Shinnecock Hills: All You Need To Know

All you need to know about Shinnecock Hills, venue for this year's US Open

shinnecock hills
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Shinnecock Hills in Long Island, New York is one of the oldest golf courses in the USA

Shinnecock Hills: All You Need To Know

Shinnecock Hills hosts its fifth US Open this year and is one of the USA's most historic clubs.

Set on Long Island, New York and just a two hour drive from Manhattan, the par-70 layout is linksy with undulations, minimal trees and wind often in play.

This year it will measure 7,445 yards for the US Open.

Related: 2018 US Open betting tips

Shinnecock was founded in 1891 and is the oldest incorporated golf club in the US and is one of the five founding clubs of the USGA.

It was also the first club to admit women members, allowing them from the club's inception.

Originally it was a 12 hole course, but it was then expanded to 18 holes in 1895.

Shinnecock Hills hosts its fifth US Open this year

Its clubhouse was built in 1892 and remains largely the same today despite renovations down the years including overhauls in 2016. It is the oldest golf clubhouse in the country.

Golf Digest magazine ranks it 4th in their most recent USA Top 100 courses list.

It hosted the US Open in 1896, the second ever playing, 1986, 1995 and 2004.

Last time the US Open was held there, the condition of the course came under scrutiny for being too difficult, with the 7th green most famously being near-impossible to stop a ball on.

The 7th hole came under scrutiny in 2004

Retief Goosen won in 2004 by two strokes from Phil Mickelson. Goosen, controversially, hasn't been invited back this year.

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How to play Shinnecock Hills

The only way to get a game at Shinnecock Hills, strictly speaking, is to know a member.

It is a very private club.

The clubhouse was built in 1892

Of course, members of staff as well as media and volunteers working at the US Open may get the chance to have a game too, although the easiest way to play is to be invited by a member.

Guests are forbidden from paying for items at the club so must sign the member's name when purchasing items at the club.

No tips are allowed to members of staff except to the caddie master and locker room attendant.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV