Wind has always played an important role in golf, and it is certainly a big part of the game at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, host site of the 2026 U.S. Open. The course’s famously tumbling sandy terrain was shaped by wind over thousands of years after the glaciers receded. William Flynn designed the course so that wind would be an integral part of its strategy and challenge, with the routing configured in a series of loops that ensure players contend with the wind from many different directions throughout the round. Wind is also a key consideration for superintendent Jonathan Jennings and the maintenance team.
Jennings is entering his 15th year as superintendent at Shinnecock Hills, and he credits the wind as one of many reasons why his job is never boring. “Wind is a constant factor here because of how exposed and open the course is, and how far out we sit on the island,” said Jennings. The wind tends to come from the southwest during summer and the northwest during winter, but its direction and intensity can vary from day to day and even hour to hour. “I would say 10-15 mph is a pretty standard breeze for us, gusts in the 20-30 mph range are common, and on a bad day we can get wind upward of 60 mph with strong weather fronts,” said Jennings. While he can’t always predict how the wind will behave on a particular day, he knows it’s going to be a big factor in his maintenance program throughout the year.
Shifting Sand
A windy day can do a number on the bunkers at Shinnecock Hills. “Sand blowing out of the bunkers is common,” said Jennings. “We routinely have to blow sand back in, or add new sand when too much has been lost. Bunker shapes also change over time as wind scours the edges.” Contours around the bunkers can also change as windblown bunker sand filters down into the grass and accumulates like topdressing. Sometimes the topography changes enough that an area needs to be re-graded.
Sand movement is a particular concern during winter months, when the strongest winds tend to occur. “We put wooden pallets in the floor of exposed bunkers to slow the wind velocity and limit sand movement,” said Jennings, “and we also put silt fencing on the downwind side of some bunkers to trap any sand that does escape. Sometimes we find 6 inches of sand blown up against the silt fence after a strong windstorm.”
Disrupting the Flow
Water management is a critical part of successful golf course maintenance, and it’s not easy on a windy, sandy site. “The golf course drains well to begin with, and wind can dry things out extremely fast,” said Jennings. The wind also makes it harder to apply water where it’s needed. Sprinklers on a golf course are carefully spaced to provide even coverage, but wind disrupts the pattern. “We watch the forecast and schedule our overnight irrigation for times when the wind is likely to lay down, but that doesn’t always work out,” said Jennings. “Hand watering with hoses is really the only way to be sure dry areas get what they need when it’s windy, and it’s not uncommon for us to be out there with hoses until 6:30 or 7:00 in the evening during the summer.”
Wind also interferes with routine spray applications that are critical for maintaining healthy turf. “Even though we’re cooler than inland areas during summer, we still get hot and humid weather that creates high disease pressure,” said Jennings. Unfortunately, trying to make a precise spray application while the wind is whipping around doesn’t work very well, so Jennings has to watch the wind forecast and adapt the spray program accordingly. “It’s like navigating a ship through icebergs,” he joked. “You have to watch and wait for windows of opportunity when you can accelerate and get a lot done, and then it’s back to waiting.”
Finding Balance in the Breeze
Providing the desired level of playability and difficulty while keeping a course healthy is a daily balancing act for all superintendents. It’s particularly complicated at Shinnecock Hills because, while the course was designed to be very challenging, the wind can amplify the difficulty unexpectedly. “We want firm and fast conditions,” said Jennings, “but we have to maintain healthy turf and keep things from getting too hard for the golfers playing on a given day.” Jennings and his team adjust the amount of mowing, rolling and water they apply based on the wind forecast – and then they have to be prepared to make further adjustments throughout the day. “A big part of it is having really well-trained people who know what they’re seeing out there and identify which spots can cause trouble,” said Jennings. “We also work closely with our head golf professional, Sean Quinlivan, to tweak daily setup and maintenance practices based on the forecast and the intended level of difficulty.”
When it comes to the U.S. Open, the potential impact of wind on playability is increased because conditions are at a championship level and the maintenance staff has limited access to the course during play. “For the most part, things are what they are once play begins,” said Jennings, “so you really have to get the course set up the best you can in the morning. We have a lot of smart people involved, from club personnel to USGA staff, and we’re all staring at the forecast and trying to have the best plan in place.” All while knowing that the wind can and will behave in unexpected ways.
“I’ve been involved in two U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills,” said USGA senior director of championship agronomy Darin Bevard. “It’s not an easy course to prepare for a championship because of the putting green contours, the naturally firm conditions, and the wind. But those are the things that make Shinnecock a great test.”
Wind can drive golfers and superintendents crazy. It’s unpredictable, it creates uncertainty, and it has a knack for ramping up when you wish it wouldn’t. Wind also makes golf more interesting, and it’s a big part of why Shinnecock Hills is a world-class golf course for daily play or a U.S. Open.