D.A. Weibring & Friends

By Sam Johnson

Everyone is talking about the Oklahoma heat, but frankly it's just what you should expect in Tulsa in August. And, if you were worried about the condition of the course, don't; hosting major championships is old hat at Southern Hills Country Club. Established in 1936 as a private country club, the land was donated by oilman Waite Phillips.

This zillionaire Chairman of The First National Bank of Tulsa was approached by Bill Warren and Cecil Canary to finance a new country club. They spoke of the need for a family-oriented club that would include a swimming pool, stable, horseback trails, polo field, skeet range, tennis courts, clubhouse and golf course. Golf was not as popular in those days but swimming pools were.

Phillips called their idea silly, noting the more important financial demands of the day. However, he did agree to donate the land for the club if Mr. Warren and Mr. Canary could demonstrate there was a sufficient number of people interested in such a silly project. Mr. Phillips gave them two weeks to collect pledges from at least 150 Tulsans for $1,000 each. But, he made it clear that he would not personally give them one thin dime to finance such a project.

To Phillips' surprise the money was raised in less than two weeks and the Clubhouse was constructed in 1936. Perry Maxwell, who designed the Colonial and Prairie Dunes golf courses, was hired to design the Southern Hills golf course.

Southern Hills has a history of hosting major championships that goes back to 1946. Since that time it has hosted three U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships plus two Tour Championships and a half dozen other prestigious events.

1946	USGA Women's Amateur Championship	Babe Zaharias
1953	USGA Junior Amateur Championship	Rex Baxter
1958	USGA Open Championship	Tommy Bolt
1961	USGA Senior Amateur Championship	Dexter Daniels
1965	USGA Amateur Championship	Bob Murphy
1970	PGA Championship	Dave Stockton
1977	USGA Open Championship	Hubert Green
1982	PGA Championship	Ray Floyd
1987	USGA Women's Mid Amateur Championship	Cindy Schofield
1994	PGA Championship	Nick Price
1995	Tour Championship	Billy Mayfair
1996	Tour Championship	Tom Lehman
2001	USGA Open Championship	Retief Goosen

If you get the opportunity to tee it up at Southern Hills, hear how Dave Bryan, PGA Head Professional at Southern Hills Golf Club suggests you play each hole:

	Hole #1 An inspiring tee shot starts from an elevated tee to a slight dogleg left with the ideal tee shot position being in the left side of the fairway to avoid the fairway bunkers on the right. This tee position will allow an open second shot with a medium-to-long-iron to a green which slopes from front to back and is guarded by three traps.
	Hole #2 This is perhaps the most demanding driving hole on the golf course with a 225-yard carry over the bunkers and a winding creek that turns and parallels the fairway. A long-iron second shot is required to reach this well-bunkered green.
	Hole #3 A sharp dogleg left requires a long tee shot in the right center of the fairway. Bunkering and pin positions will demand skillful short-iron second shots on this very deceiving hole.
	Hole #4 This picturesque short par-4 features a rolling fairway leading to the heavily bunkered, elevated green. The absence of level lies makes for difficult second shots. The severe back-to-front sloping green will prevent many aggressive birdie putts.
	Hole #5 This par-5 doglegs slightly to the left. It is the longest and one of the toughest holes on the course. Due to the fairway bunkers, a narrow landing area on the tee shot will cause problems, but the hole does present a birdie opportunity to the straight hitter. There are plenty of trees and heavy rough awaiting the errant shot. Many players will play an iron second shot to avoid trouble both left and right and then a short-iron third shot to the well-bunkered undulating green.
	Hole #6 Although this is a short par-3, shifting winds cause problems with club selections. A creek on the left side of the green will penalize hooked tee shots, and out of bounds is close behind the green. The fast green is also heavily trapped in front. The ideal tee shot is short of the pin for an uphill putt.
	Hole #7 A blind tee shot to the crest of a hill reveals a narrow, beautifully situated green bunkered front and left. A steep bank guards the right posing a difficult uphill pitch from heavy rough. Most players will drive with a 3-wood to the top of the hill in the left center of the fairway and use a short-iron second shot to the bunkered green. Certain pin positions will make this hole difficult.
	Hole #8 No. 8 is a very demanding par-3 with some tough pin placements. Long-irons or possibly a 3-wood will be used here, but it is better to be short than over the embankment at the back and into the creek. Very few birdies and many bogies will be made on this hole.
	Hole #9 A dogleg right with a fairway bunker guarding the corner requires a well-positioned tee shot. The prevailing wind and an elevated green make this hole play longer than its yardage. A severe slope from the back to the front of the green makes this one of the most difficult greens to putt.
	Hole #10 Trouble on the right of this dogleg right will require a tee shot to the left side of the fairway. Most players will use a 3-wood or long-iron from the tee. The short approach shot to this elevated two-level green must be kept below the hole to have a reasonable birdie chance on one of the trickiest greens on the course.
	Hole #11 The shortest hole on the course requires a pin-point accuracy because this small green is surrounded by four bunkers. The combination of an elevated tee and the prevailing right-to-left wind will test the players' skills.
	Hole #12 Singled out by Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer as one of America's greatest par-4 holes, this slight dogleg left calls for a precision long drive to a blind landing area to take full advantage of the right-to-left slope of the fairway. The second shot, a long- to middle-iron, must be equally adroit to carry over water and bunkers to the well-banked green. Bogies and double bogies will abound on this hole.
	Hole #13 The last good birdie opportunity on the course will provide plenty of excitement. A big drive on the slight dogleg left hole will leave an opportunity to reach the green in two, but not without risk. To reach the green in two the player faces a blind shot to a small green well protected by sand and water. With a tough finish ahead, the opportunity to make eagle or birdie might well be worth the risk, although laying up in front of the two ponds will still provide a good chance for a birdie.
	Hole #14 A great and picturesque par-3 that has length, six bunkers and out-of-bounds on the left. It will require a wood or long-iron firmly struck to negate the prevailing right-to-left wind. A three here will be well earned.
	Hole #15 A dogleg left with a bunker guarding the corner requires a well-positioned drive to a very narrow landing area. The second shot, a medium- to short-iron, must avoid bunkers surrounding the green. The undulating surface of the putting green may result in many three-putts.
	Hole #16 The longest par-4 on the course requires both length and accuracy off the tee. The drive must carry a gentle slope 245 yards off the tee to provide a good view of the green. A long- to middle-iron will be necessary to reach the small well-bunkered green. A shorter drive will provide a blind shot to the green.
	Hole #17 The course's shortest par-4, this dogleg right is a real teaser. A pushed tee shot into the trees (and a creek) will mean real trouble. Most players will endeavor to place the tee shot on the left side of the fairway with a wood or long-iron. An accurate short-iron second shot is needed to reach the shallow, two-level, elevated green with some mean pin positions. This is one of the premier short, par-4 holes in all of golf.
	Hole #18 A truly great finishing hole, this dogleg right requires a drive to a plateau on the left side of the fairway 200 yards from the elevated green. A long-iron or fairway-wood second shot must carry to the green. The severely sloping green from back to front will cause many three-putts. It is the most difficult par on the golf course.