Shinnecock 2004 Advice

[Michael Whitaker]

I was successful in the USGA's lottery and secured two tickets to the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock. I'm assuming I should start making plans as soon as possible for the trip North. Any advice for a South Carolina boy from some of you locals on: where to stay, what to do, or anything that you can recommend to make the trip a success. Thanks!

[SPDB]

buy a helicopter. it will save you the migraine/parking lot that is the Long Island Expressway.

I would make hotel arrangements now. if you're looking for value stay out of the hamptons, but be prepared for a Bataan Death March down Route 27 when you go.

[Nigel_Walton]

During the last Open, friends of mine stayed in new york and took the train. There is a station directly across the street from the club.  Check with the long island rail road about where the train stops between manhattan and southampton. Perhaps you can save some money by staying in nassau county somewhere.

[ed_getka]

Stay as near to the train station as possible and make your reservations as soon as possible. Its probably too late to get a deal, but we made reservations over a year in advance for Bethpage and were able to get the normal rate for our room. Do NOT try to drive out there under any circumstances unless you really like parking lots.

[Matt_Ward]

Michael:

Do yourself a big favor and avoid booking hotels through any major chains 800 numbers because you will be major league taken by the exorbitant rates. There are plenty of "mom and pop" type hotels where you can get accomodations that are a bit better than what Joseph and Mary had in Bethlehem but realistically if all you need is a decent bed and shower that's the way to go.

One last thing -- traffic can be a tad tough during Open week but getting to and from Shinnecock beats the hell out of venturing to Oakmont, Winged Foot and The Country Club, to name just three other major golf sites.

If you bring your clubs try and get a round at Montauk Downs -- it's a very good public track but the conditioning can be rather suspect --particularly when they develop amnesia and forget to cut the grass. Still -- it's worth a visit and the green fees won't require two credit cards!

[SPDB]

One last thing -- traffic can be a tad tough during Open week but getting to and from Shinnecock beats the hell out of venturing to Oakmont, Winged Foot and The Country Club, to name just three other major golf sites.

You're kidding, right? Traffic in Southampton is murderous on a quiet summer wknd.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Sounds like you would be much better off selling the tickets Open week for way above their face value and then using the money to go buy a HDTV Plasma screen and watch it at home!:)

[Matt_Ward]

SPDB:

You have to understand this -- the Sunrise Hwy is still four lanes as you approach Shinnecock and there is a rail line that is next to the SUNY campus at Southamptpon. If the course were located just a few miles past where the four lanes become two lanes then you're right the traffic would be murderous.

I remember vividly all the naysayers in '86 who said the traffic would be horrific. That didn't happen then or in '95.

Try getting to Winged Foot through the crowded streets of Mamaroneck and the glorious access road on Fenimore Road.

The same thing applies with Oakmont as you come near Hulton Road and even worse try getting near TCC in Boston. No wonder the British lost the Revolution -- they could not get from Point A to Point B because of the mass confusion regarding streets in that area.

Look, I'm not saying that Shinnecock is perfect but compared to the other sites I've attended for Opens the issue of traffic is not as bad as you and others might suggest.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Contrary to opinions above, traffic WAS NOT any problem in 1995. In fact the traffic was MUCH lighter the weekend of The Open as the reports of traffic scared the typical weekenders and they stayed in NYC !! I drove two days from my house in Southampton and parked in the Shinnecock Indian reservation and took the bus, and I took the train one day (from the Southampton train station, see below). On Sunday, I had a wedding back in NYC and drove right through, no problem. Trust me, Shinnecock is much easier than Bethpage.

My suggestion is drive past Shinnecock (coming from NYC) into The Village of Southampton or Bridgehampton. Park at the Southampton (or Bridgehamton) train station or nearby and take the train EAST towards New York and get off at the Southampton College train station, which is right in front of Shinnecock. Normally not many trains stop there, but they all stop Open week.

After The Open, you take the train back to The Village, have dinner and then drive to your hotel traffic free. Also go check out Flying Point Beach in Southampton, it is beautiful.

There really are very few hotels in The Hamptons, so don't try a Internet service such as Hotels.com. Your best bed is a small hotel or B&B, see http://www.southamptonchamber.com/ for a list, also try a similar list for the Hampton Bays Chamber of Commerce.

Finally, there is a way to drive back to see National even though the obvious roads will be blocked off. It is very very complicated, but can be done via North Sea road.

PS. If traffic was as light as it was during Open week all the time, we probably would not have sold the house.

[SPDB]

Matt - I stand corrected, I had forgotten all about the train station. Still, I'll wager that 27 will become resemble a highway stretch between Corregidor and Bataan come this time next year.  But maybe i'm just biased, if it weren't for a couple of golf courses, I would never venture out to the South Fork again. I get hives from the mere mention of the phrase "Long Island Expressway"

I've got to go apply my calomine.

I didn't find TCC that bad, walking distance from the parking lot. It's was relatively easy.

[grandwazo]

The train is definitely the way to go, but you can get on this line much closer to Southampton than NYC.  Go to http://www.lirr.org to get an idea of what the railroad offers this summer with regards to trains to the Hamptons.  Start looking for a place to stay in Bay Shore or points east and it should only take an hour or less to get there each day.  

[TEPaul]

MichaelW:

When you proceed north to Shinnecock and into the Hamptons all you need to do is bring money--lots and lots of money. And when you think you have enough---bring a little more money.

[johnnyjumpstart]

Don't listen to the advice about where to park. When you receive your tickets in the mail they will come with a parking permit for a designated parking lot. At the last Shinnecock Open most people were given permits to park at Westhampton airport and then transported by shuttle bus to the golf course. It is a 20 minute shuttle and worked like a charm. Only locals from the east end and volunteers get passes to park at the SUNY campus across the street from the golf course. Since the last Open there have been several new hotels built along the L.I.E. around exits 55-60 and these would do just find a nd leave you with a 30 minute drive to the airport to catch the shuttle bus. John

[Michael Whitaker]

Wow! Half of you are very encouraging, and half of you are scaring me to death!

I've been to NYC many times, but I've never been to Long Island. This will be quite an experience for me. I've read so much about Shinnecock, and seen it on TV... can't wait to see the area and, hopefully, visit a course or two along the way.

I've been to the Masters many times, but this will be my first US Open. When we attend the Masters we usually go on Thursday or Friday and sell the weekend tickets. The weekend crowds are so large that it is almost impossible to see anything unless you get there at the crack of dawn at stake out a front row seat. What was it like at Shinnecock in '95?

[Mike_Sweeney]

Michael,

Johnny is correct that the Westhampton parking was very easy too. I had friends come up from Philly, and they had no problems in that lot either. But if you stay near Shinnecock/Southampton, you don't want to drive to Westhampton and then back to Shinnecock.

Even though there are not many hotels in The Hamptons most spectators are day trippers and really only the USGA types and players rent homes. It is a second home community and kids are still in school so there is plenty of inventory.

I have been to Majors at Merion, Bethpage, Pebble and Winged Foot, and Shinnecock `95 had by far had the best infrastructure on and off the course to handle it. I did not attend on Sunday, but my guess is that it got crowded like any Major on the last day. The only problem is that Shinnecock is the second best course in town .

[johnnyjumpstart]

Michael, Shinnecock ticket sales are limited to about 28,000 as compared to 45,000 at Bethpage which makes everything "seem" less crowded but I found the viewing problem at Shinnecock to be the fact that many greens have substantial fall offs at the sides so it was difficult to find good viewing points to watch putts. That being said, it is definitely an Open site worthy of a visit. On a hot day there is very little shade for spectators, but the venue is just as likely to have a cold, windy, rainy day so be prepared to have both shorts and a rainsuit with you! One last word on the train>the station is directly at the entrance to the course and for the Open the LIRR run express trains from Penn Station in Manhattan so staying in NYC is a workable option if you can't find lodging on Long Island. At the last Open every hotel room up to 45 miles west was booked. johnny

[Mike_Sweeney]

At the last Open every hotel room up to 45 miles west was booked. johnny

M,

Certainly they are not book today, and if it should be true, my suggestion would be to go to Montauk 25-30 miles east where they are a number of beachy type of hotels. Again take the train from Montauk to Southampton College/Shinnecock. If your going to come all the way from South Carolina you might as well make a little extra effort and see some spectacular beaches and with any luck, get a tee time at Montauk Downs, the public Shinnecock.

Johnny,

I agree with the viewing around greens, and while Bethpage was special for different reasons, The Open at Shinnecock is the best IMHO.

[Bruce Katona]

In '95, my wife and I went on Friday and Sturady; I went alone  Sunday. We stayed with friends who live in East Hmpton. The traffic each day going west on Rt.27 was minimal. We parked at Southhampton College & the Elks lodge and either took the shuttle or walked across the bridge. Shinnecock was much better than Baltusrol in '93, which is 15 minutes from my home. At Baltusrol, if you did not have a preferred parking pass, the remote parking was very difficult & tedious to get to. You will love the east end of Long Island. It really is very beautiful.

[DonJ]

Come to the NorthFork(aka the Other Fork).  You probably could get a nice room in Greenport at the SoundView Motel or a nice Bed and Breakfast.  The drive is maybe 20min.  You could also probably get on Islands End which has some great greens and great par 3 along the Sound.  Bring your Binoculars so you can look at Friars Head from the road.

[bstark]

 There is a new hotel/inn in Wading River (40 mins.), the East Wind. Great Rock GC is right across the street, and Tall Grass and Fox Hill are within 10 mins. Blackwells Steakhouse at Great Rock has some great food.
  You could stay with me but I've already got Shivas on my back that week.

[ed_getka]

Brian,
 I guess you've recuperated from your trip. I didn't know you were running a B&B for GCA guys.  ;)It was a pleasure to meet you out at Sand Hills, and your July visit is in the works.

[Matt_Ward]

Mike S:

Shinnecock only the "second" best course in town -- surely you jest!

[Mike Nuzzo]

There are a few b&b's only a mile away from Shinnecock (and NGLA and goosberry ).  They'll be pricey, but who cares.  Stay there and walk.
As TE Paul says, bring some more moola.  
Stay for the weekend too.

[Michael Whitaker]

I think it will come down to either staying in NYC (my wife's choice) or staying at the beach (my choice). We both agree with Mike Sweeney... if we're going to travel all the way from SC we need to make it a vacation.

The information about the trains has helped a lot. That looks like to way to travel in and out regardless of where we decide to camp.

Thanks to all for your input. Any additional thoughts or ideas are welcomed.