US Open Golf Courses - Public

The US Open is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. Over the years, the tournament has been held at some of the most iconic golf courses in the US, each with its own unique challenges and history.

If you are a bucketlist traveling golfer, your adventures await below.

Torrey Pines Golf Course - South

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most iconic courses in golf, and it has hosted the U.S. Open multiple times throughout its history.

The course first hosted the U.S. Open in 1972, when Jack Nicklaus won the tournament by three strokes over Bruce Crampton. The victory was Nicklaus's third U.S. Open title and solidified his status as one of the greatest golfers of all time.

Pebble Beach would go on to host the U.S. Open again in 1982, when Tom Watson won the tournament in a dramatic playoff against Jack Nicklaus. The two golfers had battled all week, with Watson coming out on top after a clutch birdie putt on the 17th hole of the final round.

In 1992, Pebble Beach once again hosted the U.S. Open, and this time it was won by Tom Kite. Kite dominated the tournament from start to finish, shooting a record-breaking score of 72 holes at even par, and winning by two strokes over Jeff Sluman.

The U.S. Open returned to Pebble Beach in 2000, and it was one of the most memorable tournaments in the history of the event. Tiger Woods won the tournament by a record-breaking 15 strokes, establishing himself as the most dominant player in golf at the time.

The victory was also significant because it marked the first time that Woods had won a major championship by a significant margin. His performance at Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the greatest displays of golf ever seen.

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Pinehurst No. 2

Pinehurst No. 2 has a rich history when it comes to hosting major golf championships, including the U.S. Open, which is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport.

In 1999, Pinehurst No. 2 hosted its first U.S. Open, which was won by Payne Stewart in one of the most dramatic finishes in the tournament's history. Stewart, who was known for his flamboyant clothing and outgoing personality, had struggled in the years leading up to the tournament, but he found his game at Pinehurst and played some of the best golf of his career.

The tournament came down to the final hole, with Stewart and Phil Mickelson tied for the lead. Stewart hit a clutch par putt on the 18th hole to secure the victory, and he celebrated with a memorable fist pump and a hug with his caddie.

Tragically, just four months after his U.S. Open victory, Stewart died in a plane crash. The tournament at Pinehurst No. 2 was his last major championship victory, and it remains a bittersweet memory for golf fans around the world.

Pinehurst No. 2 would go on to host the U.S. Open again in 2005, when Michael Campbell won the tournament by two strokes over Tiger Woods. The course proved to be a stern test of golf, with only two players finishing the tournament under par.

In 2014, Pinehurst No. 2 once again hosted the U.S. Open, but this time with a unique twist. The tournament was played on back-to-back weeks with the U.S. Women's Open, marking the first time in history that the two events had been held on the same course in consecutive weeks.

Martin Kaymer won the men's tournament by a commanding eight strokes, while Michelle Wie captured her first major championship in the women's event. The back-to-back tournaments were widely praised for showcasing Pinehurst No. 2's versatility and challenging layout.

Overall, Pinehurst No. 2's history with the U.S. Open has been filled with memorable moments and great champions, cementing its place as one of the premier golf courses in the world.

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Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most iconic courses in golf, and it has hosted the U.S. Open multiple times throughout its history.

The course first hosted the U.S. Open in 1972, when Jack Nicklaus won the tournament by three strokes over Bruce Crampton. The victory was Nicklaus's third U.S. Open title and solidified his status as one of the greatest golfers of all time.

Pebble Beach would go on to host the U.S. Open again in 1982, when Tom Watson won the tournament in a dramatic playoff against Jack Nicklaus. The two golfers had battled all week, with Watson coming out on top after a clutch birdie putt on the 17th hole of the final round.

In 1992, Pebble Beach once again hosted the U.S. Open, and this time it was won by Tom Kite. Kite dominated the tournament from start to finish, shooting a record-breaking score of 72 holes at even par, and winning by two strokes over Jeff Sluman.

The U.S. Open returned to Pebble Beach in 2000, and it was one of the most memorable tournaments in the history of the event. Tiger Woods won the tournament by a record-breaking 15 strokes, establishing himself as the most dominant player in golf at the time.

The victory was also significant because it marked the first time that Woods had won a major championship by a significant margin. His performance at Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the greatest displays of golf ever seen.

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Erin Hills

Erin Hills is a golf course located in Erin, Wisconsin, and it hosted the U.S. Open once, in 2017.

The 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills was notable for the dominance of Brooks Koepka, who won the tournament by four strokes over Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama. Koepka shot a 16-under-par score of 272 over four rounds, setting a new U.S. Open record for the lowest score in relation to par.

Koepka's victory at Erin Hills was his first major championship, and it established him as one of the top players in the game. His powerful ball-striking and aggressive style of play were well-suited to the course, which featured wide fairways and fast greens.

The tournament was also notable for its lack of rough. Instead of traditional U.S. Open rough, Erin Hills featured tall fescue grass that proved challenging for players who hit their shots off-line. Some players criticized the grass as being too penalizing, but others praised the course for its unique design and challenging layout.

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Chambers Bay

Chambers Bay is a links-style golf course located in University Place, Washington, and it hosted the U.S. Open once, in 2015.

The 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay was notable for a number of reasons. It was the first time that the tournament had been held in the Pacific Northwest, and the first time that a links-style course had been used for the event in more than 40 years.

The course was designed to emulate the traditional links courses found in Scotland and Ireland, with rolling hills, wide fairways, and large, undulating greens. However, the course's unique features, including the fescue grass, sprawling sand dunes, and uneven terrain, presented a significant challenge to the players.

The tournament was won by Jordan Spieth, who shot a one-under-par score of 69 in the final round to finish at five-under-par for the tournament. Spieth's victory at Chambers Bay was his second major championship of the year, following his win at the Masters in April.

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Bethpage State Park - The Black

Bethpage Black is a public golf course located in Farmingdale, New York, and it has hosted the U.S. Open on two occasions, in 2002 and 2009.

The 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black was historic in many ways. It was the first time that a public course had hosted the U.S. Open, and the course was widely regarded as one of the most difficult in the tournament's history.

Tiger Woods won the tournament by three strokes over Phil Mickelson, becoming the first player in more than 30 years to win the U.S. Open in wire-to-wire fashion. Woods's victory at Bethpage Black was his second U.S. Open title, and it solidified his status as the best player in the world at the time.

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