Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Founding and early years (1891–1900)

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club was established in 1891 by a group of wealthy New Yorkers led by William K. Vanderbilt, Edward Meade, and Duncan Cryder, who purchased an 80 acres (32 ha) parcel for $2,500.^[8] The club is widely believed to be the oldest incorporated golf club in the United States; it also claims to have the oldest golf clubhouse in the U.S. (1892). From day one, Shinnecock admitted women members—a rare stance in the 19th century—and even built a separate nine-hole ladies’ course.^[9]

Willie Davis, a professional from the Royal Montreal Club, designed the original 12-hole layout in 1891, aided by over 100 members of the local Shinnecock Indian Nation who helped clear the sandy terrain. In 1892, a Stanford White–designed clubhouse was constructed, often cited as the first purpose-built golf clubhouse in America.^[10]

By 1894, Scottish professional Willie Dunn Jr. expanded the course to 18 holes. In the same year, Shinnecock became one of the five founding member clubs of the USGA. The club hosted the second U.S. Open on a then–5,000 yards (4,572 m) course. That championship was notable for including John Shippen (the first African-American golf professional) and Oscar Bunn (a Shinnecock Indian), breaking racial barriers despite an attempted boycott by some British professionals.^[11] Shinnecock also hosted the 1900 U.S. Women’s Amateur, reflecting its early commitment to women’s golf.

Early redesigns (1901–1916)

In 1901, Charles B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor redesigned and lengthened the course, integrating some of Dunn’s original holes while introducing strategic principles that were popular in the early 20th century. Their version brought features such as “template holes” (e.g., Redan, Eden, Short) inspired by British links. However, portions of this Macdonald–Raynor layout would eventually be supplanted when the club expanded its property and enlisted William Flynn in the late 1920s.

William Flynn's major redesign (1931)

By 1930, Shinnecock faced a highway extension (later Route 27) that would have bisected its course. The club acquired new land to the north and commissioned William S. Flynn to design a completely new 18-hole routing, which opened in 1931.^[12] Flynn is considered the principal architect of the modern Shinnecock Hills course. He preserved a few ideas from the prior Macdonald layout but largely created a new routing that took full advantage of the rolling, sandy terrain.

Flynn’s design emphasized strategic options, wind exposure (with holes oriented in multiple directions), and natural landforms. The course measured over 6,900 yards at a time when that was unusually long. Except for minor lengthening and periodic updates, the 1931 Flynn routing is effectively the same layout played today.

Modern era and restoration

Shinnecock underwent typical mid-century changes—some tree plantings, narrower fairways, and new turf grasses. Controversy arose at the 2004 U.S. Open when extremely dry conditions and firm greens (notably the par-3 7th) caused portions of the course to become “unplayable.”^[13]

In the 2010s, Shinnecock commenced an extensive restoration, led by architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, aiming to return the course closer to Flynn’s original vision. This project involved removing many trees, widening fairways, restoring fescue roughs, and expanding certain greens to recapture lost pin positions.^[14] By the 2018 U.S. Open, the course played firm and fast, though the USGA did slightly narrow some fairway edges before the event. Brooks Koepka repeated as U.S. Open champion that year, highlighting Shinnecock’s enduring challenge for modern pros.

Shinnecock Hills is known for its historic character and course design. It has hosted the U.S. Open five times (1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, and 2018) and is scheduled to host the tournament again in 2026 and 2036.

Shinnecock Indian Nation and the club

Shinnecock Hills derives its name from the Shinnecock Indian Nation, who lived on these lands long before European settlement. Tribe members built the early holes in 1891, and local teenagers Oscar Bunn and John Shippen both became part of golf history at the 1896 U.S. Open. In subsequent generations, however, disputes arose over land rights. The tribe has challenged the 1859 sale of its territory, alleging it was taken illegally. While federal courts dismissed the lawsuit, tensions have persisted regarding ancestral burial grounds and use of tribal lands.^[8]

Despite these complexities, recent efforts by the club and the USGA have aimed to recognize the tribe’s role. The USGA established the “Oscar Bunn Golf Facility” to introduce golf to Shinnecock youth, and there is ongoing dialogue over the cultural significance of the region.^[15]