Shinnecock Hills Golf Club facts for kids
Clubhouse at the 2018 U.S. Open
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| Club information | |
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 Location in the United States
Location in New York
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| Coordinates | 40°53′38″N 72°26′24″W / 40.894°N 72.440°W |
| Location | Southampton, New York, U.S. |
| Established | 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 (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 | 74.4 |
| Slope rating | 140 |
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Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
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| Nearest city | Southampton, New York |
| Area | 259 acres (105 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | McKim, Mead & White; et al. |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/American Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001211 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 2000 |
The Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is a very famous golf course in New York. It's on Long Island, between the Peconic Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It's known for its "links-style" design, which means it's built on sandy land near the coast, similar to old golf courses in Scotland.
Many people believe Shinnecock Hills is the oldest golf club in the United States. It was officially started in 1891. Its clubhouse, built in 1892, is also thought to be the oldest golf clubhouse in the country. Shinnecock Hills was also one of the first American golf clubs to welcome women members right from the start.
This golf course is special because it's the only one to host the U.S. Open golf tournament in three different centuries. It's a founding member of the United States Golf Association (USGA). The club has hosted the U.S. Open five times, with the most recent one in 2018. It's also set to host the U.S. Open again in 2026. Because of its history and design, Shinnecock Hills is often ranked as one of the best golf courses in the world.
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History of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
The idea for Shinnecock Hills Golf Club came from a trip to Biarritz, France, in 1889-1890. Three friends, William K. Vanderbilt, Edward Meade, and Duncan Cryder, met a Scottish golf champion named Willie Dunn there. He was building a golf course at the time.
When they returned to the United States, Meade and Cryder looked for a good spot for a golf course near New York City. They chose a sandy area on Long Island, just east of the Shinnecock Canal. They bought about 80 acres of land for $2,500. Then, 44 people became original members, each paying $100.
Building the First Course
The first 12-hole golf course at Shinnecock Hills opened in 1891. It was designed by Willie Davis, who was the club's first golf professional. Members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation helped build the course. The land where the course sits is part of a larger area that the Shinnecock Indian Nation says was taken from them unfairly in 1859.
During the 2018 U.S. Open, some members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation protested the event. They pointed out that some old burial sites were disturbed when the course was built.
The famous architect Stanford White designed the club's clubhouse in 1892. This building is believed to be the oldest golf clubhouse in the United States. In 1893, a special nine-hole course was built just for ladies at Shinnecock Hills. This was the first ladies' golf course in American history.
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Growth and Major Events
In 1894, Willie Dunn, the golfer from Scotland, came to Shinnecock Hills. He added six more holes, making it a full 18-hole course. That same year, Shinnecock Hills was one of five clubs that helped create the United States Golf Association (USGA) in New York City. The USGA then held its very first U.S. Open tournament in 1895.
In 1896, Shinnecock Hills hosted the second U.S. Open. Many players scored very well, which made people think the course needed to be harder. An important player in the 1896 Open was John Shippen, who was a black professional golfer. Many historians believe he was the first American-born golf professional.
Course Redesigns and Updates
Over the years, the Shinnecock Hills course has been changed and improved several times.
- In 1901, the ladies' course was made part of a larger, redesigned course by Charles B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor. They kept five of Willie Dunn's original holes.
- In 1931, William Flynn made big changes to the course. His design kept some of the holes from Macdonald and Raynor.
- Before the 2004 U.S. Open, the course was made longer by adding new tee areas.
- For the 2018 U.S. Open, the course was extended again to 7,440 yards, but it still had a par of 70.
Shinnecock Hills is always ranked very high among the best golf courses. For example, Golf Digest magazine ranked it second in 2007 and 2008, and third in 2009. The club also has a smaller, nine-hole course for its members to use.
Notable Golf Tournaments Hosted
Shinnecock Hills has hosted many important golf tournaments over the years. Here are some of the most famous ones:
| Year | Event | Winner | Total Score | Runner(s)-up |
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| 2018 | U.S. Open (5) |  Brooks Koepka |
281 |  Tommy Fleetwood |
| 2004 | U.S. Open (4) |  Retief Goosen |
276 | Phil Mickelson |
| 1995 | U.S. Open (3) | Corey Pavin |
280 |  Greg Norman |
| 1986 | U.S. Open (2) | Raymond Floyd |
279 | Chip Beck Lanny Wadkins |
| 1977 | Walker Cup |  United States |
24 matches |  Great Britain & Ireland |
| 1900 | U.S. Women's Amateur | Frances Griscom |
match play | Margaret Curtis |
| 1896 | U.S. Open |  James Foulis |
152 | Horace Rawlins |
| 1896 | U.S. Amateur | H. J. Whigham |
match play | Joseph G. Thorp |
- Shinnecock Hills is scheduled to host the U.S. Open again in 2026.
See also
- National Golf Links of America (another famous golf course located very close to Shinnecock Hills)
