Our favorite U.S. Open golf courses

The New Jersey track has hosted the U.S. Open seven times, the second-most in history. However, it has not done so since 1993, when Lee Janzen won his first of two. The New York City area club's Upper and Lower Courses have each played host to a men's and women's U.S. Open, so there is obviously plenty of history when it comes to the event. Jack Nicklaus won the Open twice (1967, 1980) here. 

The Black Course has entertained the U.S. Open twice — both this century, in 2002 and 2009. Long considered one of the toughest, yet fairest, courses in tournament golf, Bethpage was the site of last month's PGA Championship, won by Brooks Koepka. At the '02 Open, Tiger Woods won his second major of the kind. Lucas Glover then prevailed during a rain-soaked '09 tournament.

In 2022, the famed Country Club just outside Boston will host its fourth U.S. Open and first since 1988. There's also a good chance that event's winner might be determined by a playoff, considering the previous three there were. One of the founding clubs of what made up the United States Golf Association (USGA), Brookline exudes golf history and holds a special place in the hearts of those professionals who have taken on its challenging layout.

This Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course along the Puget Sound south of Tacoma, Washington., made its U.S. Open debut in 2015. Jordan Spieth tamed the lengthy Chambers Bay track, which received criticism for its rocky greens and somewhat difficult logistics for spectators. Maybe that controversy is what we like about Chambers Bay: It's different, and some members of golf's stuffy, old guard don't want to adapt.

For decades, Congressional has been a popular spot with PGA Tour members as a regular stop on the schedule. The legendary Blue Course has also hosted three U.S. Opens, with Ken Venturi winning the first major hosted there in 1964. Ernie Els won in 1997 and Rory McIlroy claimed his initial major championship at the suburban Washington D.C. track at the 2011 U.S. Open.

North of Milwaukee, Erin Hills opened in 2006 but is considered a budding star in the eyes of the USGA. After after hosting the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links (2008) and the U.S. Amateur (2011), Erin Hills got its shot at the 2017 U.S. Open — the first to be held in Wisconsin. Brooks Koepka won at 16 under, but most of the players were big fans of a course that will host the U.S. Women's Open in 2025. 

Another great Midwest course with plenty of tradition, Tony Jacklin won by seven strokes in the first of the Minnesota club's two U.S. Opens in 1970. However, it was Payne Stewart's 1991 victory in a Monday playoff over Scott Simpson that goes down as one of the most entertaining U.S. Opens in history. 

Byron Nelson was the head professional, and legend has it the idea for the Ryder Cup was conceived at the Ohio course. Talk about history. In terms of U.S. Open annals, Inverness has been the site of the tournament on four occasions. The first came in 1920 and the latest in 1979 when Hale Irwin won for the second time.

Merion hosted the U.S. Open five times, and those resulted in some of the most memorable moments in major golf history. In 1950 Ben Hogan claimed his second U.S. Open title with the "Miracle at Merion" in a playoff, a little more than a year after being seriously injured in a car accident. On the suburban Philadelphia course in '71, Lee Trevino outdueled Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. 

This is another in the long list of legendary New York courses to call the U.S. Open home. That happened three times (1956, '68 and '89). Cary Middlecoff edged Ben Hogan and Julius Boros in the first of those. Lee Trevino got the best of Jack Nicklaus for the 1968 win, and Curtis Strange won the second of his back-to-back championships in its most recent turn.

Ralph Guldahl and Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open at this popular suburban Detroit club, which has hosted the event six times. Steve Jones won the last in 1996, but it still has its place in tournament golf history. In addition to its U.S. Open past, Oakland Hills has hosted PGA Championships, U.S. Amateurs, U.S. Senior Opens and the Ryder Cup.

No course has hosted the U.S. Open more than Oakmont's nine. It will be an even 10 come 2025. The famed Pittsburgh-area course is unique for its rich tradition of golf and the fact the Pennsylvania Turnpike runs through it. Tommy Armour, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and Dustin Johnson have all won the U.S. Open on one of the most historic courses in the world. 

This south suburban Chicago course has hosted the U.S. Open just two times, first in 1928 and not again until Jim Furyk won in 2003. Founded more than 100 years ago, Olympia is known for its tight layout, bevy of trees and famed clock tower clubhouse. It's unique location along a commuter train line also adds to the aura.

A truly special place, where the streets of San Francisco are visible from certain points, this club is nearly 160 years old and played host to the U.S. Open five times. Perhaps the most memorable of those events came at its first in 1955, when little-known Jack Fleck stunned legend Ben Hogan by winning in an 18-hole playoff.

Depending on who is doing the talking, Pebble Beach's place in U.S. Open lore draws various opinions. It can be too easy — like when Tiger dominated with a 12-under score and 15-stroke win in 2000 — or too hard, as Patrick Cantlay hinted to recently. Regardless, Pebble is as iconic as they come and anytime a major is played there, in addition to its regular tour stop, it's a special moment. The U.S. Open, which made many memories at Pebble thanks to the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, is already slated to be back there in 2027.

Ten years after hosting its third U.S. Open, Pinehurst's famed No. 2 Course will be the site of the 2024 tournament. However, the 1999 U.S. Open still remains not only one of the most memorable in the history of the course but also in all of major golf. Payne Stewart sank a 15-footer on the final hole for the win, striking that memorable celebratory pose that's been immortalized in a statue behind the 18th hole. He died four months later in a plane crash as a result of lost cabin pressure.

Traditionally considered one of the toughest courses in the U.S. Open rotation, Shinnecock will host its sixth tournament of the kind in 2026. From James Foulis' Open win in 1896 to Corey Pavin's brilliant fairway wood approach on the Sunday 18th to give him the 1995 title to Brooks Koepka claiming the first of his two straight championships here in 2018, the Long Island course has been a historic host.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma, course has played host to seven major tournaments — three of the U.S. Open variety. Tommy Bolt overcame the heat and wind to win the 1958 title, while Hubert Green won his first major here at the 1977 U.S. Open. Then in 2001, Retief Goosen needed an 18-hole playoff to claim the Open title.

The only time Torrey Pines hosted a U.S. Open came in 2008 when golf fans were treated to one of the greatest examples of perseverance in all of sports. Playing with what we eventually learned was a broken leg and ACL tear, Tiger Woods made a memorable birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff that needed 19 holes before he outlasted Rocco Mediate. Perhaps there will be more magic in 2021 when the San Diego course gets the U.S. Open call again. 

For the sixth time, Winged Foot will host the U.S. Open next season. It will be the New York club's first since 2006. Sure, President Donald Trump has membership here, but we'll celebrate the club for its tradition. Bobby Jones won the first U.S. Open there in 1929 as result of a playoff. Billy Casper, Hale Irwin and Fuzzy Zoeller also won the U.S. Open there, while Geoff Ogilvy took advantage of Phil Mickelson's final-round struggles to win in '06.