The Remarkable History Behind the Shinnecock Hills Clubhouse
As its golf course hosts the U.S. Open for the 6th time, the Stanford White-designed building has much to be proud of
If walls could talk, those in the clubhouse at Shinnecock Hills would certainly have the most interesting stories to tell. The historic building, designed in 1892 by architect Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White, will be hosting the 2026 U.S. Open Golf Championship this week. Considered by many to be the first clubhouse in the U.S. created specifically for golfers, its shingled façade, fluted columns, and long verandas set atop a hill and visible to all who traversed via train to the south shore of Long Island, are also credited as the inspiration for the classic Hamptons architecture the area is known for today.
In addition to private areas for golfers to shower and change after their round, White created rooms that were light and airy with ample room for socialization, which was a novel idea at the time, as other golf course buildings only offered rudimentary spaces that were cramped and dimly lit. White’s theory that having an aesthetically pleasing place for members to enjoy spending time versus only using it for functional purposes quickly proved to be true, and in fact, it became so popular that the club decided to expand the building’s footprint before hosting the first U.S. Open in 1896 to accommodate even more guests, and thus, the architectural genre of the golf clubhouse was born.
Not only is Shinnecock Hills thought to be the first golf clubhouse in the U.S., but its members will tell you that it is also the oldest golf club. American businessmen Edward Meade, Duncan Cryder, and William Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius, fell in love with the game after meeting Scottish golfer and course designer Willie Dunn on a trip to Biarritz, France (yes, this is indeed where the famous template hole gets its name), and immediately incorporated a membership of an initial 44 upon their return. After buying a plot of land in Southampton, they hired Canadian designer Willie Davis to build a 12-hole golf course, which officially opened in the summer of 1891. Three years later, Dunn’s busy schedule finally allowed him to cross the pond and expand the course to the 18-holes originally conceptualized over fine bottles of wine on the three founders’ French vacation in the Spring of 1895.
From its beginning, the club has been a highlight of progressive thinking. It was the first club to admit women, whom it opened its doors to immediately, even building a special nine-hole course dedicated to them in 1893. It was also the first club to overcome racial controversy after a few of its members sponsored one of Shinnecock’s caddies, John Shippen, the son of an African American father and Native American mother, at the 1896 U.S. Open. When several of the foreign-born golfers threatened to boycott, USGA president Theodore Havemeyer famously stood firm, insisting that the tournament would go on, and Shippen ended up finishing in 5th place. Shippen went on to compete in six U.S. Opens and became one of the first American golf professionals giving lessons to members as an assistant pro to Willie Dunn at Shinnecock, until accepting a head pro position at Shady Rest Golf Course in New Jersey later on. After its first U.S. Open tournament, the course hosted four more, culminating in its sixth iteration this year, and further cementing its illustrious history as the only course to have hosted the iconic USGA competition over three centuries.
The only thing that the clubhouse is famously known for that is not so progressive is its lack of air conditioning. However, circling back to its location on top of the hill on the property and its thoughtful design by White, the interiors have always boasted a nice cooling breeze. After a 2016 restoration by the Connecticut firm Rogers McCagg, it is rumored that the new geothermal system that was put in does indeed offer air conditioning, but only those lucky enough to be invited there can attest if the club actually turns it on or keeps to tradition. Perhaps we will find out for sure during this week’s 2026 U.S. Open as we hope for more legendary moments to unfold to add to its renowned golf legacy.