Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton on Long Island is one of the oldest golf clubs in the USA and a course that tour pros both fear and respect. The world's best players come here in the summer of 2026 to battle for one of golf's four majors. For anyone who follows men's golf closely, or is planning a trip across the Atlantic, it is worth knowing exactly where and when the championship takes place, and why this particular course brings out golf at the highest level. Here we go through the venue, the dates and what makes Shinnecock Hills special.
Venue and dates for the US Open in golf 2026
The US Open in golf 2026 is played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and is decided between the 18th and 21st of June 2026. The course is located in Southampton in the state of New York, on eastern Long Island. It is the 126th edition of the championship, which is one of men's golf's four big majors together with The Masters, PGA Championship and The Open Championship.
The championship is organised by the United States Golf Association, and the competition week actually stretches longer than the tournament days themselves. The entire event runs from Monday the 15th of June, with practice and qualifying, until the final day on Sunday the 21st of June. The four competition rounds over 72 holes are played from Thursday to Sunday, and that is where the champion is crowned.
How to get to Shinnecock Hills
The course is located out on Long Island, east of New York City, which means that most visitors travel there by train or car from the city. The commuter train Long Island Rail Road serves the area during championship week and is a common way to reach the course. For a Swedish golf traveller it usually means a flight to New York and then onward transport out towards Southampton, a wealthy coastal town that fills up with golf enthusiasts during the week.
Why Shinnecock Hills is one of golf's most respected courses
Shinnecock Hills belongs to a small, exclusive group of courses that have hosted the US Open several times throughout history. The course has a links character with open landscape, rolling terrain and strong wind coming in from the Atlantic, which makes the game differ markedly from the more enclosed, park-like courses many are used to. When the wind picks up, Shinnecock Hills becomes one of the toughest tests in the entire golf calendar.
It is precisely that combination of thick rough, fast greens and unpredictable weather that makes the course so renowned. The US Open is known for being the major where the game demands the most patience and precision, and Shinnecock Hills reinforces that image. For anyone who wants to understand why golf looks the way it does on a links, our text on what is a links golf course can be a good start.
What a major like the US Open means in the golf calendar
The US Open is one of four majors that make up the absolute top tier of men's golf. A win here counts among the finest things a golfer can achieve, and the championship attracts the entire world elite. If you want to read more about what distinguishes a major from other tournaments and how they rank against each other, we go through it in the article on which are the majors in golf.
For Swedish golf enthusiasts, the US Open is also an opportunity to follow the roster of Swedish players competing internationally. Several of them have made their way via the big tours, something we describe in more detail in the text on Swedish golfers on the European Tour.
How to dress for golf when the US Open inspires you to play
A championship like the US Open tends to spark the urge to get out on the course yourself, and summer golf on Swedish courses places its own demands on the clothing. A polo that breathes and fits right throughout the swing is the foundation of the wardrobe, and the tech polo in navy is designed for exactly that performance on the course without losing the style afterwards.
When the sun is beating down all day, a cap that shades the eyes is crucial for following the ball flight. A baseball cap does the job and ties the outfit together. For warmer rounds, a pair of tech shorts in beige complements things, giving freedom of movement in the rotation. If you want to build a complete outfit with the right feel, you will find more ideas in our guide to golf outfit ideas for men, and we gather the full range in the collection polo shirts.
Shinnecock Hills and the US Open belong to the best that golf has to offer, and the same care for detail is reflected in the clothes you wear on your own round. At Local Rule we build garments that work just as well on the course as off it, and you can see the full range at Local Rule when you plan your next season.
