"US Open Contenders Speculate on Performance of an 18-Handicapper at Oakmont Course"
"Let's talk about the 2025 US Open and the infamous Oakmont Country Club," I said, intrigued to know my course handicap for this brutal course. Using the USGA's calculator, I found myself a tad upset with the result, considering the challenging look of the course for the professional players.
To get a realistic understanding of how I'd fare against this Major test, I thought it'd be best to ask the experts themselves. And luckily for me, the DP World Tour's social media team did just that, polling some of the world's best players about the Oakmont nightmare for an 18-handicapper.
The Oakmont Challenge for an 18-Handicapper
As a mid-20s handicapper, I wasn't under any illusions about navigating this epic course, given its Major-length long rough and lightning-fast greens. The pros seem to share my sentiment, with many of the US Open stars voicing their concerns about the average golfer's chances.
Justin Thomas even suggested the only real way to find out is to put the amateur golfer to the test, unleashing them on Oakmont!
It's worth noting that the number of shots an 18-handicapper takes to play Oakmont would be different if they were to play from the front tees in normal conditions, compared to playing the Monday after the championship from the back tees under the US Open setup. In either scenario, though, the number would be incredibly high.
Could I Make It Around?
The US Open stars have given their verdict, and the USGA Course Handicap Calculator suggests an estimated target score. But what about my humble handicap? I'm a realist, but I still can't help but doubt myself a little. Maybe I'm being too harsh on my chances? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
I'm waiting by the phone for the call up for Justin Thomas' Oakmont experiment... hopefully, I'll be able to handle this beast of a course!
Given the Major-length rough and lightning-fast greens at the Oakmont Country Club, I'm curious about my ability to handle such challenging sports conditions during the 2025 US Open, considering the concerns voiced by professional golfers like Justin Thomas.
Despite the insightful verdict from the US Open stars and the estimated target score from the USGA Course Handicap Calculator, I can't help but question my own handicap's impact on my performance, wondering if I'm underrating my chances against this infamous course.
