Episode 6: The Evolution of the U.S. Open | Golf’s Toughest Major

Episode 6: The Evolution of the U.S. Open | Golf’s Toughest Major

The U.S. Open didn’t start as the massive championship we know today. In 1895, the tournament featured just 10 professionals, one amateur, and a total purse of only $335. Today, it stands as one of the four major championships in golf with millions in prize money, global television coverage, rotating championship venues, and some of the toughest course setups in professional golf. In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we’re diving into the evolution of the U.S. Open, from its origins at Newport Country Club to the modern championship played at iconic venues like Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Winged Foot, and Shinnecock Hills. Sources * United States Golf Association * PGA Tour * Oakmont Country Club * Golf Digest

Episode 5 | Oakmont Country Club: The Toughest Test in Golf

There are tough golf courses… And then there’s Oakmont. In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we’re diving into one of the most demanding and respected courses in the game, Oakmont Country Club. Built in 1903 with one goal in mind—to challenge the best players in the world, Oakmont has become synonymous with difficulty. From lightning-fast greens that can exceed 14 on the Stimpmeter to over 170 strategically placed bunkers, this course doesn’t just test your swing… It tests your patience. And your mindset. We’ll explore how Oakmont was designed, why it continues to host the U.S. Open more than any other course, and what makes it so different from other venues on the PGA Tour.

Episode 4 | RBC Heritage & Harbour Town

There’s something about watching professional golf in person that completely changes how you see the game. In this episode of Under Par Over Time, Sammy Jo takes you inside the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, a course that challenges players in a very different way than most stops on the PGA Tour. From tight fairways and some of the smallest greens on tour to the iconic tartan jacket, this tournament isn’t about power but precision. Sammy Jo also shares her personal experience attending the 2021 event with her dad, what it’s like to watch players like Dustin Johnson and Shane Lowry in person, and why this course forces even the best players in the world to think differently. Primary Sources & Tournament Info * RBC Heritage Official Website & Historical Archives * Pete Dye design philosophy (Golf Course Architects Association of America) * Harbour Town Golf Links official course information

Episode 3 | The Birth of the PGA: How Professional Golf Took Shape

Professional golf didn’t always look like it does today. In fact, it almost didn’t exist at all. In this episode of Under Par Over Time, Sammy Jo explores the origins of professional golf and how the game transformed from loosely organized tournaments into the structured system we know today. Sources & Research * PGA of America: historical archives and founding records * PGA Tour: structure, player statistics, and tournament format * USGA: early golf governance and amateur competition context * The Story of American Golf , Herbert Warren Wind * A Golf Story: Bobby Jones, Augusta National, and the Masters Tournament , Charles Price

Episode 2 | The Origins of Golf Bunkers: How Sheep Shaped the Game

Before golf course architects designed bunkers as strategic hazards, they formed naturally across the windswept linksland of Scotland. In Episode 2 of Under Par Over Time, Sammy Jo explores the surprising origins of golf bunkers.....and how sheep, coastal winds, and centuries of erosion helped shape one of the most recognizable features in the game. You’ll learn: * How Scotland’s linksland shaped the earliest golf courses * Why sheep digging into sand dunes helped create early bunkers * When the word “bunker” first appeared in the Rules of Golf * What bunkers looked like before modern course design * The stories behind famous hazards like Hell Bunker and the Road Hole Bunker This is not a recap show. This is the story behind the game. And if you’re just joining us, Episode 1 explores the history of Augusta National and how a bankrupt plant nursery became the most iconic course in golf. Sources for this episode: * Cornish, Geoffrey S., and Ronald E. Whitten. The Golf Course: Architecture, Design, Construction and Restoration. Wiley, 1993. * Doak, Tom. The Anatomy of a Golf Course: The Art of Golf Architecture. Renaissance Golf Publishing, 1998. * Joy, David. St Andrews: The Home of Golf. Pavilion Books. * Frost, Mark. The Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, and the Story of Golf. Hyperion, 2004. * Rules of Golf (1812), Published by the Society of St Andrews Golfers, later the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Looking for more info? Visit our journalhttps://www.underparovertime.com/journal [https://www.underparovertime.com/journal]