Who can believe there is more to Oakmont than golf? Well, in some respects it’s in the eyes of the beholder. If you ask the local Swat Group who live, eat and breathe Oakmont golf there isn’t anything more to life! Many of my links buddies rate the two best courses in America as Pine Valley and Oakmont, and they’re not sure which one reigns supreme. Now these guys are true golf Nazis.


One of them, Chris O’Donnell from West Chester Country Club plays the top 10 courses every two years. We happened to be in the clubhouse at Oakmont when he birdied No. 18. His first move was to order a bottle of Jordan Cabernet from Napa. On my first visit, I think if someone mentioned Jordan, most would think they were talking about the country or the basketball player!
What a transformation! This upper echelon club offers more than great golf. Oakmont does eight or more special wine dinners yearly, hosting California vineyards like Lolonis, BR Cohn and numerous European ones.

Once again it hosts the U.S. Open in 2007 in June--more than any other club in America. The attendees will be entertained with names like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Phil Michelson, etc, but when they see the vistas from the clubhouse they’ll be in total awe. I can assure you that the guests won’t be disappointed in the service.
Mr. Fownes founded and built the Club. He loved golf but indulged in many of the finer things in life including single malt scotch, Cuban Cigars, and driving his Duesenberg to the club. Billy K., now 92, caddying in the ‘35 Open can remember Mr. Fownes and his son “WC Jr.” who said that during the depression the steel family put a lot of people to work, and every one of them remembers the old Oakmont days. Billy recalled that caddies used to get $1 a bag and that was waiting in line with 300 other caddies for the day’s opportunity!

Other golf legends have been partaking in more than their sport in recent years. Since 2003 Arnold Palmer (Member of Oakmont Country Club) and long time local resident in nearby Latrobe, has been collaborator with his old friend of the grape Mike Moone, owner of Luna Vineyards in Napa. Another creative winemaker, Mike Drash, is now presenting 2003 Cabernet and Chardonnay which is offered at Bay Hill Country Club as well as Pebble Beach.
 Rumor has it that Arnold Palmer Wines will be unveiling a high-end Cabernet sometime during or after 2007, and I’ve no doubt that Palmer’s legion of fans, “Arnie’s Army,” will be buying up this wine as soon as it hits the wine stores shelves.

Entering the wine world in 2004 was former Open Champion (1994) at Oakmont Country Club, Ernie Els. Little did he know that 10 years after winning, he’d be an Oakmont Country Club member and owner of a South African vineyard! Nestled into Stellenbosch South Africa is Englebrecht-Els Winery. Jean Engelbrecht, a longtime friend of the golfing great and a wine aficionado, develops vintages that are of classic Bordeaux style, and have garnered wide acclaim from world-wide rating experts.
The Shark, Greg Norman, is one of the first golfers to lend his name to wine. His early productions were in his native Australia with winemaker Andrew Hales. These selections include most of the normal varietals such as Shiraz which is so well done in Australia. Next going to America, Norman started collaborating with wine artist, Ron Schrieve to produce some outstanding ones from Santa Barbara to the North Coast in California.


    There are some 48 Corporate Tents on hand for this event sponsored by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) approximately 35,000 people a day hovering over the course on all sides. I talked to Ken Urish whose company is sponsoring a tent in Fownes Village with Corporate Jet, Marsh McLennan, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ken mentioned that some 100 daily guests will be attending their corporate facility.
He likes French wine and has designed his menu around their various regions. Seven days and seven nights of entertaining. The Sausage Brothers, Mark and Robbie Hofmann, made their mark by selling sausage to McDonalds and are adjacent to the Urish Tent with an Irish German menu for their guests.

Who do the locals think will win the Open? Well, Bob Ford, Oakmont Golf Pro is the odds-on favorite. Beyond that most wonder what Tiger Woods will do since he hasn’t played the course before 2007 (Tiger has been reported to be a big wine fan). Whoever ends up with the trophy, let’s just hope they enjoy the splendid week at Oakmont, just minutes away from beautiful downtown Pittsburgh.


One thing is for certain: The U.S. Open is “the hot ticket in sports,” right up there with the World Series, Final Four, and the Super Bowl!With Oakmont restored to its bygone splendor, I recently enjoyed a morning round with Trebor and a heavy fog as our companion. We thought our eyes were playing tricks on us when, in the mist, a man appeared in knickers ahead of us.
Upon returning to the Clubhouse, we were told there wasn’t anyone before of us on the course. It must’ve been the god of wine and good times—Bacchus! Or maybe it was Mr. Fownes! I’m sure neither would miss this U.S. Open for anything in the world.

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