5 shots (& skills) players need to be successful at Shinnecock Hills
Legendary Shinnecock Hills presents unique challenges for golfers. GOLF.com's Top 100 Teacher Kellie Stenzel highlights five key elements of the game that will help players conquer its difficulties.
- Shinnecock Hills, one of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses in the United States, located on the scenic Long Island, has always been known for its severity and demand on players' skills.
- "Having taught in the Hamptons for many years at Atlantic Golf Club and Sebonack, I had the opportunity to play many of Long Island’s great golf courses, including Shinnecock Hills.
- Long Island often experiences strong coastal winds, making trajectory control essential.
- Par-3 tee shots Shinnecock’s par 3s are both beautiful and demanding.
Shinnecock Hills, one of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses in the United States, located on the scenic Long Island, has always been known for its severity and demand on players' skills. The course, which has hosted the U.S. Open multiple times, presents unique challenges for golfers, where every shot must be meticulously planned. Kellie Stenzel, a Top 100 Teacher who taught for many years in the Hamptons area and had the opportunity to play many of Long Island's great courses, including Shinnecock Hills, shares her insights on the five key shots and skills necessary for success on this legendary course.
"Having taught in the Hamptons for many years at Atlantic Golf Club and Sebonack, I had the opportunity to play many of Long Island’s great golf courses, including Shinnecock Hills. With so many outstanding courses in the area, Shinnecock always stood out as one of the most challenging and rewarding. It is always exciting to watch the U.S. Open there and see both the course and the players put on a great show," Stenzel notes.
To contend for victory at Shinnecock Hills, players will need to demonstrate the highest level of mastery in the following aspects of the game:
1. Fairway-finder tee shot
The "rough" at Shinnecock can be brutal. Finding the fairway off the tee provides a huge advantage and makes approach shots significantly easier. A controlled tee shot with a slight fade (a shot that moves from right to left for a right-handed player) is often the most effective way to hit the fairway. To produce this ball flight, the trail-hand grip can be positioned slightly more on top of the club, which tends to open the forearms and shoulders slightly and encourage a controlled fade. This approach allows players to maintain control of the ball and avoid penalty strokes from difficult lies.
2. Rough escape
The rough and fescue at Shinnecock are demanding but manageable with the right technique. Club selection is critical. Using a club with sufficient loft helps combat the thick grass, which can grab the hosel, twist the clubface, and make it difficult to launch the ball high enough to advance it back into play. At address, tilting the upper body slightly forward so the lead shoulder sits lower than the trail shoulder and favoring the lead foot can help create a steeper angle of attack. This allows the clubhead to strike the back of the ball more directly before entering the turf, reducing the amount of grass trapped between the clubface and the ball. This method minimizes the negative impact of thick grass on the ball's trajectory and distance.
3. Flighted wedge
Wind is one of Shinnecock’s greatest defenses. Long Island often experiences strong coastal winds, making trajectory control essential. The ability to flight wedge shots lower allows players to better manage both distance and direction. Moving the ball slightly back in the stance can help produce a lower trajectory. Players can also favor the lead foot throughout the swing while dropping the lead foot slightly back to align the shoulders and maintain forward pressure. A three-quarter swing both back and through helps keep the ball flight down and minimizes the wind’s influence. This skill is particularly important on courses with strong winds, where a high ball flight can lead to unpredictable results.
4. Touch on the greens
Fast hardly does justice to the speed of Shinnecock’s greens, especially when combined with their significant undulation. Avoiding three-putts will be critical, making distance control one of the most important putting skills throughout the week. While tour professionals generally excel in this area, it is also one of the skills recreational golfers can improve the most through focused practice and distance-control drills. "Fast greens with significant slopes require not only accurate striking but also excellent distance control. Players who can minimize three-putts will gain a significant advantage," emphasizes Stenzel. Practicing on various surfaces and slopes will help develop this essential feel.
5. Par-3 tee shots
Shinnecock’s par 3s are both beautiful and demanding. The 11th hole immediately comes to mind. Hitting the green should be the primary objective. The elevated putting surface requires exceptional distance control, particularly when the wind is blowing. There is nothing wrong with aiming for the center of the green and prioritizing a safe target, given how easily shots can roll away when they miss the surface. "The par-3s at Shinnecock present a serious challenge. Elevated greens and often changing winds require precise tee shots. Aim for the center of the green to avoid risky situations," advises the author. This approach allows players to avoid costly mistakes and maintain a stable score.
Shinnecock will provide a tremendous test for the field and should be fantastic to watch. These skills will be essential for anyone hoping to contend. Success on such a course is not just a demonstration of power, but also an indicator of a high level of tactical thinking and technical execution.
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