[PHOTO: Dom Furore]
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on New York’s Long Island is as steeped in USGA lore as any course in the United States, and it will add a special distinction more than a decade from now.
On Saturday, while holding its annual meeting, the USGA announced that the US Open and US Women’s Open will be held a week apart in 2036, and both will be contested at Shinnecock. In 2014, Pinehurst No.2 was the first to pull off the double, with Martin Kaymer winning the men’s title and Michelle Wie taking out the women’s championship. Pinehurst was already tabbed to again hold the two majors back-to-back in 2029.
The women, who are seeing their US Open played at more venues that have historical significance to the USGA, will be contesting their first major at Shinnecock. The men will return for their sixth US Open in 2026 and come back again 10 years later in a year that marks the 140th anniversary of the first US Open staged at Shinnecock.
“As an organisation, we felt that such an iconic venue would be an ideal stage for both our men’s and women’s premier championships,” John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer, said in a press release. “It will offer the perfect opportunity to bring the game’s best to one course and provide fans the chance to watch them compete for a national championship in back-to-back weeks.”
Brett Pickett, Shinnecock’s club president, noted in the press release that Shinnecock was the first golf club in America to welcome women members, in 1891. “We are extremely excited to build on that legacy,” Pickett said.
Shinnecock is one of five founding members of the USGA and is the oldest incorporated golf club in the USA. However, of the nine events staged by the USGA there, only one involved women – the 1900 US Women’s Amateur.
Brooks Koepka won the most recent US Open held at Shinnecock, in 2018.
