Remodeled Oak Tree National to Host 2014 U.S. Senior Open

Oak Tree National in Edmond, Okla., has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the site for the 2014 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

The course, designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1976 under the name of Oak Tree Golf Club, was named for a majestic oak tree on the fifth hole. At the time of the opening, Dye called it the finest inland course he had ever built.

In April 2009, the name was changed to Oak Tree National. In July, Tripp Davis, with Dye serving as a consultant, renovated the course. The work involved resodding the fairways with Bermuda U-3 turf, rebuilding the driving range (now called Oak Tree National Teaching Facility), reshaping some of the greens, replacing the irrigation system for better conditioning and water efficiency, rebuilding the bunkers with new drainage and sand, adding new bunkers, and laser-leveling all the tee boxes.

"This is an exciting day in Oak Tree National's championship history," said club owner Ed Evans when the USGA announcement was made. "We believe we will have a great test of golf for this national championship. We are honored to be working with the USGA to host the 2014 U.S. Senior Open, and we look forward to having all of our members, the contestants and the fans out to Oak Tree National."

The 2014 U.S. Senior Open will be the second USGA championship to be played at Oak Tree National, following the 1984 U.S. Amateur Championship won by Scott Verplank, who resides in Edmond and attended Oklahoma State University.

Other major golf events played at Oak Tree National were the 1988 PGA Championship won by Jeff Sluman and the 2006 Senior PGA Championship won by Jay Haas.

The 2010 U.S. Senior Open will be played at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., July 29-August 1; the 2011 championship will be held at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, July 28-31; the 2012 championship will be conducted at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich., July 12-15; and the 2013 championship will be held at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club, August 1-4.