Native legacy remains central to Shinnecock Hills ahead of U.S. Open
Generations of Shinnecock golfers and groundskeepers helped shape the historic course hosting the 2026 tournament
As the 126th U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18-21, the tournament is also highlighting the longstanding connection between the course and the Shinnecock Nation. According to reporting from ICT, Shinnecock golfer Oscar Smith Bunn became the first Native American to compete in the U.S. Open when the tournament was held at the course in 1896.
Generations of Shinnecock citizens have worked and played at Shinnecock Hills, including Elmer Smith, who served as the club’s first full-time superintendent of grounds from 1955 until his death in 1980. Today, the Shinnecock Golfers Association continues to support Native youth through scholarships, while members of the Smith family remain involved in preparing the course for major tournaments, according to the ICT reporting.
- 1.Mark Wagner. ICT, .
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