Just curious if anyone has any advice on playing Shinnecock? I was there for the controversial Open in 2004 but imagine it plays differently during regular play. Is accuracy off the tee critical or just hitting the right spots on the greens? Any advice on playing it would be appreciated!

Oh man, how I envy you!!!

The former superintendant at the club that my friend works is from Long Island. His father is superintendant of a course out there and was friends with the crew at NGLA and Shinnecock Hills, amongst others. He would go and play at least once or twice a year and we'd practically beg him to take us with him just once. We vowed to never bother him again if he did. Well we never got that chance, but from what he's said the place is absolutely spectacular in every aspect.

Good luck! It's not an easy track!

my advice is to take lots of pics and post them on here so we can live in your dream for a few minutes

I play there all the time...it's a pitch and putt, you've got nothing to worry about.












Obviously I'm joking...you're a lucky dude. Have fun!

i played once there, it is spectacular, just arriving to the course is an experience, i was playing in h.s. in stony brook and my host parent knew somebody and we played there, i dont remebrer very much of it,it was 1993 i was 17 y.o., but i remember a wide open field with very dificult rough. to many times there. just hit it to the fairway, becuse its not that long. good luck.

I'm jealous! Shinnecock is one of many courses I hope to play one day, have fun!

About 3 years ago, I got to go down there and play Maidstone and National Golf Links. We drove through Shinnecock on that little road that cuts through the course. This was in late Oct. and looked like it was in mid-season condition. I took a couple of pics of the sign at the entrance to the club. It's amazing that a course like that is right off of the main drag in town. Anyway, have fun!

If they have caddies, I would recommend using one.

You are a lucky fella. Enjoy your day! By all accounts, Shinnecock Hills is one of the top 5 courses in the USA.

Played it a few years ago after a member guest at maidstone. Shot 80 from the tips. There is alot of wind on the course. We had caddies and they didn't say anything for 3 holes then they tell you everything to hit. Don't second guess them you will be insulting them and making a big mistake. Bring your short game depends on where you play from will be how difficult the course is. Whenever I play a nice world class private course I always play from where the pros play just to see how i'd stack up. I hit driver 250 then now it's 300 so needless to say I didn't hit alot of greens and had to get up and down. Also because there are not alot of trees on the holes toward the middle of the course pay close attention to the flag sticks as the wind may be blowing one way where you are hitting your shot and a different way near the pin. The greens are not as bad as it was during the usopen. Take less club if you need to and make sure you are in the fairway. You'll loose your ball in the hay heather whatever it is so pay attention to your ball after you hit it keep an eye until it lands and keep focus on that point. (If you have caddies they will forecaddie for you so you will not have to worry too much)

Enjoy the day and I agree with the pics person above take pics. I only took a few because I was so wrapped up.


1 MORE IMPORTANT THING!!! IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SHOE BAG GET ONE AND DO NOT CHANGE YOUR SHOES IN THE PARKING LOT. YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR SHOES IN THE CLUB HOUSE IN A BAG AND NOT YOUR HANDS.

Hope this helps out.

I played Shinnecock last year and loved every second, definitely a few "pinch me" moments. Just a few thoughts:

Do NOT take a cart. Take a caddy, infinitely worth the $100 or so to walk the course and play it right down the middle.

Bring your host a nice bottle of wine or some other thoughtful gift. Members of courses with the stature of SH take a LOT of guests out, do something nice to thank them.

Like the above said, a shoe bag is a must.

A post round drink on the porch is heaven on earth.

Play from the right set of tees. If you're not a 5 or lower, please don't make your round miserable by going to the back tees. The pros play there for a reason....they're good. You'll see every inch of the course from every set of tees, play where you'll enjoy it the most.

Have fun!

I've played there 2 or 3 times. one time with former NY Islander clark Gillies from the tips!! don't worry about what you shoot, just try to take it all in

Why can't you just carry your shoes in?

Very uncouth. Show some respect for your surroundings and your host.

Great advice, especially about the shoes. Thanks Ken. That's something I would not have known otherwise and another reason this site is so valuable. I will definitely try my best to take some pics. This one is certainly worth documenting!

I think its kind of funny that carrying your shoes outside of a bag is considered uncouth. I know its not the only place that it is like that, but I still find it kind of funny!

Jethro rocks.

Why? Do you go to the gym carrying all your sweats, undies and shoes separately or do you use a gym bag? Or when you check into a hotel? Changing in the parking lot at your local muni is just fine....but a little pomp and circumstance at a nice club isn't the worst thing in the world.

Along the same thought, take your hat off as soon as you enter the building and leave it off until you go back outside. It's ok to carry it in your hand, you don't need a hat bag.

Why? Because I do. I didn't say it was the worst thing in the world. Simply said I think it is a little funny and a bit over the top. As a matter of fact when I go to the gym I have my clothes and shoes on when I get there. And as for changing in the parking lot, I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about having to have them in a bag. Like it is just a slap in the face for anyone to see your shoes.....oh no!

So if you're already wearing your golf shoes, do you have to take them off.. put them in a bag and walk around in your socks?

I'm always amazed how people can complain or find fault with the smallest things. Not only do your shoes probably already smell on some level, they also likely have grass and dirt on the soles that the club doesn't want dropped all over the place and once you're done with the round, they'll be cleaned up for you and placed back in your own bag.

But somehow asking for them to be in a bag is deemed over the top and elitist. All over a $10 shoebag.

Pictures please!!!

No one is complaining or finding fault. He just said he found it funny. An observation, nothing more.

As a lifetime muni rat, I find the whole topic quite interesting as I myself only recently found out about the "shoe protocol." And I find it funny as well, not funny ha-ha, but more like curious in a sort of anthropological/culture study sense. Kind of like eating pizza with a knife and fork.

Because one finds a practice curious doesn't mean they fault it or are complaining about it or would be unwilling to adopt or conform to the practice. When in Rome, do as the Romans, right?

Shoe thing is a typical private vs muni thing

dont wear your hat inside
never wear your golf shoes inside
always tuck in your shirt
carry a bag for anything you bring in other than your golf bag (shoes clothes etc...)
never ever wear denim
no cell phones
etc...

list goes on

but to OP
Have fun and enjoy
pics

Thank you! I have actually been in a lot of "private" clubs that would let you wear your shoes in let alone making sure they are in a bag. With that said, if it was a rule anywhere I was playing I wouldn't b****, I would just follow the rules. They can have any rules they wish - its their club.

Manners are always good. But *gasp!*, you MUST have a shoe bag is a little stuffy and silly.

Wow, what a day. Weather was spectacular, course was immaculate and I got to see a LOT of it! Very rarely do I play a course that puts such a premium on hitting the fairways for any shot at par. Every hole requires you to be in the fairway or the first cut at worst. Made the switch to the new Cobra S9-1 Pro S before the round (crazy, I know, switching anything before a round like this) and was hitting the ball longer and without my notorious fade so found myself in some unexpected places. Actually drove through a few fairways which is frustrating. The rub on the fescue is it's really hit or miss. You can get a pretty good lie in the tall thin grass and still have a shot at the green or you can end up in the grass that's fallen over and matted and be lucky to find your ball. There's a surprising amount of elevation out on the course which provides unbeatable views from virtually everywhere. The tee, the green or both are elevated on almost every hole with a lot of blind tee shots, including the tenth which is brutal. Blind shot to an elevated fairway that slopes left to right. Huge drop leading up to a severely elevated and small green. Numbers 9 and 18 appear almost identical and both play into the wind to elevated greens. For us it was at least a 2 club difference to reach both greens. By the way, the famous seventh hole that caused so much controversy in 2002, is as hard as it seemed on TV. Always a glutton for punishment, I was just off the right side of the green, which slopes severely from right to left. Dropped a chip just on the green and it rolled all the way off. Just off the green, left the hole with a bogey. There's really no let up on this course, but it is spectacular from the moment you drive up till the moment you take your last sip out on the porch. Truly an amazing experience. Sorry for the rambling, scattered post but I know you guys just want to see the pics anyway! Let me know if you have any questions....other than asking what I shot!
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Very nice, thanks for sharing! One of my favorite US Open courses and I love that clubhouse.

Great pictures and it looks like you had perfect weather. Thanks for posting.

Great pics! Thanks for sharing.

AWESOME pictures. Thanks a ton for sharing them!

Awesome! I'd love to go play there.


One thing I want to say though is....if that course was built and opened today. It would never get the ranking it has now. I'm not sure why so many rankings put such a premium on history.

You are kidding... ...right??

If not, good luck ever getting to play there...

I'm assuming you've never played Shinnecock, so how can you make that assessment? Furthermore, what are your reasons for it?

Great looking course. Sort of reminds me of Hyannis Club on Cape Cod. Same type of seaside setting, old shingled clubhouse, rolling fairways. Spectacular !!

Outstanding pictures. Congrats on your adventure and thanks for sharing it with us.

Amazing and So Jealous - I had to go out to the Hamptons during the winter this past year- drove past the course on Sunrise Highway. Saw the Clubhouse and got upset knowing I'd probably never be lucky enough to play that course. Awesome pics!

Cool pics. I'm interested to know what the club house is like inside. From the outside it doesn't look that big or fabulous, however I'm guessing that it is.

Wow!

That's up there on my list for sure. Probably right behind Cypress.

Not fabulous at all....smells a little like grandma's house. The locker room is as understated as they come. Old half height wooden lockers with a hook on the inside.

Oh yeah....an original copy of the USGA's charter resides in the locker room. That's pretty cool.

Thanks for the answer. I've been in a few old clubs and most of them smell like moth balls

Good call. Feels a lot like an old cottage on Cape Cod. Very understated, lot of wicker furniture but there's history everywhere you look. I actually like that. I prefer understated over huge and lavish. The dining room only has about 10 tables and is only open 12-3, at least on Tuesday. However, sitting on that deck overlooking virtually the entire course is up there with any golf-related view I've ever seen. Spectacular way to end the day.

Please explain - how can you comment that the course doesn't deserve the high ranking WHEN YOU HAVE NEVER PLAYED IT??