10 Things You Should Know About Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is one of the most famous golf courses in the world. Located in Southampton, New York, it has played a major role in American golf history for more than 130 years. Here are 10 things every golf fan should know about this legendary club.

1. It Has One of the Most Exclusive Memberships in Golf

Shinnecock Hills is one of the hardest golf clubs in America to access. Membership is by invitation only, and the club reportedly has only a few hundred members. Most golfers can only play the course if they are invited by a member. 

2. It’s One of the Oldest Golf Clubs in America

Founded in 1891, Shinnecock Hills is one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States. It has been a part of the American golf scene since the sport’s earliest days. 

3. It is Considered America’s Closest Thing to a Links Course

The course sits on open, rolling land near the Atlantic Ocean. Its firm turf, natural dunes, and constant winds give it a links-style feel like many famous courses in British Isles.

4. It Helped Found the USGA

Shinnecock Hills was one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1894. Today, the USGA remains the governing body for golf in the United States.

5. It was Ahead of its Time in Women’s Golf

Unlike many clubs in the late 1800s, Shinnecock Hills welcomed women from the beginning. The club created a separate course for female golfers during its early years.

6. It has Strong Links to the Shinnecock Nation

The club takes its name from the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Members of the tribe helped build the original course, creating an important connection between the club and local history.

7. It Hosted the U.S. Open Across Three Centuries

Shinnecock Hills has hosted the U.S. Open in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, 2018. This means it has staged America’s national championship in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, a rare achievement for any golf course.

8. It’s Next Door to National Golf Links of America

Shinnecock Hills shares a boundary with National Golf Links of America, another course regularly ranked among the best in the world. Together, they form one of the most celebrated stretches of golf property anywhere. 

9. It is One of the Toughest Tests in Championship Golf

Shinnecock Hills is known for challenging even the best players in the world. Strong winds, thick fescue, firm fairways, and fast greens make scoring difficult. 

The winning scores at recent U.S. Opens show just how demanding the course can be:

1986: Raymond Floyd (-1) 

1995: Corey Pavin (E) 

2004: Retief Goosen (-4) 

2018: Brooks Koepka (+1)

Few major championship venues consistently produce winning scores this close to par. When the U.S. Open comes to Shinnecock Hills, survival is often just as important as scoring.

10. Tommy Fleetwood Shot One of the Greatest Rounds in U.S. Open History

At the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Tommy Fleetwood shot a final-round 63, tying the lowest round ever recorded in U.S. Open history. He produced a flawless round under intense pressure and difficult conditions, climbing the leaderboard with a charge that nearly won him the championship. 

Fleetwood ultimately finished one shot behind winner Brooks Koepka, but his 63 remains the lowest score ever recorded at Shinnecock in a U.S. Open and one of the most memorable rounds in modern major championship history. 

Final Thoughts

With the U.S. Open returning to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club next week, it’s set to be another stern test in classic conditions. 

The winner will likely be the player who can handle the wind, scramble well when they miss greens, and stay patient when scoring chances are limited.