U.S. Open unveils transportation plan for Shinnecock championship

Temporary train station at Shinnecock Hills will play a major role

As golf fans from across the globe descend on the East End for the upcoming U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (June 15-21), tournament organizers say getting there should be smoother, faster and less stressful than ever before.

The best way to see the world’s best golfers? The Long Island Rail Road.

“It’s going to be the best, most efficient way to get to the championship, very similar to what we did in 2018 and even dating back to 2004 and maybe before,” said Eric Steimer, director of U.S. Open Championships for the USGA.

Steimer said the temporary train station at Shinnecock Hills will play a major role in moving thousands of spectators to and from the course during championship week.

“It’s technically on the Stony Brook Southampton campus side of the railroad tracks, which will provide service during those seven days of the championship and really will be the quickest way to get there,” he said.

But there’s one major difference from 2018: bigger trains and more room for fans.

Trains will run more frequently and carry more passengers thanks to longer platforms and expanded train capacity.

“In 2018, we built a platform that was capable of handling up to 10 cars,” Steimer explained. “This year we’re building a platform capable of handling up to 12 cars. So the length of the train has gotten a little bit longer for us, which inherently allows us to have more capacity and more people able to take the train.”

Once fans step off the train, they’ll be guided through the nearby Stony Brook Southampton campus before entering the championship grounds.

The process is designed much like entering a major stadium or sporting event.

Spectators will first pass through a security screening tent, where prohibited items must be removed, before moving to ticket and credential verification. From there, fans will head toward a newly constructed pedestrian bridge spanning County Road 39.

“Anyone who comes off the train will get directed in through admissions, across the bridge, and then they’ll be right on Shinnecock Hills’ side of the road,” Steimer said. “If anyone needs additional assistance, we will have provisions in place to help them get from the train over to the golf course.”

Tournament officials estimate that during peak arrival times, fans should budget roughly 15 minutes from the time they exit the train until they reach the course itself. The total walk is about a quarter-mile.

For those who prefer driving, general parking will once again be located at Calverton Executive Airpark, where complimentary shuttle buses will transport fans directly to the championship.

This year, organizers are introducing a new traffic strategy aimed at avoiding the notorious East End bottlenecks.

“We’ll have complimentary parking, complimentary shuttles going to and from the golf course,” Steimer said. “And then something we’re excited to be able to talk about is we’re going to create what is known as a contra-flow lane — or, in this case, an express shuttle lane — for those buses coming from Calverton.”

The dedicated lane will allow buses to bypass much of the morning congestion heading toward Southampton.

“You’re going to get parked. You’ll get on one of our U.S. Open shuttles. And then that shuttle will be able to utilize this expedited bus lane to get by the morning traffic and get to the championship,” he said.

Fans planning their trip should also take note of gate-opening times throughout the week. Gates open at 7 a.m. Monday through Wednesday during practice rounds and close at 7 p.m. On Thursday and Friday, gates open at 6 a.m. and close at the conclusion of play. Gates open at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for the championship rounds.

Organizers say another key lesson learned from the 2018 championship was crowd management. While the tournament drew massive crowds, navigating both transportation and the golf course itself proved challenging at times.

“As you think about Shinnecock in 2018, as many fans as we did have here on site, it was a challenge to get everyone here,” Steimer said. “And then ultimately the experience on site was a little difficult, maybe, to maneuver around the golf course and follow your favorite player.”

To improve the overall fan experience, attendance numbers will intentionally be scaled back slightly this year.

“I would safely say we’re probably giving ourselves about a 15% haircut in terms of total attendance,” Steimer said. “It is a challenge to get people here, so anytime you add more people it’s more traffic, it’s more challenges.”

The goal, he said, is finding the right balance between creating the electric atmosphere expected at a major championship while still allowing spectators room to move comfortably around one of golf’s most iconic courses.

“We want to make sure whether it’s a fan, a volunteer or whoever is coming out here, they’re able to follow their favorite player and don’t feel overly crowded, while ensuring they can still hear and feel the action as well.”

Top: The clubhouse at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton. (Credit: GLI/Nick Esposito, file)