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For not only had it been designed by Donald Ross, then the foremost golf course architect of the day, but the club had also engaged as its club professional the famed and charismatic Walter Hagen, already a US Open champion and one of the foremost golfing personalities of his day.

The world renowned course near Detroit has never lost its glitter and today is consistently named by the most authorities judges in the field as being one of the top ten tests of golf in the US and, possibly the world.

It's not for nothing that the USGA and the PGA of America have between them earmarked it to play host to six US Opens, three PGA Championships, two US Senior championships and one US Amateur championship in the eight and bit decades between 1924 and 2008 when the PGA Championship is schedules to return to the Michigan golfing jewel.

Of all the many tournaments played at Oakland Hills over the last 80 years, the one which was largely responsible for course coming to be known as "The Monster" was the 1951 US Open.

Ben Hogan won with a total of 287 by shooting a final round 67 after which he was widely quoted as saying "I am glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees."

He also called it "the greatest test of golf I have ever played and the toughest course I know."

Following are the years in which major events have taken place at Oakland Hills with the winners being listed where applicable

1924:US Open - Cyril Walker
1937 US Open - Ralph Guldahl
1951 US Open - Ben Hogan
1961 US Open - Gene Littler
1972 PGA Championship - Gary Player
1979 PGA Championship - David Graham
1981 US Senior Open - Arnold Palmer
1985 US Open - Andy North
1991 US Senior Open - Jack Nicklaus
1996 US Open - Steve Jones
2002 US Amateur - Ricky Barnes
2004 Ryder Cup Matches TBD
2008 PGA Championship TBD

And here are the hole by hole specifications:

First Nine:
Hole 1 - 435 yard par 4
Hole 2 - 519 yard par 5
Hole 3 - 198 yard par 3
Hole 4 - 430 yard par 4
Hole 5 - 455 yard par 4
Hole 6 - 356 yard par 4
Hole 7 - 411 yard par 4
Hole 8 - 482 yard par 4
Hole 9 - 220 yard par 3
1st nine - 3,506 yards

Second Nine:
Hole 10 - 453 yard par 4
Hole 11 - 423 yard par 4
Hole 12 - 560 yard par 5
Hole 13 - 162 yard par 3
Hole 14 - 473 yard par 4
Hole 15 - 400 yard par 4
Hole 16 - 406 yard par 4
Hole 17 - 200 yard par 3
Hole 18 - 494 yard par 4
2nd nine - 3,571 yards

Course distance: 7076 yards

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