In May of 2006, Oak Tree will host the 67th Senior PGA Championship. Here's all the information you need on the event, the players, the course, the city, transportation, accomodations and more.
The Event
To be held May 22-28 at the Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma, the 67th Senior PGA Championship is the top event for Champion golfers over the age of 50.The tradition began in 1937 at Augusta National Golf Club, and the years since have seen domination but such big names in the golfing world as Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Hale Irwin.
The Players
The field of 156 players for the 67th Senior PGA in Edmond begins with 2005 Champion Mike Reid and also includes many of the sport's top Seniors with multiple Championships and accolades between the group.Among the field:
- Tom Watson (Senior PGA Champion - 2001)
- Hale Irwin (Senior PGA Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004)
- Tom Wargo (Senior PGA Champion - 1993)
- Doug Tewell (Senior PGA Champion - 2000)
- Fuzzy Zoeller (Senior PGA Champion - 2002)
- Raymond Floyd (Senior PGA Champion - 1995)
- Curtis Strange
- Tom Kite
- Mark James
The Course
Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma is often called one of the more challenging layouts. Designed by Pete Dye, the course is a par-71, 7,419 yard beauty with often steep terrain and a variety of water holes. Golf Digest Magazine once referred to it as having "...optical illusions throughout the course that play upon the minds of golfers."One of those illusions is caused by the course's plentiful trees. Some players say it makes the landing areas appear much smaller than they actually are. The greens were recently rebuilt, and the grounds are certainly top-notch aesthetically.
The PGA's website has an incredible hole-by-hole course overview online. Among the highlights:
- Widely varied course with everything from sand to thick rough.
- 451 yard, par-4 first hole with a left-sliding downhill considered to be anything but welcoming.
- 592 yard, par-5 third with right to left dogleg - the course designer's favorite.
- 466 yard, par-4 eleventh with elevated green and deep bunker - named as toughest 11 hole in country by PGA.
- 16th hole, once called "the hangman's noose," features a green protected by a creek and two large bunkers.
