Southern Hills Country Club
Tulsa, OK • Private
Gary Kellner/PGA of America/Getty Images
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Andy Johnson/Courtesy of Southern Hills
Southern Hills marks a new era of more dynamic major-championship setups (the par-4 fourth).
Brian Oar
Players will have to decide how far to press their luck with drives on the par-4 third.
Brian Oar
Overview
A product of the Great Depression and constructed by hundreds of workers who stood at the gate each morning hoping for a 25-cents-per-hour job that day, Southern Hills is architect Perry Maxwell’s great achievement. Nearly every hole bends left or right, posing critical tee shots that must risk something. The putting surfaces have the classic “Maxwell Rolls,” and most are guarded by simple yet effective bunkers. During the summer of 2018, architect Gil Hanse and crew rebuilt much of the course, in the process re-establishing Maxwell’s distinctive, gnarly edged bunkering and reconstructing the green shoulders that had been built up over the years.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking: 28th.
Previous ranking: 32nd.
Highest ranking: No. 8, 1993-'94.
Best in State: Ranked first since 1983.
2023-'24 ranking: First.
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Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Southern Hills is a demanding Perry Maxwell with a wonderful restoration by Gil Hanse. First hole is great opener with look towards downtown Tulsa. The first hole demand the players attention from the start. The use of the stream the multiple holes across the property. Perry Maxwell bunkers which are restored are very unique. The 2nd hole is an amazing use of the stream thru the hole, and requires the players to pick the angle of the tee. The stream is also used on the 3rd hole, and green appears to be island type with the stream in use. The 6th hole is a nice par 3, and has the same stream again being used. A great view of the property is looking back from the 11th green, you can see many of the holes. One of my personal favorite holes on the property is the 12th. The 12th offers water on the front of the approach. The player as a small area to run it on but the hole narrows as the player gets closer to the green. The 18th is major championship finishing hole, and again using the stream on the hole as well. "
Read More2022
Review
“The Southern Hills experience starts the moment you set foot on the property. As you head to the locker room, your walk takes you down a hallway that gives you a historic glimpse of the past as it highlights each major that has taken place at Southern Hills dating back to the 1958 US Open. Gil Hanse and his team did a wonderful job with the restoration, as they went back to the original ragged bunkering that Perry Maxwell designed."
Read More2022
Review
“Southern Hills CC has it all. The highlights for me were the challenge and conditioning categories, of which Southern Hills has few equals. The fairways are firm and roll out. The newly "restored" greens are only receptive to a well struck, and well placed, approach shot. The greens feature run off areas on all sides, which roll off onto tighly mowed areas instead of rough, and well placed bunkers which require a precise recovery to hold the green. Multiple creeks come into play on half the holes and are ready to gulp up wayward drives and approach shots. The course has a wonderful variety of holes, including difficult and demanding par 5's, short but challenging par 4's and a very memorable set of par 3's. The rolling hills and interesting topography of this layout, along with the scenic views from numerous tees add pleasure to the round. The routing is masterful, weaving along and across the creeks on the property."
Read More2022
Review
“Fantastic redesign, many thoughtful changes that made the course stronger, if that was possible. Sub-air system on greens makes them absolutely perfect surfaces, rolling at a strong 13+ to 14. Incredibly firm, imagine standing in your kitchen trying to toss a golf ball on the counter and keep it from rolling/bouncing into the sink. Fairways were immaculate, great mix of long/short holes, doglegs left/right and straight holes, elevation changes and the meandering creeks always come into play at just the right times. 18 has to be one of the most challenging finishing holes in the country."
Read More2022
Review
“Gil Hanse and crew have returned Southern Hills to it's roots. The first tee shot offers one of the best views this panelist has seen, with the fairway bunker hinting toward some of the strategic challenges ahead. "
Read More2022
Review
“Solid course which is a wonderful layout on a small piece of land, but one with ample elevation to make it interesting. The layout forces you to play some downhills, some iconic uphill holes, as well as cross and diagonally across the land. Sneaky hard, largely because of the green complexes. Conditioning is elite."
Read More2022
Review
“Wonderful restoration by Hanse design. A course where you have to think about fairway position in order to attack the greens."
Read More2022
Review
“Traditional parkland course with dramatic elevation changes set amongst majestic trees that frame most holes as well as a creek that winds throughout the property and comes into play on 12 holes. The closin 18th hole presents a stern test as a long uphill par 4 that doglegs to the right. One who hits it right off the tee will be in jail, as will one who is above the hole after the approach shot! Deep bunkers guarding both fairways "
Read More2022
Review
“One of the toughest courses I've played. Tight fairways with lots of trees. It was in great shape but required some great shot making to shoot a decent score."
Read More2018
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