OAKMONT, Pa. — Despite being a major six-lane highway cutting through one of the most esteemed golf courses, the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Oakmont remains surprisingly inconspicuous. Although the aerial view reveals a stark contrast with a broad expressway and railway, separating the course significantly, this presence is barely noticeable at ground level and does not distract from the course’s layout.
“It’s quite extraordinary how quiet it really is,” said David Moore, the Oakmont historian. Moore, who is well-versed in the course’s history, noted how this section of the Turnpike, known technically as Interstate 76, was originally just a train track slicing through Oakmont, the venue for this week’s U.S. Open.
Reflecting on historical accounts, Moore recalled: “Old history notes mention how, before the diesel-powered trains came, soot would cover the first green and ninth tee,” due to steam trains passing by and releasing smoke everywhere.
Unlike the charmingly infamous Road Hole at St. Andrews, the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Oakmont lacks quaintness and does not—or perhaps should not—impact the game significantly. With its notoriously challenging greens and intense rough, Oakmont presents enough difficulty without adding the challenge of clearing long-haul trucks.
The course is split, with holes 2-8 located east of the highway and the remaining holes positioned to the west. The Turnpike is nearly unnoticeable due to the elevation change that dips down toward the highway; it appears mainly as a gap in the landscape. Despite its proximity, wayward golf balls rarely reach the road, though there are a couple of memorable incidents.
Moore recounted the tale of Cary Middlecoff, who, after hitting toward the highway on the 10th hole in 1953, withdrew from the event in frustration. A similar incident involved Tom Weiskopf in 1983, where a golf ball from the 8th hole landed on a passing train, infamously making its way to Cleveland. “Local lore claims it was the longest tee shot ever hit,” Moore joked.
While the highway poses minimal risk to play, it can create logistical challenges for spectators. Even with an additional footbridge implemented after previous U.S. Opens, bottlenecking is a potential issue as fans cross the highway, inspired partially by some drivers honking as they drove by the tournament.
Although foot traffic across the Turnpike isn’t particularly slow, it creates enough congestion to discourage frequent crossing back and forth. Fencing on one side and a wall on the other obscure the road from view, although the latter does more to dampen the sound of the traffic below.
For those aiming for a view of the thoroughfare, the area behind the 10th green offers a vantage point as the Turnpike heads north toward the Allegheny River. Alternatively, a grandstand at the 12th green provides a glimpse of traffic heading in the opposite direction.
Overall, the expansive layout of Oakmont means the highway becomes a mere footnote amidst a landscape hosting a world-class sporting event. “You hardly even notice it,” Moore emphasized. “Aside from the view at hole 12, the road is mostly out of sight.”