[Golfers' Bucket List⑨] 'Scotland Style' Cinecock Hills "This Is Hell"

Ranked 4th Among the Top 100 US Golf Courses: Tough Rough, Glassy Greens, and Atlantic Sea Breeze Included

Cinecok Hills Golf Course Clubhouse

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "I will show you hell."

The ninth stop is the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Par 70, 7,445 yards) located in Southampton, New York. It ranks 4th in Golf Digest's biennial list of the 'Top 100 Courses in the United States.' In 2018, it gained the spotlight by hosting the US Open, known as the 'National Title of America,' in June. Unlike the typically well-manicured American golf courses, it is interesting for its rugged wilderness atmosphere. Naturally, it is a tough course.

Shinnecock Hills opened in 1891, boasting a rich history of 129 years. Located on the East Coast of the United States, it is regarded as "the most Scottish-style" course. It participated in the founding of the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1894 and holds historical significance as the first club in the U.S. to have locker rooms and showers in its clubhouse. It has hosted the US Open six times across three centuries?in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, and 2018. It will host again in 2026.

It is noteworthy that even professional players find it difficult to score under par. The course is long, the rough is thick, and the 'glass-like greens' trip up players. Added to this is the Atlantic sea breeze that constantly changes direction and strength. The winning scores reflect this: Ray Floyd (USA) won in 1984 with 1-under par, Corey Pavin (USA) in 1995 at even par, Retief Goosen (South Africa) in 2004 at 4-under par, and Brooks Koepka (USA) in 2018 at 1-over par.

Cinecoc Hills 7th Hole Green

Hole 1 (Par 4, 399 yards) is relatively straightforward. The thorny path begins at Hole 2 (Par 3, 252 yards), where the rough and bunkers on both sides of the green are threatening. Hole 7 (Par 3, 179 yards) features a pot bunker green, and depending on where the ball lands, three-putts are common. The back nine's holes 10, 14, and 16 are 'holes to watch,' with the decisive moment at Hole 18 (Par 4, 485 yards), where the fairway snakes and players must attempt an uphill second shot over 200 yards.

Holes 14 and 16 are signature holes. Hole 14 (Par 4) is 519 yards, and Hole 16 (Par 5) is 616 yards, requiring absolute long drives. However, the fairway is only about 26 yards wide on average, so if the ball lands in the rough, players must pay a penalty of at least one stroke instead of attacking the green. Phil Mickelson (USA) famously self-destructed with 11 strokes on Hole 16 (Par 5) in 1995 after struggling in the rough, and Bill Murchison (USA) took 8 strokes on Hole 18 (Par 4).

The rough is not the only challenge. There are 164 bunkers yawning throughout the course. The greens surpass even Augusta National, where the Masters is held. In 2018, during the third round on Hole 13 (Par 4), Mickelson deliberately hit his ball again after it rolled past the hole, incurring a two-stroke penalty. He said, "I didn't want to make the same shot (outside the green) again." The notorious reputation of Shinnecock Hills, where one cannot let their guard down for a moment, earned it the nickname 'Hell.'