The 2026 US Open will destroy the Hamptons for one magnificent week. Here's how to enjoy it anyway.
The Traffic Truth
Tournament organizers expect 45,000 daily spectators. The Hamptons' two-lane roads handle 5,000 cars on a busy Saturday. Do that math.
Police will close Montauk Highway randomly. Sunrise Highway backs up to Westhampton. Tuckahoe Road becomes a parking lot by 6 AM. The shuttle from designated lots takes 90 minutes each way—if you're lucky.
Your only real options: Stay within 10 minutes of the course (nearly impossible to find), arrange helicopter transport (landing zones are limited), or leave your hotel at 4 AM and embrace the suffering. Most people choose option three. Most people are miserable by noon.
Tickets and Access Reality
General admission sells out in minutes. Weekly badges resell for $3,000+. Hospitality packages start at $10,000. Everyone fights for the same spots.
But here's what nobody mentions: Practice rounds offer better golf. Monday through Wednesday, players are relaxed. You can walk inside the ropes. Athletes actually talk to fans. Tickets cost half the price. You see every shot up close.
Championship rounds are about atmosphere. Practice rounds are about golf.
Where to Actually Watch
Forget the grandstands. Everyone clusters there. The real viewing happens at:
- Hole 7 (189 yards): The shortest par-3 destroys careers. Players either stuff it close or find the bunker complex. Stand behind the green for pure theater.
- Hole 14 (447 yards): Blind tee shot over Shinnecock's iconic hills. Position yourself at the landing area. You'll see every emotion as players realize their fate.
- Hole 17 (179 yards): Over water to a narrow green. This decides championships. The hill left of the green gives perfect views plus shade.
- The Range: Ignored by crowds, loved by purists. Watch Rory work through his irons. See Rahm's intensity up close. No pushing. No shouting. Just golf.
Eating Without Agony
Concession lines stretch two hours by noon. The Heineken tent runs out of beer by 2 PM. The Members' Clubhouse stays off-limits.
Smart spectators pack food. Get a cooler pass (apply online in April, they run out). Bring real sandwiches, not sad protein bars. Pack double the water you think you need. June at Shinnecock hits different.
For dinners, every restaurant from Southampton to Montauk claims they're booked. They're lying. Walk in at 5:30 or 9:30. Sit at bars. Try places one town over: Bridgehampton empties when everyone rushes to Southampton.
The Schedule Nobody Follows
Gates open at 6 AM. First tee time: 6:45 AM. Last groups finish around 8 PM. That's 14 hours on your feet.
Here's smarter: Arrive at 10 AM when early crowds thin. Watch the middle of the field—they're fighting harder. Leave at 2 PM during the afternoon lull. Return at 5 PM for the leaders. You see better golf with less suffering.
What Nobody Tells You
Shinnecock winds average 20 mph in June. Temperatures swing from 55°F at dawn to 85°F midday. Rain appears from nowhere. Pack layers. Bring rain gear. Wear comfortable shoes you don't love: they'll be destroyed.
Sunscreen expires in heat. Bring new bottles. The sun reflects off white sand rough. You'll burn in places you didn't know could burn.
Villa Élysée
Hotels jack rates 400%. Airbnbs disappear in 2024. Most people stay an hour away and pretend traffic won't be apocalyptic.
The smart money books private villas walking distance from Shinnecock. Villa Élysée sits 10 minutes away with space for 16—split correctly, it costs less than separate hotel rooms and includes a concierge who knows which police escorts actually work.
The US Open at Shinnecock will test your patience, your feet, and your sunscreen supply. Logistics will fail. Plans will change. You'll question your choices.
But you'll also see the world's best golfers battle America's greatest golf course. You'll witness shots that define careers. You'll tell these stories forever.
Just pack comfortable shoes. And double the water. Trust me on the water.