking his head.”
