Shinnecock Hills Golf Club facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shinnecock Hills G.C.

Clubhouse at the 2018 U.S. Open
Club information
Location in the United States Show map of the United States Location in New York Show map of New York
Coordinates	40°53′38″N 72°26′24″W / 40.894°N 72.440°W / 40.894; -72.440
Location	Southampton, New York, U.S.
Established	1891; 134 years ago (1891)
Type	Private Club
Total holes	18
Tournaments hosted	U.S. Open (5), Walker Cup, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's Amateur
Website	shinnecockhillsgolfclub.org
Designed by	William Flynn (golfer) (1931) C. B. MacDonald (1901) Willie Dunn (1894) Willie Davis (1891)
Par	70
Length	6,940 yards (6,346 m) (red) 7,440 yards (6,800 m) (2018 U.S. Open)
Course rating	74.7
Slope rating	145
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Nearest city	Southampton, New York
Area	259 acres (105 ha)
Built	1892
Architect	McKim, Mead & White; et al.
Architectural style	Shingle style architecture
NRHP reference No.	00001211
Added to NRHP	September 29, 2000

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is a famous golf course in Southampton, New York. It's known for its "links-style" design, which means it's built on sandy, open land near the ocean, much like old courses in Scotland.

The club started in 1891, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States. It was also one of the five clubs that helped create the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1894. Shinnecock Hills is also famous for having what many believe was the first golf clubhouse in the U.S., built in 1892.

Right from the start, Shinnecock Hills was special because it welcomed women as members. This was very unusual for golf clubs back in the 1800s!

The course was designed by William Flynn in 1931 and has been carefully restored over the years. It has hosted many big golf tournaments, including five U.S. Opens. The most recent U.S. Open there was in 2018, and Brooks Koepka won it. Shinnecock Hills is set to host the U.S. Open again in 2026 and 2036.

In 2000, this historic club was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is often called one of the best golf courses in the world.

The Story of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

How the Club Started (1891–1900)

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club began in 1891. A group of wealthy New Yorkers, including William K. Vanderbilt, bought 80 acres of land for $2,500. Many people believe it's the oldest golf club in the U.S. that was officially set up as a club. It also claims to have the oldest golf clubhouse in America, built in 1892.

From its very first day, Shinnecock Hills welcomed women as members. This was a big deal in the 1800s when most clubs were only for men. They even built a special nine-hole course just for women!

The first 12-hole course was designed in 1891 by Willie Davis, a golf professional. Over 100 members of the local Shinnecock Indian Nation helped clear the land. In 1892, a beautiful clubhouse, designed by Stanford White, was built. It's often called the first building made specifically to be a golf clubhouse in America.

By 1894, another Scottish golf professional, Willie Dunn Jr., made the course bigger, turning it into 18 holes. That same year, Shinnecock Hills became one of the five founding clubs of the USGA.

The club hosted the second-ever U.S. Open in 1896. This event was important because it included John Shippen, the first African-American golf professional, and Oscar Bunn, a Shinnecock Indian. They helped break down racial barriers in golf, even though some British players tried to protest. Shinnecock also hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1900, showing its early support for women's golf.

Course Changes Over Time (1901–1916)

In 1901, golf course designers Charles B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor updated the course. They made it longer and added new ideas, like "template holes." These were holes inspired by famous British courses.

William Flynn's Big Redesign (1931)

Around 1930, a new highway (now Route 27) was planned to cut through the golf course. So, the club bought more land and hired William S. Flynn to design a brand new 18-hole course. This new course opened in 1931. Flynn is seen as the main architect of the Shinnecock Hills course we know today. He used the natural hills and sandy land to create a challenging and beautiful course.

Flynn's design made sure that the wind would affect play on many holes. He also made the course very long for its time, over 6,900 yards. Except for a few small changes, the course you see today is mostly the one Flynn designed in 1931.

Modern Updates and Restoration

Over the years, the course had some changes, like new trees and different types of grass. At the 2004 U.S. Open, the course became very dry and the greens were extremely firm. This made some parts of the course very difficult to play.

In the 2010s, Shinnecock Hills started a big project to restore the course. Architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw led this work. Their goal was to bring the course back to how William Flynn originally designed it. They removed many trees, made the fairways wider, and brought back the natural fescue grasses.

By the 2018 U.S. Open, the course was firm and fast. Brooks Koepka won the U.S. Open again that year, showing how challenging Shinnecock Hills still is for top golfers.

Today, Shinnecock Hills is loved for its mix of history and smart design. It has hosted five U.S. Opens (1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, 2018) and will host again in 2026 and 2036.

The Shinnecock Indian Nation and the Club

The name Shinnecock Hills comes from the Shinnecock Indian Nation. They lived on this land long before European settlers arrived. Members of the tribe helped build the first golf holes in 1891. Young Shinnecock men like Oscar Bunn and John Shippen even made golf history at the 1896 U.S. Open.

Later, there were disagreements about land rights. The tribe has questioned the sale of their land from 1859, saying it was taken unfairly. While courts have dismissed lawsuits, discussions continue about ancestral burial grounds and the use of tribal lands.

Despite these challenges, the club and the USGA have worked to recognize the tribe's history. The USGA created the "Oscar Bunn Golf Facility" to teach golf to Shinnecock youth. There is ongoing talk about the cultural importance of the area.

Course Design and Famous Holes

Shinnecock Hills is truly a "links-style" course. It's built on sandy, rolling land with very few trees. The design includes several famous holes:

• 7th hole – “Redan” (par 3): This hole is inspired by a famous hole in Scotland. It has a green that slopes sharply and is protected by deep bunkers. Wind makes it even harder!
• 9th hole – “Ben Nevis” (par 4): This is a tough uphill hole, almost 500 yards long. The green is high up near the clubhouse, often requiring a long shot into the wind.
• 11th hole – “Hill Head” (par 3): This hole is short, about 155-160 yards. But it has an elevated green with many bunkers. When it's windy or dry, it can be surprisingly difficult.
• 14th hole – “Thom’s Elbow” (par 4): A very long par 4, about 519 yards for championships. It has bunkers that make you think carefully about where to hit your ball for the best angle.
• 16th hole – “Shinnecock” (par 5): This hole is over 600 yards long! It gives golfers a chance to take risks for a good score late in the round. But elevated greens and bunkers can quickly turn a good shot into a bad one.
• 18th hole – “Home” (par 4): A classic finishing hole, about 450 yards uphill. The famous Stanford White clubhouse stands behind the green. This hole has often decided who wins the U.S. Open.

William Flynn's design uses the natural landscape. It makes sure the wind affects shots in different ways and uses natural bunkers. Wide fairways let golfers choose different paths, but the firm, wavy greens demand very accurate shots.

Major Golf Events Hosted

The Stanford White–designed clubhouse, as viewed from the 16th hole.

Year	Event	Winner	Total	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share ($)
2018	U.S. Open (5)	Brooks Koepka	281	+1	1 stroke	Tommy Fleetwood	2,160,000
2004	U.S. Open (4)	Retief Goosen	276	−4	2 strokes	Phil Mickelson	1,125,000
1995	U.S. Open (3)	Corey Pavin	280	E	2 strokes	Greg Norman	350,000
1986	U.S. Open (2)	Raymond Floyd	279	−1	2 strokes	Chip Beck Lanny Wadkins	115,000
1977	Walker Cup	United States	24 matches		16 to 8	Great Britain & Ireland	—
1967	U.S. Senior Amateur	Ray Palmer	match play		3 & 2	Walter D. Bronson	—
1900	U.S. Women's Amateur	Frances Griscom	match play		6 & 5	Margaret Curtis	—
1896	U.S. Open	James Foulis	152	—	3 strokes	Horace Rawlins	150
1896	U.S. Amateur	H. J. Whigham	match play		8 & 7	Joseph G. Thorp	—

Upcoming Major Events

• 2026, 2036 U.S. Opens
• 2036 U.S. Women's Open

Scorecard

Sources:

See also

• National Golf Links of America (a golf course next to Shinnecock Hills)
• John Shippen