As the world’s best golfers descend on Long Island for this year’s US Open, there is one question to which many of you always enjoy searching for the answer: how much does it cost to play the host venue?
You all enjoyed reading about the fees at Oakmont last year, which we believed to be around $150,000 to join, with monthly fees around the $1,250 mark.
So, what about Shinnecock Hills?
Founded in 1891, Shinnecock is the oldest incorporated country club in the United States and one of the five founding clubs of the USGA. It staged both the second US Open and the second US Amateur Championship in 1896 and will host the US Open for the sixth time this week.
The club has also hosted the US Women’s Amateur, US Senior Amateur and Walker Cup, while future championships are already secured, including the 2036 US Men’s and Women’s Opens in consecutive weeks.
The current layout was created by renowned architect William Flynn in 1931 and is widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses ever built. Flynn routed the course around Long Island’s natural terrain and prevailing winds, creating a strategic test that asks different questions of players depending on the conditions.
Shinnecock is far from alone when it comes to exclusive golf on Long Island.
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The region is arguably America’s strongest concentration of elite private clubs. Nearby are National Golf Links of America, often ranked among the finest courses ever built, Maidstone Club, Friar’s Head, and Sebonack Golf Club, too.
You’ll find that many clubs on our side of the Atlantic openly publish membership categories and joining fees, but with exclusive and storied venues such as Shinnecock Hills, they usually operate with a greater level of privacy. Membership details are not publicly advertised.
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That leaves us mostly relying on reported figures to piece together the likely cost of joining one of the most revered clubs in the world.
According to Forbes, initiation fees at Shinnecock Hills are believed to be around $250,000. Other reports have suggested a figure closer to $200,000. What is clear is that membership at Shinnecock Hills sits comfortably among the most expensive in America.
Even then, money alone is unlikely to secure a place, given what you read about the membership.
The Southampton club is reported to have only around 300 members. Membership vacancies are therefore extremely limited, and prospective candidates would likely require introductions, sponsorship from existing members, and considerable patience to boot.
Forbes also reports that guests can only play when accompanied by a member, while securing a tee time can take months of planning. Golf.com suggested, back in 2018 when the US Open was last here, that the member guest rate was $350.
Let’s say, for the sake of this piece, that the member guest rate is the above. That roughly equates to £260. Spending that sort of money is comparable to venues in Great Britain and Ireland, such as the Hotchkin at Woodhall Spa (£245), Ganton (£235), Alwoodley (£230), Royal Porthcawl (£275), Moortown (£250), and Hankley Common (£235).
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