How Hilly Is Shinnecock?

[David_Tepper]

I know viewing on TV tends to flatten out golf courses. In some ways, Shinnecock seemed on TV to be even hillier than Augusta, which I doubt it is. And the greens at the former appeared to have as much slope as at the latter.

For those of you who have been on both properties, how do they compare? 

[Cal Seifert]

Never been to ANGC but the hill from the low point of the 18th fairway to the clubhouse is very steep and takes fans a long time to climb up when the marshalls let people cross.  Other holes such as 10 have many hills as well. 

[Kevin Lynch]

From walking both, ANGC is hillier on a more grand scale.  The few significant elevation changes at Shinnecock feel more severe (e.g. the approach on 9) because they aren’t as vast in width.  The sheer width of the property at ANGC gives your mind the impression that elevation changes aren’t as large as your legs will attest.

[Rich Goodale]

Played SH and walked ANGC, and agreed, Kevin.

[Tim Martin]

I agree that ANGC is hillier but not by that much. Greens at both courses have a ton of slope but I think ANGC has more internal contouring.

[ward peyronnin]

the hills at Sh all start on the backside. ANGC has a more consistent up and down flow

[William_G]

had this conversation today about how they look on TV

somewhat similar

ANGC has Rae's Creek and a distinctive slope throughout the course in that direction with a significant elevation drop from the clubhouse

ANGC has more trees, less panoramic views, more lush, similar multi-colored greens, and a little more hilly internally as probably was a larger river basin hundreds of years ago

SHGC totally sand based with beautiful vistas and a perched clubhouse visible from everywhere on the course, America!

elevation drop probably a bit more at ANGC than SHGC without looking at any maps

[mike_malone]

Not nearly as hilly as the Flynn I play. Lancaster and Lehigh may be more also.

[Tom_Doak]

It's almost 150 feet downhill from the tenth tee at Augusta to Rae's Creek which is the low point of the course.


From the clubhouse at Shinnecock it's probably 75-90 feet to #6 which I think is the lowest point.


They are both hilly, but 9 at Shinnecock is about 40 feet uphill; 18 at Augusta is 70 feet IIRC.  The difference is Shinnecock takes up most of that elevation on the approach instead of the drive, so it looks steeper from the fairway.

[WilliamN]

It amazes me just how different elevations look on TV vs. in person.  Did not think the coverage this weekend did justice to the elevation changes on a number of holes, most notably (for me at least) 14, 15, 9, and 18. 


Before this thread, I was thinking similarly, but more about comparing Flynn’s Rolling Green in Philly to Shinnecock and the elevation changes there.  I think the lack of trees might make Shinnecock appear like it is “more hilly”, but I bet that Rolling Green actually has greater elevation change overall

[V. Kmetz]

Shinnecock's "Hills" are confined to the SE (#s 10 - 15) and South (clubhouse, 9th/18th approach, 1st tee) portions of the property...the rest is nearly as flat as a beach.


The entire property of Augusta National rolls and swells down a nearly continuous slope and the routing takes the players into the lowest spots of the property three times (6, Amen Corner, 16)...it is a much harder walk. There's only two holes that are remotely flat (3 and 7, parallel to one another)


cheers  vk