If you are a golf nerd, you must have heard about the golf club of Oklahoma. The Southern Hills is the only golf club to host five PGA championships. You, too, can play on this historic course by becoming a member. Wondering how much the Southern hills country club membership costs?
The monthly fee can go from $495 to $3000, depending on the category. The most affordable category has to be the junior associate package. It is reserved for children and students. The Director and Eagle category is suitable for players who want more access.
From Tiger Woods to Justin Thomas, all your favorites have played here. Every inch of the green course has an historical reference. Want to join the legacy of becoming a member? Then, keep reading to find out about the monthly and annual membership cost as well as the application process.
How Much Do You Have To Pay To Be A Member At The Southern Hills Club?
The membership cost for any golf club is quite high. And, why not? It takes an army to care for the greenery you enjoy. And with the southern hills country club, you pay to play on the same course where your idols played and won. So, expect the charges to be expensive.
Go through the table below to understand each membership category’s price range and facilities.
| Perks Of Each Membership Category | Associate | Director | Eagle |
| Handicap Card | Available | Available | Available |
| Cart Access | Not Applicable | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Range Access | Not Applicable | Available (up to two baskets per day) | Available (up to two baskets per day) |
| Days Available For Tee Time | Monday- Friday anytimeII. Saturday-Sunday after 12 PmIII. Exclude holidays | Monday- Friday anytimeII. Saturday-Sunday and holidays after 12 Pm | Any Day Any Time Access (except the Labor Day for 7to 11 am only). |
| Monthly Fee For A Basic Package | $1495 | $1995 | $2375 |
| Monthly Fee For Shared Membership | Share The Membership with spouse or partner for $1935 | Share the membership with your spouse of partner for $2745 | Share the membership with your spouse of partner for $3175 |
Associate Membership
The demand to be an associate member is the highest. Especially if you are a student who wants to hone his skills, you will love this affordable package. For juniors, southern hills charge only $495 as monthly membership fees. The fee will increase ($749) if you add some extra range to this package. That’s still a good deal.
Director Membership
Go for the director membership if you like to play more on weekends. It’s perfect for players who are only free on weekends. It comes with range access. So you don’t have to ask for it separately.
Eagle Membership
And lastly, if you want all-time access, be a prestigious eagle. You will have access to all the facilities with this card. Unlimited carts, range availability, any-time access are some of the perks of being an Eagle. Southern Hills will feel like your home.
How Do You Become A Member At The Southern Hills Country Club?
Southern Hills has decided to limit the membership availability. This way, they can ensure enough available tee time for their existing members. If you want to become a member, the process will take a while.
Step-1: Register For The First Tee Of Tulsa
Teenagers under 18 have a great opportunity of playing at the country club for free. Yes, you don’t have to pay for the junior package. It’s a charitable program arranged by the golf club of Oklahoma to support and encourage children.
It’s absolutely free to join. Enjoy the perks of playing at your favorite course till you are 18.
Step-2: Become A Member-In-Waiting
Unfortunately, being able to afford the hefty initiation fee doesn’t get you an early tee time. According to rules, you have to become a member-in-waiting. Each membership category (associate, director, eagle) comes with a member-in-waiting option.
In this stage, you must pay 50% of the designated monthly fee for each category. But you can’t expect to book your desired tee time. Start the procedure by giving them a shout out here.
Step-3: Pay An Initiation Fee
Once the membership for the new season reopens, you get the first chance to roll in. Of course, it is not obligatory to become a member. But you get a call to join the members after being in the waiting-list for a while.
The initiation fee to become a member is rumored to be around $100,000. After the fee is paid, you only have to bear the modest monthly charge.
Why Is Southern Hills Considered The Best Golf Course?- A Brief History
The southern hills golf course ranked 30th on America’s 100 best golf courses of all-time. That’s a great achievement, for sure. So, here we will dive deep into its history and design to learn why it’s so great and iconic.
Let’s start our quest.
Where Is It Located?
Southern Hills Country Club is situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That’s why it is also called the golf club of Oklahoma. The 330 acres golf course, along with a 70,000-square-foot clubhouse, is the most attractive construction in south Tulsa till now. Check out the address and other contact information to secure your visit.
- Address: 2636 (east), 61st street Tulsa, 74136 (Oklahoma), United States Of America.
- Contact Number: (918) 492-3351
- Email: [email protected].
- Opening Hours: 8 am to 10 pm (closed on Monday).
- Official Website: https://www.southernhillscc.com/
Who Designed The Golf Course?
Perry Maxwell originally designed the golf course. His specialty was keeping the course greens as close to nature as possible. He slightly curved the existing landscape to make the game more challenging. He was a genius in his field.
It took 1935 to 1936 to complete his vision. Later in 2019, the whole course was redesigned by Gill Hanse. The purpose was to redefine Maxwell’s original vision with modern technology.
If you recall, Maxwell designed the course during the great depression. Many wonder how one of the most luxurious golf courses was designed and established during such an economic crisis. Well, that’s a pretty interesting story.
Waite Phillips, a wealthy oilman, was the head of the National Bank of Tulsa in 1935. Bill Warren and Cecil Canary approached him to donate some money for a family-oriented golf course.
There were lots of debates considering the economic crisis. However, Phillips agreed to donate his 330 acres of land for the future golf club. It was then fully financed by its founding members.
The clubhouse was initially 10,000 sq ft giving off a country house vibe. Over time, it has expanded to over 70,000 to provide new amenities to its members.
Major Events Hosted In The Golf Course Of Oklahoma
Since its opening in 1936, the club has hosted 17 major events. The list includes 5 PGA championships till now as well as 3 U.S Open Championships. It is all set to organize two tournaments for the U.S Women’s Amateur in 2024.
Let’s look at the list of all major championships hosted here.
| Year | Event | Winner |
| 1958 | U.S Open Championship | Tommy Bolt |
| 1970 | PGA Championship | Dave Stockton |
| 1977 | U.S Open Championship | Hubert Green |
| 1982 | PGA Championship | Raymond Floyd |
| 1994 | PGA Championship | Nick Price |
| 2001 | U.S Open Championship | Retief Goosen |
| 2007 | PGA Championship | Tiger Woods |
| 2022 | PGA Championship | Justin Thomas |
How Hard Is The Southern Hills Golf Course?
As much as the golf course of Oklahoma is the dream of any player, it can be hard to play your usual. Even pro players dread the bunkers and creek design. We have already mentioned the 2019 reshaping project undertaken by Gill Hanse. He restored the creeks, increasing the difficulty level even more.
According to pros, the 18th hole is a beast. It’s hard to win here at par 4. And the 2nd hole is the most demanding as it only requires 230 yards of carrying to reach the fairway.
Take a quick sneak-peak at the par of each hole.
| Holes (in) | Par | Holes (out) | Par |
| 1 | 4 (451 yards) | 10 | 4 (406 yards) |
| 2 | 4 (455 yards) | 11 | 3 (173 yards) |
| 3 | 4 (406 yards) | 12 | 4 (436 yards) |
| 4 | 4 (377 yards) | 13 | 5 (529 yards) |
| 5 | 5 (600 yards) | 14 | 3 (204 yards) |
| 6 | 3 (188 yards) | 15 | 4 (417) |
| 7 | 4 (424 yards) | 16 | 4 (485 yards) |
| 8 | 3 (220 yards) | 17 | 4 (342 yards) |
| 9 | 4 (395 yards) | 18 | 4 (460 yards) |
What Are The Amenities Offered To A Southern Hills Golf Club Member?
The southern hills golf club seems to be a fascinating playground. But what else can you do here except learning & playing golf? Let’s take a look at the amenities provided to members.
1. Fitness corner
The multi-purpose health and fitness corner is a major attraction of the clubhouse. It has a well-furnished fitness space with the necessary cardio and strength training equipment.
It’s alright if you don’t like exercising with heavy equipment. You can join the yoga and Pilates classes. Apart from that, you have access to massages and physical therapy to release stress.
2. Swimming Pool
Southern Hills Club House was designed with a swimming pool in 1936. Swimming pools were quite rare during that time. And the pool still continues to be a means of fun and relaxation for the members.
The clubhouse has an attached 25-meter pool. You get both 1-meter and 3-meter options for dive boards. Another interesting area is the fun pool with slides around it. Children will love that area especially.
You can also enjoy lunch and summer from the shaded deck with umbrellas. The swimming area also comes with a designated snack and coffee bar.
3.Tennis Courts
Bored playing golf the whole day? You can try the exquisite tennis courts restricted for members only. Currently, the southern hills country club owns 12 tennis courts.
You will see six outdoor courts and four fully-lighted indoor courts. Also, don’t forget the two clay courts for adventure-loving players. If you want professional training, you have access to top-class USPTA-certified experts at your disposal. Learn and play any time you want.
4. Social Connection
If there’s one sport that values social connection the most, it is golf. After a point of time, playing golf together becomes the best way to catch up with old friends. You learn skills from each other and discuss personal and professional lives around a breathtaking view.
The golf club serves all the facilities required for you to enjoy a Sunday morning with your best buddies. Even if you don’t know someone personally, there are many opportunities to build new connections here.
FAQ’s
Before we wrap up this discussion, let’s take a moment to answer some of your most searched queries regarding the golf club of Oklahoma.
Who Designed The Southern Hills Golf Club?
Perry Maxwell primarily designed the southern hills golf course. But not many people know that this celebrated golf course architect designed only the front and back holes only. As for the west course and its nine holes, they were designed by Bill Coore. Also, in 2019 a renovation project was led by Gill Hanse.
Is The Southern Hills Golf Course Beginner friendly?
According to pro players, some holes, including the 10th, 2nd, and 18th, can be quite demanding. If you are a newbie in this sport with a high handicap score, you will dread the creek design.
The dangerous part is that it doesn’t look difficult at first glance. Once you start practicing, scoring from the tee and the green is hard. That’s why Southern Hills has been chosen many times to arrange the PGA championship.
Which Golfers Play Well At The Southern Hills Country Club?
Each golf course favors a certain type of skill. For the southern hills golf course, it used to be a long and balanced hit that would avoid the rough patch. But the course has changed significantly after the renovation.
New bunkers have been placed in replacement of trees. Overall, the new southern hills golf course doesn’t favor any specific skill. It depends on how much you understand the course.
What Type Of Greens Are At Southern Hills?
The greens are covered with bent grasses. This type of grass is considered the best during summertime. And the surrounding area of the greens has Bermuda grasses.
It’s tough to keep the grass alive by manual watering and feeding. Recently southern hills installed underground tubes that automatically feed the greens without help. This step ensures that the greens are intact for a long time.
How Many Head Golf Professionals Has Oakland Hills Had?
Oakland Hills boasts of retaining nine head golf professionals. The first of them was the legendary Walter Hagen. He won the U.S Open Championship against Mike Brady in 1919.
Once he retired, the job went to none other than Mike Brady. Following their legacy, the Oakland Hills chose Steve Brady as the head professional. He was a Celebrated NFL player.
Conclusion
Southern hills country club has something exceptional that makes it stand apart from the others. It has a history and a legacy. Walking through the history wall, you can see all the memorabilia.
Not just that, Southern Hills has the elements to challenge even an experienced golfer. If you want to be at the top of your game, there’s no place better than southern hills country club.
If not, you should visit the golf course for its immense architecture. It’s by far the best design by Perry Maxwell. Who knows? You might fall in love with the famous Maxwell’s rolls.