Shinnecock plays totally differently off the tee for me in the last 3 years.
Played there today for the first time using the combination of Pro V1 ball and 9 1/2 degree titanium Driver - about 20 prior rounds over the years for comparison. This equipment duo has given me at least 25 yards extra carry since 2001. And I'm not getting any younger, either.
6 tee balls (of 14) went through the fairway on doglegs, or found "unreachable" bunkers, where the line I took would have been "aggressive" 3 or more years ago. Hell, 20 years ago the lines I took off the tee today would have been "no way".
Example: #8 has always been driver/3 wood in the past - 3 iron max from now on unless there's a serious "wind against" from the south.
The slightly pushed/pulled well-hit tee ball goes "too far" off-line nowadays - the trouble is way closer. I'd have hit more fairways from the back tees than the 6200 yard members' markers.
Other observations:
1) Greens were firm and fast (and perfect) but fairways in front of the greens were less so. The ground game worked but it wasn't like Scotland or even like National. Different maintenance meld or different turf??
2) The Open tees on #'s 9 and 18 are WAY back - 75+ yards from members tees and 30 yards from back tees. Only 1 other hole has a new (separate) tee box for that kind of extension that I could see.
3) The penalty for being 10 yards off the (already narrowed) fairway is much too severe IMO (for regular play - the Open's next year, already). The "hay" beyond the normal rough on every hole is so thick and so deep that most any ball therein is pretty much unfindable - forget about unhittable (our group lost 8 balls between us within 20-30 feet of the fairway's edge).
4) #11 is the best short par 3 I've ever played.
5) SHGC's Redan (#7) could use a more severe front bunker with a steeper face - not so scary to be there as at NGLA or Somerset Hills. However, a right front pin at SHGC is tougher than a similar pin position at the others.
6) The short par 4's (#'s 8 and 15) would be improved with smaller, more penal green complexes IMO a la PVGC #8 or Riviera #10.
7) I still give the edge to Pine Valley, but Shinnecock deserves every vote it gets for best course on the planet.