⛳️ Oakmont’s Back—and It’s Out for Blood

Golf’s scariest course returns. Scheffler hunts history. Bryson swings big. Oakmont swings back.

Author

Happy Valley Golf Team
June 11, 2025

Good morning. This is your Happy Valley Golf Team newsletter. Let’s get it!

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

  • The 2025 U.S. Open Preview: Oakmont returns to ruin scorecards and souls.

  • Scottie’s Grand Slam Chase: +275 odds and not even sweating—yet.

  • Sand Hills Deep Dive: Minimalist golf heaven… if you survive the dirt road.

  • Betting Picks: Chalk, sleepers, and a 40-1 JT play that smells like value.

P.S: If you want to read any previous editions of the newsletter you can on our website and if you were forwarded this email you can subscribe here.

P.P.S: HVGT Newsletter is free. It will always be free. That’s thanks to the support of our sponsors. We’d love if you could take a moment to check them out.

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

Unsolicited Golf Tips

Golf Trivia

Which golfer won the U.S. Open with the largest margin of victory in tournament history?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

2025 US Open Preview

The Beast Awakens at Oakmont

Welcome to golf's annual torture chamber, folks. The 125th US Open returns to Oakmont Country Club this Thursday, where dreams go to die and egos get humbled faster than a crypto bro in a bear market. This Pennsylvania beast has hosted more US Opens than any other course (this marks #10), and it's never—not once—let a winner finish better than 5-under par.

Think you know tough golf? Think again. Even Scottie Scheffler, who makes winning look easier than ordering coffee, called Oakmont "probably the hardest golf course that we'll play... maybe ever". When the world's #1 player sounds worried, you know we're in for a wild ride.

Key Storylines: Drama Level = Maximum

The Scheffler Steamroller

Scottie's currently priced at +275 odds—the shortest favourite in a major since Tiger was doing Tiger things back in 2009. The man has won three of his last four starts, including the PGA Championship, and he's basically playing a different sport than everyone else right now. This week, he gets his shot at the third leg of the career Grand Slam.

Bryson's Back-to-Back Bid

Defending champ Bryson DeChambeau is hunting history. Only Brooks Koepka has successfully defended a US Open title this century (2017-18), and DeChambeau's aggressive style seems perfectly suited for Oakmont's "hit it far and figure it out later" philosophy.

Rory's Redemption Arc

After missing the cut in Canada last week, Rory McIlroy (+1200) needs to bounce back quickly. The good news? He's already completed the career Grand Slam this year with his Masters win, so the pressure's off. The bad news? His approach game ranks 71st on tour this season—not ideal for a course that punishes wayward iron shots.

Oakmont: Where Golf Swings Go to Die

The Numbers Game

  • Length: 7,342 yards, Par 70

  • Fairway Width: Averaging just 28 yards (good luck)

  • Rough Height: 5 inches of Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and poa annua that'll eat your golf ball for breakfast

Signature Torture Devices

The Church Pews (Holes 3-4)
The most famous bunker in golf just got even nastier. After Gil Hanse's 2023 renovation, this 2/3-acre sand trap now features 13 grass "pews" that look like church benches. It's 100 yards long and positioned perfectly to catch anyone who thinks they can muscle their way around Oakmont.

The 8th Hole: Par-3 From Hell
At 289 yards, it's the longest par-3 in major championship history. The green might be unreachable for some players, and anything left finds the 100-yard-long "Sahara" bunker. Par here feels like birdie anywhere else.

The Closing Stretch
The 17th is drivable at 312 yards, but the green is the smallest on the course with a gaping "Big Mouth" bunker waiting for aggressive shots. The 18th demands one final climb to the clubhouse, with angled fairway bunkers deep enough to swallow multi-shot leads.

Historical Brutality

In 2007, Oakmont posted the highest cumulative scoring average of any US Open this century, with Angel Cabrera winning at 5-over. The average winning score over the last seven US Opens here? Nearly 281 strokes. Translation: expect carnage.

The Chalk Play

Scottie Scheffler (+275) - Yeah, it's boring, but the man is literally the best at everything right now. He leads the tour in strokes gained off the tee AND approach play—exactly what Oakmont demands. At these odds for a major, it's still value.

The Contrarian Special

Justin Thomas (+4000) - JT's having a career renaissance with his first win since 2022 at RBC Heritage. He's currently 4th in FedEx Cup standings and leads the tour in putting average. At 40-1 odds for a two-time major champion? That's disrespectful.

The Trend to Watch

Ball-striking over bombs: The last seven Oakmont winners averaged 281 strokes. This isn't about who hits it farthest—it's about who hits it most precisely. Target players who rank highly in both driving accuracy and greens in regulation.

The Sleeper Pick

Patrick Cantlay (+4000) - Four straight top-15 finishes at the US Open, including T3 last year. He skipped last week to prep for Oakmont, and at 42-1, he's criminally undervalued for someone with his major championship pedigree.

Bottom Line: Oakmont doesn't care about your world ranking, your recent form, or your fancy equipment. It only respects precision, patience, and the ability to grind out pars when the wheels start falling off. Buckle up—this one's going to hurt so good.

News You Need to Know

Golf Courses We Want to Play: Sand Hills Golf Club

The Middle-of-Nowhere Masterpiece

In the remote sandhills of Nebraska sits a golf course so special that diehards will travel to the literal middle of nowhere just to play it. Sand Hills Golf Club isn't just another exclusive private track—it's the course that changed modern golf architecture and sparked the minimalist revolution.

Why It's Special

When Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw arrived at this site in the early '90s, they found over 130 natural golf holes just waiting to be discovered. Instead of moving mountains of dirt, they simply chose the best 18 ready-made holes that emerged from the rolling dunes. The result? A course that looks like it's been there forever, with wide fairways, natural "blowout" bunkers, and fescue rough that'll make you feel like you're playing links golf 1,500 miles from any ocean.

The Course Breakdown

Sand Hills plays at 7,089 yards from the tips with a par of 71. The fairways are generous (thank goodness), but miss them and those crater-like bunkers will eat your lunch. The greens are massive, undulating, and firm—allowing you to play the ground game like you're at St. Andrews, except you're in beef country.

Standout holes include the short par-4 7th (where you'll see more 6s than 3s), the spectacular par-3 17th (the most photographed hole on the course), and the 18th, a brute of a finishing hole that rewards anyone brave enough to challenge the bunkers.

Getting There (Half the Adventure)

Let's be clear: this isn't a casual detour on your business trip. Sand Hills is a commitment. Your options:

  1. Fly to Denver, then drive 5.5 hours northeast

  2. Fly to North Platte, Nebraska (via Denver or Chicago), then drive an hour north

  3. Private jet to North Platte (if that's how you roll)

Once you're close, look for mile marker 55 on NE-97 south of Mullen (population: 554), then turn right at the Sand Hills sign. Drive another 2.5 miles on a dirt road, and you've arrived.

Where to Stay

The club has rustic cabins that sleep about 55 people total. They're comfortable but not luxurious—no granite countertops or spa amenities here. The best part? Your cabin overlooks the Dismal River (yes, that's really its name) with rocking chairs on the porch for post-round beers. And don't worry about locking up—there are no keys because, well, who's going to break in out here?

When to Go

The club is only open for four months each year, typically May through October, making tee times precious. The Nebraska weather can be unpredictable, but early summer and early fall offer your best shot at ideal conditions.

Why It's Worth the Bucket List Spot

Sand Hills isn't just a golf course—it's a pure golf experience. No distractions, no noise, just you and one of the world's greatest courses. The minimalist design has influenced virtually every great course built since 1995. Golf architecture nerds call it "the most important American golf course since Augusta National".

Plus, the laid-back vibe is the antithesis of stuffy country clubs—no dress code police here. Just remember: it's private, so you'll need a member invitation. Start making friends now.

When you finally make it, you'll understand why golf purists speak of Sand Hills in hushed, reverent tones—and why it was worth every mile of that long, dusty drive.

What'd you think of this weeks edition?

Your feedback helps us create the best newsletter possible.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Cody.