Few American courses carry the weight of history that Southern Hills does. Designed by Perry Maxwell and opened in 1936, it stands as one of the country's most celebrated championship venues — a stern, cerebral test rooted in the golden age of golf architecture. Maxwell's routing makes masterful use of the rolling Creek Nation terrain south of downtown Tulsa, with tree-lined fairways that tumble and twist through ravines and creek crossings. Gil Hanse completed a significant restoration in 2021 that returned the course closer to Maxwell's original vision while preparing it for modern championship play.
The resume is remarkable: Southern Hills has hosted more combined USGA and PGA of America championships than virtually any other venue, including multiple U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. Rory McIlroy claimed the 2022 PGA Championship here, underlining the course's continued relevance at the highest level.
As a private club in Tulsa, it sits firmly in the conversation of America's great inland courses — demanding shotmaking, relentless strategic pressure, and a setting that feels genuinely earned.
