Oak Tree National
When it opened in 1976, Oak Tree National was rated among the hardest courses in America. Pete Dye's Edmond, Oklahoma test, a par 71 of about 7,400 yards, hosted the 1988 PGA Championship and remains one of the toughest tickets in the country.
Photo: Phillip Scheldt via Google.
The verdict
Oak Tree National is Pete Dye at his most uncompromising, a championship course in Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City, that opened in 1976 and immediately earned a reputation as one of the most difficult in the United States. For the 1988 PGA Championship it carried the highest course rating in the country, and Dye's trademark features, deep bunkers, water and small, fiercely defended greens, make it a relentless examination from the back tees. It plays as a par 71 of about 7,400 yards.
Beyond the 1988 PGA, won by Jeff Sluman, the club has hosted the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Senior Open, and it has long been a haven for touring professionals who keep homes nearby. It is a private club through and through, and for a traveling golfer it is both a serious test and a piece of modern championship history, the kind of course that rewards precise, disciplined golf and punishes everything else.
Oak Tree National at a glance
- Opened
- 1976
- Designer
- Pete Dye
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,400 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, the PGA of America and leading databases. Pete Dye designed the course, which opened in 1976; it plays as a par 71 of about 7,400 yards in Edmond, Oklahoma, and hosted the 1988 PGA Championship. It is a private club; access is generally only through a member, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Oak Tree asks for control and courage in equal measure. Dye routed the holes across open Oklahoma prairie and then defended them with water, sprawling bunkers and greens that fall away on every side, so the player who misses is left with a recovery that can quickly compound the damage. The wind, ever present on the plains, turns already demanding approaches into genuine examinations of nerve.
The par 3s are long and exposed, the par 4s ask for both length and precision, and the green complexes punish anything struck without conviction. There is little respite in the routing, which builds relentlessly, and the closing holes have decided championships against a backdrop of wind and firm, fast surfaces. It is a course that demands a complete game and a clear head.
What stays with visitors is the sheer rigor of it. Oak Tree National was built to test the best, and it still does, a Pete Dye original that never softened its standards and remains a benchmark for difficulty among American championship courses.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; not generally open to public play, with access usually through a member |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest play is hosted by a member (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | An introduction through a member, arranged well in advance, is essential |
| On the day | Caddies and carts available; a collared shirt and traditional dress code expected |
| Getting there | Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City, about 30 minutes from the city center |
| Best months | April through June and September through October, before and after the prairie heat |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Oak Tree National is a private club and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Edmond and north Oklahoma City offer the most convenient lodging, while downtown Oklahoma City, with its Bricktown district and growing dining scene, is a short drive south and close to Will Rogers World Airport.
Oak Tree National sits at the heart of any Oklahoma golf trip alongside Southern Hills in Tulsa and Karsten Creek in Stillwater, a trio of championship tests within easy driving distance. We can arrange the introductions where possible and handle the lodging and transfers around your rounds.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Oklahoma City.
Build an Oklahoma golf trip
We help arrange access where we can, plan the visit to Oak Tree National and book the lodging and transfers around your round. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Oak Tree National questions
Who designed Oak Tree National?
Oak Tree National was designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1976 in Edmond, Oklahoma, north of Oklahoma City. It quickly earned a reputation as one of the hardest courses in the country.
What is the par and length of Oak Tree National?
Oak Tree National plays as a par 71 of about 7,400 yards, defended by water, deep bunkers, small greens and the constant prairie wind.
What championships has Oak Tree National hosted?
Oak Tree National hosted the 1988 PGA Championship, won by Jeff Sluman, along with the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Senior Open. For the 1988 PGA it carried the highest course rating in the country.
Can visitors play Oak Tree National?
Oak Tree National is a private members club and is not generally open to public play. Access is usually only through a member, so arranging a visit well in advance is essential.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; 1988 PGA Championship hosting verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.