Beyond Oakmont, many West Penn courses benefit from a U.S. Open
By Mike Dudurich, Contributing Writer • June 10, 2025
In days gone by, the arrival of the U.S. Open at a golf course or club near you in mid-June meant a couple things.
Golf fans traveled from great distances to witness the best players in the world take on one of best layouts in the country.
And while those fans were in town to watch, they also wanted to play.
As a result, a week-long cottage industry was born, one that has put smiles on the faces visiting golfers, money into bank accounts of courses and clubs and, hopefully, a down-to-the-wire finish on the 72nd hole at the Open site.
Private clubs at one point would limit — and even close — member play during Open week, opting instead to allow corporations to schedule play for their employees. That came at a cost, of course, and a nice pay day for clubs and public courses.
Times have changed over the years in terms of how much golf is being played, and rarely are courses shut down in favor of corporate visitors, regardless if the price reaches $500 per player.
"Our membership categories are filled at every level," said Chartiers Country Club head professional Joe Klinchock. "We have a lot of demand for tee times. Tuesday will be the only day where members can entertain clients. It won't be outside play, just members and guests."
Cory Livingston is the professional at The Club at Nevillewood and is well aware of how busy Western Pennsylvania will be that week.
"We're going to have shotgun starts every day at 8 a.m., followed by lunch and then people can head over to Oakmont if they want in the afternoon," he said. "We look at it as being able to take advantage of the situation and give the members a chance to play in the afternoon. We're not going to be doing anything crazy, but we know the entire world is going to be in Western Pennsylvania that week."
Olde Stonewall Golf Course is a little further from this week’s golf epicenter than some others, but that hasn't stopped golfers from far and wide from finding and enjoying it.
"In 2016, a gentleman came into the shop and identified himself as being from a social media blogger from Japan," Olde Stonewall professional Sean Swidzinski recalled. "He said we would become very popular back in Japan and he was right. He took pictures all over the place and it wasn't long before we started getting tee time requests from there. And many of them told us they were aware of us because of the blogger."
Swidzinski has been a golf professional for enough years to have attained ‘veteran’ status, and knows that getting on social media — getting thousands of views — many times leads to tee times and nice bottom lines.
A few weeks ago, Swidzinski's quick look at the tee sheet for Open week showed that Tuesday, Friday and Saturday were full. In 2007, during that edition of the U.S. Open at Oakmont, 11,000 rounds were played locally.
He anticipates similar numbers, with weather being the omnipresent factor.
"It's going to be very busy for everybody, and it puts the spotlight on golf and that makes the week great for everybody," Swidzinski said.
Clubs and public courses will be open this week, unlike those times decades ago when courses limited play to corporate folks from out of town. And, while many facilities make their layouts available to corporate play and/or members and their guests, members can still make tee times when available.
At some places, a foursome (member and three corporate friends or colleagues) the bill works out to a tidy $2,000.
"We had a lot of interest," said St. Clair Country Club pro Jay Mull. "We certainly see this as an opportunity for our members and the club."
St. Clair is in the midst of a $45 million project on the course, the clubhouse and pro shop.
Most of the shotgun starts will have 8 a.m. tee times, finishing around noon. After a quick lunch, there will be plenty of time to get over to Oakmont to watch the best players in the world test their games and luck at one of the toughest courses on the planet.
At Sewickley Heights Country Club, head pro Steve Hopley said they would have morning shotguns Tuesday through Friday.
"We're definitely going to try to capitalize on the business that week," he said. "Focus will still be on Member play, but we think we can do the Member-Guest philosophy we have here. It's a special time for our course, it really is."
Michael Quinteros hasn't been at the Field Club all that long, but like his brethren in the pro ranks, he's thinking similar thoughts.
"It will put the spotlight on golf, and it's great for everybody," he said.
Fox Chapel Golf Club, just across from the Field Club, will be following its' neighbors' with shotguns and regular play starting early in the afternoon, according to caddie Mark Nigro.
"It will be a very busy week, that's for sure," Nigro said. "And another thing we'll be doing is having some Oakmont members over to Fox Chapel to play, while their course will be having a busy week."
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.